Fan Girl (22 page)

His body art is completely justified in my place of business, thank you.

He keeps looking around. “Where’s yours?”

“My what?” I ask him.

“Your back. I haven’t seen it in a few months, but I’m pretty sure I remember it’s bad ass. You should have a picture up here.”

Dez steps forward in her dominatrix of the day outfit. “She wouldn’t let us. We’ve asked a million times.”

Deklan raises his eyebrows. “Really? Well I think you shouldn’t be able to show my picture unless yours is out, too. I can call my guy Bobby who does all of the band photography if you want. You may know who I’m talking about.”

Michelle gasps audibly. “Bobby Newman?” she asks in her twang.

Deklan nods his head.

“Oh. My. God,” she exclaims. Turning to Amy she says, “He does Vogue and everything! He’s so good!”

I roll my eyes at how blonde she is. “He’s also Stacie’s brother.”

She shrieks, “WHAT?!” He’s also twenty-nine and single as far as anyone knows, which is her focus.

Customers start flowing in and I say quickly to Deklan, “We can talk about this later, but the answer will still be no. I have to work. See you later.” And I give him a peck on the lips.

Carmen exclaims, “Wait we didn’t even get to see the ultrasound picture! How did the doctor’s go?”

I look her in the eyes. “Carmen, customers. Tight ship. Zip the lip. I’ll show you later.”

She mouths a “Sorry,” and heads to her station.

I head to mine and don’t notice Deklan taking a seat in the front.

An hour later, I’m finishing up a quote on my client’s ribs when I see movement in my peripheral vision. “Just one more minute,” I say distractedly. A few minutes later I spray the side of his chest and underarm and wipe it off with paper towels, when I look up and notice Deklan standing at the partition watching me.

“Go take a look in the back,” I tell Derek, my customer of the hour. He hops up and hurries over to the mirrored wall. I raise my eyebrows to Deklan. “I didn’t know you were still here.”

“Well, I figured since you go to my shows, I should watch you work. You are so good. I want you to do something for me.”

“What do you want?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “I don’t know yet. When I do, I’ll let you know. But I have a feeling you’re going to be doing all of my pieces from now on. You even make scroll beautiful.”

I flush red. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from someone who can get work done by anyone they wanted.”

He replies, “I know what you’re next one is going to be, though.”

I laugh. “Oh yeah, and what is that?”

“Across your chest it’s going to say
Property of Deklan Thomas
. If that douche looked down your shirt one more time, I was gonna come over this wall.”

I scoff. “He can’t even see anything.”

“Doesn’t matter. He was looking pretty hard.”

Just then said ogler, also known as Derek, comes back. “This is great, I love it.”

I smile back. “Awesome. Let me wrap it up.”

I walk him to the front, followed by Deklan. I see my next client waiting. After giving aftercare instructions and suggesting our ointment, I turn to Deklan. “I’ll see you after work. I have more to do.”

He nods and wraps his arms around me. “See you later, baby momma.” He kisses my laughing mouth and walks out.

We all watch him. Even the other artists stop what they’re doing to see him out.

“Pamela! Come on back. I just have to clean up a second,” I say trying to get back to business. Pam follows me back. She’s a long time customer and feels free to say, “Girlfriend! You know I know who that is! You better dish while you’re doing my leg!”

I laugh it off. “My boyfriend.” Boyfriend. Holy shit.

Chapter 23

Of course I don’t say anything to anyone about anything. Seven o’clock rolls around and I’m in the back sketching when Fadra, the evening receptionist, comes in with wide eyes. “Deklan Thomas is here with his mother,” she says.

“Okay, I’ll be right out,” I say, finishing the last details before I go. She walks out in a daze. I straighten up and file the work. On my way to the front, I check my shirt for any ink that might have gotten on it. Thank goodness, nothing today.

I see a willowy woman next to Deklan that stands about five foot seven inches tall. Her hair is as long as mine, about to middle back, and all salt and pepper grey. She’s dressed in a gypsy skirt and blowsy top, but the tattoo peeking out of her hem says she’s my kind of lady. I like her already.

I walk up with my hand out ready to shake. “Mrs. Thomas, it’s so great to meet you.”

She scoffs and pulls me into a tight hug. “Oh, my girl. It is my pleasure to finally meet you! And please, call me Nola.”

I hug her back. I’m really going to like her, I can already tell.

“I guess there’s no use introducing you. Mom, this is Ali. Obviously,” Deklan says dryly. We both pull out of our hug and smile at him.

“This is a beautiful place you have! When I was getting work done ages ago, it was in garages and seedy little places. I bet your work stands up better to time,” his mother says warmly.

I smile. “Well, you never can tell. Some of the greatest artists come out of garages, look at Rolling Bridges.” I think,
this is irony
.

They both laugh and Deklan’s mom says, “That is so true. Unfortunately mine weren’t done by the greats.”

I tell them, “I’m done here if we’re ready to go. I just need to grab my purse.” I walk over and take it out of the station that Rockelle has taken over.

We walk out to the curb, but I don’t see Deklan’s white Camaro. I look around confused. He pushes a key fob and a black Land Rover flashes its lights. He puts a hand on my lower back and leans in to say, “Got something new today.”

I look over curiously. His mom sees, and exclaims as she opens a back door. “Oh yes, I had the day off and when he told me the great news, we went straight to the dealership. Lots of room back here for babies and five star ratings. I made sure of that.”

I get in the passenger seat and look warily at Deklan.

