Cursed Fate: Cursed Series #4 (20 page)

His blue eyes meet mine as a single tear falls from his face.

“Talk to me please, Dault.”

“I-I thought earlier I remembered something. Steve’s car…when we were walking out to his car earlier I had a flashback. I thought it was weird so I pushed it to the side, but on the way over here I saw it again. I was with you. We were walking out of a restaurant. I got into that car, but you didn’t. Everything else after that image is blank. Then now…seeing you sit on the table and that tattoo. Etty, that’s our tattoo. I remember you sitting like that on the table and me giving you that tattoo….God, Etty, I remember.”

Dropping his hands from mine, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me, our mouths colliding. Tears stream down our faces as our lips open and our tongues meet. This moment is all I’ve been wanting for so long. Unable to control the sobs building in my chest, I break away from the kiss. Resting my forehead on his chest, I chant a silent prayer that this is real…that it’s finally happening.

“Please tell me this isn’t a dream,” I whisper to him.

Holding me tightly, I can feel his heart beating against mine.

“Etty, I’m so sorry I’ve let you down for so long. I’ve been so drawn you. I’ve tried so hard to remember…anything that would pull us back together. I still have a long way to go, but seeing you and the markings I gave was it. That night was one of the best nights of my life, I couldn’t have asked for a better flashback to hit me. Thank you for trusting in me…in us. Your patience, even if not what you wanted, was exactly what I needed. You’ve done so much for me to make my memory come back…thank you, Etty.”

“Thank me? Thank you, Dault. You’ve just made me the happiest girl in the world.”

A smile spreads across his face, his blue eyes twinkling through the tears. Wiping away the wetness on his face with my fingers, I step up on my tip toes and place a gentle kiss on his lips.

“I love you, Daulton. I always have and always will. I’m so glad you’re finally coming back to me again.”

“Day by day, that’s what we always said…right?” He asks with a wink.

“Oh. My. God…..eeeeepppp,” I shriek. “Yes! Oh, Dault, you have no idea how happy I am right now.”

A parade of people rushes into the room and Dault’s eyes go wide.

“What’s wrong?” Jo asks.

Turning to face them, I flash a huge smile.

“He remembered the room?” Linc asks.

Shaking my head, I look up to Dault, who now has his arms wrapped around me.

“It was the tattoo. I was sitting on the table and he saw our tattoo.”

“Wahoo!” Ashley squeals through the room, rushing over to hug us both.

We all burst into a fit of laughter as everyone else comes around to join in on our love session.

Sentiments of excitement are shared along with hugs and kisses. My eyes meet his and we both smile. He’s honestly made this day the best, I couldn’t haven’t dreamed that something as simple, yet meaningful, as the tattoo would help him see who we really were to each other.

Chapter 25

I felt something was up with Dault questioning my car, but it didn’t exactly make sense at the time. Hearing that he’s having flashbacks is encouraging to say the least. He’s slowly coming back to us and the excitement shifting through the shop is uncanny.

Walking to the front door, I peer out the window to see a line of people waiting for us to open up. As I glance to the skull clock on the wall, I see that it’s just about two o’clock.

It’s go time and I need to round everyone up and get them into their places. Etty’s pretty much occupied right now, so I figure I can lend a bit of a hand in her absence.

Standing in the middle of the hallway, I start to call out everyone’s name….
shit, there’s a lot of us
.

We all congregate in the center of the shop and move to our places as Jo goes to unlock the door. Linc, Etty, and Jo have agreed to man the reception area while Cliff, Ashley, and I get ready to prep for our first clients. We’ve given Dault the option to dabble around if he wants, but no pressure. After all his memory just resurfaced, I’m not sure an ink machine in his hands is the appropriate call right now.

Voices and the sounds of people starting to swarm the large space begin to fill the shop. Anxious to see what we are in for today, I stick my head out of the hallway to see Ashley and Cliff doing the same thing.

“Holy shit, there are a lot of people out there,” Ashley says looking down the hallway.

“You ready for this?” I ask.

“Hell yeah, I’m ready, this is going to be a walk in the park. Slow and steady…right boss?” She asks flashing me her gorgeous smile and a wink.

Damn, how did I get so lucky…I’ll never know.

The next few hours fly by and already I’ve sat six people in my chair and set a few more appointments to keep me busy throughout the week. The day is going so much better than I could have hoped for. Etty and Jo did an amazing job marketing the event; people are coming from all around Birmingham to meet the infamous Cursed Crew of Cursed Magic.

It’s a prideful moment to know that there are people out there just as invested in our art as we are—an exhilarating feeling that I don’t know will ever get old.

Needing a bit of a break after my last session, I clean up my area and head out to the reception area. Linc, Jo, and Etty are busy talking to a few people so I decide to walk around and see some of the items left on the display tables.

The front door chimes and I turn to see three people that I never in my wildest dreams would expect to walk into our shop.

“Christian…Jenn,” Etty screams running to the door.

With her hand extended to my ex-sister-in-law, Kris, I watch as she introduces herself while my blood begins to boil.

“Hi, I’m Etty. You must be Kris. Christian mentioned that you’d be here for a visit, thanks so much for stopping on by with them.”

Kris shakes Etty’s hand before looking up to me, her big brown eyes popping out of her head. Tucking strands of her brown locks behind her ear, she quickly turns her head to the ground and fumbles with her hands in a nervous gesture.

