Page 59 of Embraced in Ink
That was a complete understatement, but he wasn’t going to dwell on that. “So, you’re saying if I don’t get the tattoo, we are automatically going to end up divorced?”
“No, I’m saying that the data does seem to prove that fact.”
“Okay, whatever you say. I might get that tattoo. One day. But then I’m going to have to get my family names and crest somewhere on my body so my family’s okay with it, too.”
“Maybe all of them can get the Montgomery iris.”
“You’ve lost your damn mind,” Marcus said, laughing, and then he took her hand, and they made their way south towards Denver. Thankfully, it wasn’t rush hour, it was the middle of the day during a workweek, so the drive wasn’t that bad. And, thanks to the Montgomerys having a small parking lot behind their shop, parking was easy and free.
Of course, you had to work at the shop or be a Montgomery to park there, but Bristol had the connections.
“We’ll go get ink today,” Marcus said, getting out of the car. “But no iris.”
“No matching tattoo, either. Other than the iris, because that’s like a family crest, not a weird matching tattoo.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you know, because a relationship’s death is a matching tattoo or putting your name on me.”
“We’re not doing that,” a woman with dark hair, tattoos along her arms, and a wicked grin said from the back door.
“Maya!” Bristol said, running toward her cousin. Maya hugged her hard, and they danced around a bit, the tough woman in boots looking like a little girl along with Bristol as they giggled.
“Seriously, though, no names.”
“We promise. We were only joking.”
“Good. Now, I see you’re here to see my brother and not me. I get you. You’re allowed to do that. But just know, once you’re part of the family, you have to start alternating.”
Marcus shook his head. “I don’t know, Austin’s done almost all of my work now.”
“That is true, that means I get the rest of you.” Maya winked and then wrapped her arm around Marcus and pulled him into the shop.
“Now, let’s go play.”
Marcus looked over his shoulder at Bristol, who clapped her hands and laughed.
The Montgomerys were indeed all crazy, and he loved the fact that he was already family.
Chapter 14
Bristol let her body move with the music, her bow against the strings, producing the exact notes that she wanted. Though at this point, she wasn’t thinking note per note, or even looking at the pages in front of her. She had her eyes closed, and she let herself breathe into the song.
The piece wasn’t one she had written but was one she was putting on her next album. It was one of age, of sorrow, but also of great love. And it was one that took every ounce of her soul, her body, and skill.
And she loved it.
Though she practiced hours per day, and had performed countless times, she knew that if she didn’t keep up with it, even with all of the years of experience under her wings, she wouldn’t be able to play this song.
And that was why she loved what she did. Because she was constantly learning, she was consistently adding to her repertoire and earning the love and adoration of those who enjoyed her work.
Bristol was still figuring out exactly who she needed to be and what type of artist she was going to turn into eventually, but that was why she played as she did. That was why when she was asked to play at this concert in downtown Denver, she had readily agreed because she loved what she did and wanted to do it.
It helped that she knew that those who loved her were in the audience, as well.
Marcus was there, along with his mother and father. Her parents were there, as were her brothers, and their women and Lincoln. Aaron had said that he would bring a date, although she was pretty sure he had been joking with her. He was too busy working on his projects to focus on dating. At least, that’s what he had said the last time their mother had asked.
After all, all of her other baby chickens were now in a nice little row, and Aaron was the only one left.
She let all of those thoughts flow through her even as she focused on her music, on who she needed to be.