catch up on. Thanks for the ride, though.”
“You know, I’d like to spend more time with you, Tatum. Your dad and Tina support the idea as well. What do you say to dinner one night this week?”
I shook my head. “Stanford, it’s just not going to happen between us. First of all, you’re not really my type. And second, I’ve talked to Reed, and he’s coming home. We’re going to work things out between us, so I won’t be seeing anyone else.”
Stanford’s eyes narrowed. “Does Tina know about this?”
“Not as far as I know. I didn’t tell her.”
“As closely as I’ve been working with Tina and Donald, I can tell you they’re not going to be happy to hear this news.”
“I’m aware of that. I’m a grown woman, though, and I can make my own decisions.”
“Why would you even consider seeing Reed again? After what happened in Tahoe? I’m surprised you didn’t have fallout at your job.”
“That was really no more Reed’s fault than mine,” I answered. “It’s time I started taking responsibility for my choices, rather than blaming all my troubles on someone else.”
“Tatum, I just don’t see you with him. You know he has a criminal record, right? My research shows that …”
I cut him off. “I don’t care about your research, to be frank. He may have a checkered past, but he’s a successful business person now, and besides that, he’s a good man.” I opened the car door. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, you will.”
I decided to ignore the positively creepy tone of Stanford’s voice, and I slammed the door. I headed inside to see if Reed had called while I was out.
5 -- Reed
“Hey, sexy,” I said, thrilled to see Tatum’s name on my phone.
“Hey, yourself. I got your texts and your voicemail. It sounded like something was wrong. Everything okay?”
I knew she wasn’t going to be happy about me delaying my return to the States to go on tour with my father, but the opportunity was just too good to pass up. “Well, something’s kinda come up that’s going to keep me in Europe for a little longer.”
Silence.
“You there?” I asked.
“Yes. What’s going on? I was hoping you’d be on your way already.”
I took a deep breath. “So, here’s the deal. My father is going on tour—a quick one that’s only three weeks long, and he’s asked me to go with him.”
“What?”
“It’s actually for business. The tour’s going to promote Inked, and they’re going to set me up with a mobile studio so I can work during the festivals. Not only will I be bringing in top dollar for walk-in tattoos, but I’ll be getting priceless publicity.”
Tatum waited a few seconds before she said anything. “I guess that’s too good a deal to pass up, huh?”
“It’s huge. I’ll be getting international coverage. One of the promoters is even talking about developing a line of Inked T-shirts and splitting the proceeds.”
“Wow.”
I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “I’ll be home in a month. We leave a week from tomorrow for Rome.”
“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.”
“I have. I would have talked to you about it before I gave Gordon my answer, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“I was at a thing for my dad. I left my phone at home.”
“I’m sorry it’s going to take me a while to get home to you, but this really is the best thing I can do for my business. This could be huge. It’ll mean I can work less and earn more, which will give me more time to spend with you and with my dad, too.”
“I get it. You’ve convinced me it’s a good business decision for you.”
“You still sound pissed, though.”
“Yeah, I am pissed. You don’t know what it’s been like here. Tina’s been horrible. The people I work with look at me like they know what I look like naked, and all the while, you’re having fun at the beach in France. And now you’re going to be gone for another month.”
“Tatum, I have
“You know, I’d like to spend more time with you, Tatum. Your dad and Tina support the idea as well. What do you say to dinner one night this week?”
I shook my head. “Stanford, it’s just not going to happen between us. First of all, you’re not really my type. And second, I’ve talked to Reed, and he’s coming home. We’re going to work things out between us, so I won’t be seeing anyone else.”
Stanford’s eyes narrowed. “Does Tina know about this?”
“Not as far as I know. I didn’t tell her.”
“As closely as I’ve been working with Tina and Donald, I can tell you they’re not going to be happy to hear this news.”
“I’m aware of that. I’m a grown woman, though, and I can make my own decisions.”
“Why would you even consider seeing Reed again? After what happened in Tahoe? I’m surprised you didn’t have fallout at your job.”
“That was really no more Reed’s fault than mine,” I answered. “It’s time I started taking responsibility for my choices, rather than blaming all my troubles on someone else.”
“Tatum, I just don’t see you with him. You know he has a criminal record, right? My research shows that …”
I cut him off. “I don’t care about your research, to be frank. He may have a checkered past, but he’s a successful business person now, and besides that, he’s a good man.” I opened the car door. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, you will.”
I decided to ignore the positively creepy tone of Stanford’s voice, and I slammed the door. I headed inside to see if Reed had called while I was out.
5 -- Reed
“Hey, sexy,” I said, thrilled to see Tatum’s name on my phone.
“Hey, yourself. I got your texts and your voicemail. It sounded like something was wrong. Everything okay?”
I knew she wasn’t going to be happy about me delaying my return to the States to go on tour with my father, but the opportunity was just too good to pass up. “Well, something’s kinda come up that’s going to keep me in Europe for a little longer.”
Silence.
“You there?” I asked.
“Yes. What’s going on? I was hoping you’d be on your way already.”
I took a deep breath. “So, here’s the deal. My father is going on tour—a quick one that’s only three weeks long, and he’s asked me to go with him.”
“What?”
“It’s actually for business. The tour’s going to promote Inked, and they’re going to set me up with a mobile studio so I can work during the festivals. Not only will I be bringing in top dollar for walk-in tattoos, but I’ll be getting priceless publicity.”
Tatum waited a few seconds before she said anything. “I guess that’s too good a deal to pass up, huh?”
“It’s huge. I’ll be getting international coverage. One of the promoters is even talking about developing a line of Inked T-shirts and splitting the proceeds.”
“Wow.”
I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “I’ll be home in a month. We leave a week from tomorrow for Rome.”
“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.”
“I have. I would have talked to you about it before I gave Gordon my answer, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“I was at a thing for my dad. I left my phone at home.”
“I’m sorry it’s going to take me a while to get home to you, but this really is the best thing I can do for my business. This could be huge. It’ll mean I can work less and earn more, which will give me more time to spend with you and with my dad, too.”
“I get it. You’ve convinced me it’s a good business decision for you.”
“You still sound pissed, though.”
“Yeah, I am pissed. You don’t know what it’s been like here. Tina’s been horrible. The people I work with look at me like they know what I look like naked, and all the while, you’re having fun at the beach in France. And now you’re going to be gone for another month.”
“Tatum, I have
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