Chapter 30

We walked a few steps to my jeep and we both climbed in. I put my key in the ignition so I could crack our windows and the sunroof. Dario took out one of the pre rolls he grabbed this morning and lit it. He took a long drag then handed the joint to me. I hesitated for a second then took the cigarette and inhaled until my lungs couldn’t hold any more. As I exhaled the hazy cloud cascaded down on me, my arms were tingly and I could feel my eyelids sinking over my eyes.

I handed the joint back to Dario and without saying anything he took it and smoked it, holding his breath and passing it back to me. We sat there quietly in our seats as we passed the joint back and forth until it was just a filter. Dario threw the roach out of his window then we silently melted into our chairs. I looked over at Dario as he looked out the windshield. He was very good looking, it was almost distracting. Without taking his eyes off of the view in front of him, he asked,

“Boró na se voithíso? Í koitázeis aplós?”

*"Can I help you? Or are you just looking?”*

I bit my lip out of embarrassment for getting caught staring. Dario began adjusting in his seat and I could tell I probably made him uncomfortable. With as gorgeous as he is I’m sure he has all of Greece’s most beautiful women banging down his door. My embarrassment worsened and I felt like I had to talk to diffuse the situation so I asked,

“Do you, uh, have you been to America before?”

Dario looked at me and stared into my eyes before replying,

“I’m in America at least twice a year. I have family here.”

“Where at?”

“New York.”

“I’ve never been.”

“You live here in America and haven’t been to New York?”

I shook my head no and Dario said,

“It’s very interesting. I’ll take you.”

My mind immediately wondered to the last time a man told me he was going to take me somewhere. I remembered getting out of the SUV and holding onto Emiliano, never wanting to let him go. I kept a straight face as I felt the hurricane thrash her waves inside me, and filled my ears with thunder. Dario set his hand on mine and asked,

“What’s wrong?”

I tilted my head with a blank look and asked,

“I’m fine. Why would you think something is wrong?”

How would he know I was battling a category 5 storm within myself? I studied Dario, hoping my stare would make him confess. Instead he just stared back at me. Dario was so handsome, it was hard to look at him too long. Like the beautiful threatening sun, you’ll go blind if you stare at it.

When I realized he wasn’t going to reveal his witchcraft I turned my attention to outside my window. It was beginning to rain and I watched as the raindrops raced each other down the glass. The back door to the jeep opened and Keegan and Ambrosio climbed in. Keegan touched me on the shoulder and asked,

“How long have you two been out here?”

I turned towards her at her touch and replied,

“We just came out here for a smoke, we were just about to head back in.”

Ambrosio rubbed his hand on his nose then said,

“Oh shit, were you guys not done?”

Dario chuckled and shook his head. I was done sitting in that crowded bistro but was Dario still eating? I jerked my head towards him and asked,

“Did you want any more?”

Dario flashed me a smile and shook his head. His smile made my stomach try to fly away and I became disappointed in myself. I started up my jeep then looked back at Ambrosio through my rearview and asked,

“Where to now?”

Ambrosio asked Dario,

“Eíste kourasménoi í eímaste kaloí na synechísoume?”

*“Are you tired or can we continue?”*

Dario nodded his head and Ambrosio didn’t take his eyes off Keegan when he replied,

“Leo’s expecting us.”

I rolled my eyes and under my breath I said,

“Of course he is.”

I felt Dario staring at me as I looked around before pulling the jeep out onto the road. I got back onto the freeway and headed north to the tatto shop. Keegan and Ambrosio started full on making out heavy in my backseat. To try to distract me, Dario leaned in and asked me,

“Poios eínai o Léo?”

*“Who is Leo?”*

I glanced at him as I tried to keep my eyes on the road and replied,

“Tha deíte”

*“You’ll see”*

I heard a lighter followed by the smell of smoke and I knew Ambrosio was enjoying himself. I saw him pass it up to Dario out of the corner of my eye. Dario took a hit then offered the joint to me. I shook my head as I pushed the buttons to crack open the windows to ventilate the smoke, but not allow in the rain.

The shop was a quick ride down the freeway and we were parking the jeep. We all hopped out of the vehicle and headed inside. Leo was a short middle aged Mexican man, completely covered in tattoos; face and all. He walked up to us with open arms and Ambrosio kissed him once on each cheek. I chuckled, someone is really enjoying that herb. I gave Leo a hug and introduced him to Dario. Leo shook his hand and leaned towards me and whispered in his native tongue,

“Dios mío ese hombre está delicioso”

*“My god, that man is delicious”*

“No me he dado cuenta”

*“I haven’t noticed”*

Leo let out a dramatic gasp and smacked my butt and said,

“Mentirosa!”

*“Liar!”*

I tried to look away to cover my blushing. Leo shot me an all-knowing look. He then explained to us he has an hour and a half before his next client. Of course Ambrosio wanted to go first. I peaked back in the shop down the hallways of doors then stopped Leo and asked,

“Is Neptune in today?”

Leo smiled and said,

“She’s with a client right now, but let me go check when she’ll be done and if she can squeeze you in. Do you know what you want?”

I gave Leo a slightly worried look and said,

“I’m ready for my sternum...”

Leo gave me an evil smile then walked up to a door in the hallway and gently knocked on it. After a few seconds pause, Leo opened the door and peaked in. I couldn’t hear what he was saying down the long hallway but I heard Neptune yell,

“HELL YEAH! I’M ALMOST DONE!!”

Leo closed the door and walked back down the hallway. As he passed me to attend to Ambrosio to his own door in the hallway he said,

“Sabes lo que ella dijo”

*“You heard her”*

Leo entered his room, anticipating Ambrosio and Keegan, and he closed the door behind him. It was just Dario and me in the lobby. I awkwardly suggested we take a seat on the sofa. Once we sat down, Dario leaned close to me and asked,

“Aftós o ánthropos miloúse ispaniká?”

*“Was that man speaking spanish?”*

I smiled and nodded my head. I looked over Dario. He had a few scattered tattoos on his hands. I got too curious and I gestured to Dario’s hands and asked,

“Échete álla tatouáz?”

*“Do you have any other tattoos?”*

Dario nodded his head then shrugged off his jacket to reveal the most perfectly done zeus marble sculpture on his inner bicep on his right arm. The detail in it was immaculate. I was so impressed.

While I admired it, Neptune walked her client down the long hallway to the door. The man paid Neptune via some money app and he walked out of the shop while Neptune wished him a good night. Neptune was a gorgeous black woman with long purple locs and a petite body she decorated in loose boyfriend jeans and a black cropped tee for some scary band she was into. She smiled wide revealing her gorgeous bright white perfectly straight smile. Her smile always gave me butterflies. I stood up and gave Neptune a hug and she said,

“I heard you’re gonna woman up and get that sternum tattoo today.”

I bit my lip and nodded my head and Neptune laughed while she wrapped one of her arms around my waist and lead me to her room down the hallway. I stopped and turned towards Dario and asked,

“Erchesai? “

*“Are you coming?”*

Dario jumped off the couch and followed us into Neptune’s room and Neptune closed the door behind him.