As I look over to Linc and Jo, my mouth is to the floor. They shake their heads and watch as Etty falls into Christian’s arms in a tight hug. It’s one thing to see Christian again, but what the fuck are Jenn and her sister, Kris doing here?

Jenn’s blue eyes meet mine and her face turns white as a ghost, yeah…
the feeling is mutual
.

“Yay, I’m so glad you guys came. I have to introduce you around to everyone. It’s been crazy busy in here since the doors opened, so I’m not sure if there’s time to really chat.”

Etty’s face is beaming with excitement and all I want to do is escort my ex-fucking-wife out of the God damn door. She has no right to be here and no reason to show up in our shop...she’s not welcome here. 

“What’s all the excitement about out here?” Cliff asks his voice cutting through the thick air like a piece of glass. “Holy fuck and who is that delicious looking brunette standing next to that scum bag?”

My head turns to face his still stance, my eyes glowing like I’m a rabid animal.

“Cliff, not now,” I release through my lips, my jaw locked in place.

“Dude, she’s seriously hot,” he whispers in my direction.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up. Now is not the time, nor is she someone you want to get involved with…believe me.”

Moving over to the happy reunion, I make eye contact with Christian and pull on Etty’s arm.

“Excuse us for a moment, would ya?” I bark in a sarcastic tone.

Ushering her through the reception area, her heals clatter against the tile as we make our way down the hallway and into Linc’s office. Shutting the door behind us, I’m practically breathless.

“What the fuck, Etty?” I ask through clenched teeth.

The smile on her face turns to a frown as her blue eyes stare back to mine.

“Oh come on, Steve, don’t start with me. Christian and I are friends, have been from the start. He’s welcome in Cursed Magic as long as I’m here.”

“Yeah, just wait till Dault gets wind of that, but he’s not who I’m furious about right now.”

I’m so angry right now, I could punch a happy fucking clown.

My fists are gripped so tightly along my side, it feels as though my knuckles will burst through my skin at any moment. With my pulse racing and sweat forming along my brow, I wouldn’t be surprised if I go into cardiac arrest…like right now.

With a confused smirk, Etty looks at me like I’ve grown ten heads.

“Who? Jenn? What’s wrong with her? She’s been dating Christian for the past few months, she’s really nice…I swear.”

Slamming my palms down onto Linc’s desk, I lean forward attempting to catch my bearings before I flip the fuck out.

“Jenn is dating Christian…well, that’s fucking rich.”

“What the hell is your problem, Steve? You’ve either lost your mind or I’ve completely missed the loon boat here.”

“That woman out there, Christian’s girlfriend and your new friend…wanna know why I’m so enraged that she’s here right now?”

Nodding her head, she crosses her arms against her chest and stands leaning to one hip.

“She’s my ex-fucking-wife, Etty. The chick I married after Ashley left me all those years ago.”

Etty’s hand flies to her mouth as a loud gasp escapes her lips.

“Yeah, so now you know why I’m a bit out of sorts. If Ashley sees her, I’m certain you’ll have another irate person on your hands.”

Moving closer to me, she places her hand on my arm.

“Steve, I had no idea. I’ve only met her once and Christian never mentioned her past to me all the times we’ve talked.”

“Look, I’m sorry for blowing up on you, but as you can tell she’s not in my top one million people to reunite with. I’ll just head back in my room and y’all can say your piece without me around.”

“Steve, please don’t be upset with me…I honestly didn’t know.”

“It’s not you, Etty. Just keep her away from me and Ashley…got it?”

As she nods in acceptance, I push past her and leave the room. My eyes scan the hallway leading to the open space and I see both Ashley and Dault standing beside Jenn and Christian.

Mother fucker…too late.

“Oh, Etty, get your cute little ass out here now,” I call from the hallway.

As she walks out of the office, her gaze striking the same group of people as mine.

“Time to enforce some damage control, she does not look too happy to see your friends here, Etty.”

“Shut the fuck up, Steve,” she says rushing past me.

Moving as quickly as I can down the hallway, I step to Ashley’s side.

“Well, this is a nice little family reunion. Thanks so much for coming to our grand re-opening you two. Would you like to sit in one of our chairs for your own piece? I know for sure I’d love to see Dault etch Christian.”

“Steve,” Etty seethes, looking to me with ice in her eyes.

“You can do whatever you want, Etty, but she’s not welcome in here,” I state pointing to Jenn.

Her gaze turns to Ash, her eyes pleading for help.

“Babe, let’s go back to your room.”

“Babe? Oh my God, you two are back together…well, of course you are. How long has it been? Were you seeing her the whole time we were married, ‘cause that would totally make sense...”

Jenn steps forward to confront Ashley as Christian pulls her back.

“What are you even talking about? I haven’t see Steve in years and if what he told me is correct…
you left him
. Did you know how sick he was, how badly he needed someone to lean on? No you didn’t, instead
you left him
when he needed someone the most. He was in such a vulnerable state and
you left him
.”

Nodding her head with a cocky grin, Jenn starts to laugh.

“Yeah, maybe
you
, Miss Priss, should get
your
facts straight. He was a low life loser dwelling on the fact that Little Miss Perfect left him and guess who got to deal with it as a runner up….
me
. For years, I tried to fill your shoes, to make him love me the way he loved you. It was a battle I could never win, I’d never be
you
…that’s what he wanted and, as I recall,
you left him
first. So get off your pedestal and take a look at reality, Ashley. He’s a drug addict, a drunk, and a worthless piece of shit. If that’s the kind of man you want in your life than have at it.”