ℂ𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕠𝕟 𝔾𝕝𝕠𝕨 ➃

47. Cheers To Moving On - ✭ Boston ✭

"Yeah, I don't know about that one, that's got a personal meaning behind it." Amanda is referring to the design that is Monica's tattoo. I often aimlessly doodle versions of it without really thinking about it. "Yeah, not sure I want different people laying on it while getting their asses tattooed or their dick's pierced."

She lets out a laugh, "yeah, you make a valid point. I was thinking about the shop logo." She taps her fingernails on the desk. "I was thinking it should be a realistic looking heart."

"Is that supposed to be a bad joke?" Since she knows mine is faulty as fuck in more ways than one.

"No, I'm serious. Love Me Tatted. So like a mixture of love, tats, and Elvis. I don't know, I've just been thinking of ideas for an appropriate logo."

I ponder that for a moment. "I think I know the perfect thing." I snatch my sketch book and sit in the last old barber chair.

"I know that look, you're going to be at it for hours."

I don't even look up at her as I answer, "You know it."

"Alright, I'm going back to the hotel then. I'm beat. See you later?" She sounds hopeful but I shake my head. "Well, I'm sure I'll be up for it if you are." She wants to have sex but being back in Nashville made me think of Monica, which therefore killed my libido.

"Probably not but I'll keep that in mind." She nods and then heads out. When she opens the door a whimsical, familiar, laugh flows into the shop. I stand up from the chair and toss my sketchbook on it.

That can't be right. She can't be here.

But when I open the door I hear the sound again. There's no mistaking that sound. That's Monica. As if the noise had a physical tether on me, it pulls me toward it.

"You can't be serious." An unfamiliar male voice said with incredulousness. "You're taking next semester off?"

"Yeah, I think I'm going to try my hand at getting a book published. You're the one who told me I should do it." Shes standing outside a restaurant with a man who looks familiar but I can't quite pinpoint exactly where I know him from.

"Well, yeah, I think you're incredibly talented and gifted. Your writing is immersive and creative. I loved the piece you were writing last month. But where would you go if you took time off? Would you stay in Virginia?"

She shrugs, "I don't know. Maybe move back home? Maybe move here? I love it here."

"You sure about that? You've been melancholic the whole time we've been here." She doesn't say anything just looks up at the stars. "See anything interesting up there?"

"Yeah, Cassiopeia." She points up, much like I had once done. "Aries."

"I didn't know you were into astrology."

"I'm not."

"Why don't you come abroad with me again next semester?" That's where I know the guy from. He's her teacher. Professor McFuckMe. But he appears to be something else entirely now, especially since they're here alone together. This is clearly no class outing.

"I don't know, Derek." She shifts from side to side, looking a bit uneasy. "That might be a bit inappropriate considering what happened when we were abroad last semester. You could've lost your job." What the fuck happened when they were abroad? Thoughts of them sleeping together play throughout my mind and I hate it.