Just One Glance (Oh Tequila Series Book 5)

there when you’re needed, then stop trying at all. Because the disappointment that Jade feels every single time you bail on her is harder than just facing your constant absence. Be a fucking man for once in your life. Be the father she needs, or disappear.”
I didn’t care what he had to say in return. Even as I turned around and began to walk away, I ignored when he called out for me. Because I knew what’s coming, more excuses. And if I had to hear one more I might not be able to stop from knocking him on his arrogant ass. Walking away was better, for his safety anyway. I just hoped that one ounce of what I had to say sunk in.
For my sister’s benefit I hope he heard me. Because I didn’t need him, but for some unknown reason she thought she did.

Chapter Ten
Ruby
It felt nice spending time with Vera, though I’d been doing it secretly. While my father believed me to be studying I was enjoying laughs with her. Pictures of my mother growing up, stories I knew for a fact my father would never have told me. Over the last week I’d laughed to the point of tears, I’d eaten more junk food than any one person should, and I’d watch more bad television than I’d ever imagined.
But I felt alive. I felt like me, like the girl who had been caged up for so long was set free. She’d managed to give me back a part of my mother, and in doing so she woke up the girl I’d hidden away for fear of my father’s disapproval.
Vera and Darcy had become not one but two devils on my shoulders, each ensuring me that the joy I was feeling was okay. Each urging me to continue to live my life the way I should be living it and to break free from the chains my father had me shackled with.
No, as I stood in the center of the two of them and look up at the glowing red sign before me, a little bit of that free feeling fades. “I don’t think I can do this.” I took in a slow, deep breath and I gripped the photo in my hand a little tighter. “I can’t remember ever sweating this much. I’m freaking out here.”
“Well, if you find a master of number ten, you should be sweating a heck of a lot more that you are now.” Vera snickered at Darcy’s comment and I chose to ignore the two of them. I swore they were clones of one another. Get them together and all clarity flies right out the window.
Looking down at the picture in my hand I felt a small sense of calm. It was a picture Vera had given me of my mom right after she got her tattoo. A heart, not filled in, only a delicate outline. It looked almost graceful, or as graceful as a tattoo can be. So sweet looking, just below the hem of her pants. No bigger than two inches in height and width. It was simple, but perfect.
“You know that if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to?”
“Yeah, we can get a temp and improvise.”
I continued to stare at the sign.
Infinite Ink.
I thought over the person I’d been for the last couple weeks now. I remember the laughs and the freeing feeling that each thing I did on my own felt. Not once did I contemplate the ramifications of my father finding out―in fact, he was the last thing on my mind. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this good, feeling this settled.
“I want to,” and that was the truth. I did. It wasn’t about feeling pressured. It wasn’t even about the list anymore, it was about me. It was about finally being who I wanted to be, living my life how I wanted to live it. “Let’s do this.” With a deep breath in I grabbed the handle and pulled open the door.
The girl behind the counter looked up, a silver ring glimmering in her nose and instantly I admired her. Wild hair, tattoos on her arms, and piercings in not only her nose but her brow too. She was her own person, she was comfortable in her own skin and it was obvious that she owned it.
“So which one of you is getting inked?” She smiled when Darcy commented about how dirty that sounded. Choosing to ignore both crazies that tagged along, I moved close and showed her the picture.
“I want this, just like it, in the exact location.”
“Okay.” She offered me a nod. “I think this is perfect.” And it was, because it was just another thing that made me feel closer to my mom. Closer to the person I knew I was meant to be.
***
“I still can’t believe you did it.” Again Darcy leaned in and looked at not only my tattoo, but the jewel in my belly button too. “You rebel.”
“Why go back later when I was already there?” Plus once I was in the room getting inked by Sonia, the daring tattoo artist, I thought why not.
“Are you sure it didn’t have anything to do with Max?” I spent twenty minutes watching both Darcy and even Vera drool over the piercing artist after I exited the room with him hot on my trail. He was good looking, there was no doubt about that. Dark hair, dark eyes, and those lips. Even I considered knocking off number three on my list when he flashed me that killer smile of his.
But it wasn’t him or even his hands and the idea of them touching me that made me go forward and knock out another item on my list. It was Sonia, and seeing how sexy her own piercing looked.
“Though Max