He looks over innocently. “What? It had to be done.” He bought a hundred thousand dollar SUV, that’s
what
.

“I guess your turn is next, honey. Deklan tells me you both have two seater cars.”

I look over. “You didn’t get rid of the Camaro did you?” I have plans for that car, like being done on the hood of it.

“Nope, Mom drove this back to my place, and I parked it.”

I sigh in relief, thank goodness. We get to a really nice restaurant, and there are paparazzi everywhere. Deklan comes over and opens my door for me, and I immediately duck my head. I’m blinded by lights as Deklan takes my hand and hands off his keys to the valet. We’re seated, and Deklan orders us all a glass of wine.

“So smart of you to drink red. It’s good for you and the baby.”

I smile at her. “Thank you, Mrs. Thomas, I forgot to ask the doctor today. I researched online, and there’s a lot of controversy, but all of the homeopathic sites said it was good for both.”

She waves her hand. “Please, call me Nola. It’s a controversial subject because people don’t know when to stop. One glass per week is okay. More than that wouldn’t be good. Your alcohol levels aren’t going to go up with one glass at dinner. If you were to drink a bottle, that’s another story.” She laughs.

“I was so excited when Deklan told me you had planned to raise the baby together. I just can’t wait,” she says excitedly.

I look at Deklan.

He raises his eyebrows high. “It’s new, but we know what we want out of this. I couldn’t be more excited.”

I raise my glass. “Guess I need to get a new car then!” We all laugh and enjoy a fabulous meal.

Deklan excuses himself to go to the restroom after our plates are taken away, but I see him paying the bill over to the side. He’s just giving us a chance to talk, and Nola doesn’t waste a second. She leans in. “Darling I cannot tell you how long I’ve waited for this!”

I clarify. “Grandchildren?”

She waves that away. “Well, of course that, but before that, someone he can relate to. Someone who doesn’t see him as dollar signs. Someone who knows the real him before the star. He’s been talking about the online chatting for a while. That you turned out to be a gem is beyond what I could have hoped for. Deklan told me about the condom breaking, which is unfortunate, but I’m so proud of him for stepping up. He has always waited for the right girl, said he would know her right away when he saw her. That I don’t have to wait for grandchildren is a blessing, I say.”

My heart goes light, and I take a deep breath. I squeeze her hand with emotion. “I’m so glad to hear that. I don’t have any contact with my parents. They disapprove of me in so many ways. But as for Deklan, I’m coming to realize he really is a wonderful man. Aside from following the band for all of these years, Redy and I have had many conversations about family and what we wanted from life. I just always thought he was reclusive, instead of the opposite.” We share a laugh at that. The irony.

“Well, he is in some ways, he never shared any woman with me, or the outside world for that matter. He always maintained that he would know it when he found it. He wants what his father and I had. So if he goes too fast for you, you’ll have to be up front. He knows what he wants and doesn’t want to wait anymore, now that he’s found it.”

I lean back in my chair and think on this. We’re bringing a kid into this, so it requires serious thought. But Deklan is a great person, straight up honest about everything, and always speaks his mind. He's sweet, caring, and funny. If we were going in different directions, we would know by now. Personally, I thought he was taking it slower for me, which was good. I couldn’t decide this in a week that was for sure.

Shortly after, Deklan asks us if we’re ready to go. We all agree, and walk out to the valet. Deklan hands the ticket over and while we wait, paparazzi are asking questions.

TZI asks, “Deklan, who is your girlfriend?”

To my surprise, Deklan actually responds, “We’re just taking my mom out for a nice dinner. This is Ali Dawson, my girlfriend. And my mother, Nola Thomas.”

The other paparazzi are blaring questions at us,
How long? What do I do? Where do I stay
? We all ignore those. TZI guy asks in a rational voice, “Are we going to be seeing more of Ali?”

Deklan smiles down at me, his arm around my waist. “As much as she can stomach me. You’ll see her if you catch me.”

Finally, the car arrives and he opens both of our doors before getting in.

I ask, “Is it really okay to talk to them? I thought we were just going to be seen, not heard.”

He takes my hand and rests it on his thigh. “They’re going to find out one way or another. This way the hype doesn’t get out of control with a mystery woman. They’ll know what you do and all that. You might get some paps at your shop, though they can’t come in.”

Nola chirps up from the back, “Free advertising!”

After we drop Nola off at her duplex, we drive to my house. Deklan asks quietly, “Are you upset about the car?”

I shrug and answer honestly. “I don’t really care. I mean if I’m with a guy right now, I would rather him be for the baby than against it, ya know?”

He nods. “I agree, and I am for the baby, just so you know. I can’t wait ‘til you start showing. It’s gonna be so hot.”

“You’re insane!” I roll my eyes. NO way is that hot.

“You don’t see you like I do. Your breasts are bigger, more sensitive than New Year’s Eve. I’ve imagined it quite a bit. I read you get more blood flow down there, so you’re gonna be horny all the time. You have a glow to you, a shine in your eyes, since this morning that’s hard to look away from. It’s going to be earth-shattering.”

Speaking of horny.
WHAT?
“I’m not gonna fight you if you like it. I’d be insane to. You’re kinda perfect, you know that?” I ask him candidly.

He laughs a loud scoff.  “Not perfect in the least. But I’m not gonna fight you on that either.”

We get to my house, and he walks me to the door. “I think I should leave for the night. It’s not gonna be possible to keep my hands off you. Just give me a kiss, and I’ll leave real quick.”

I chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes, sir.”

“Mmm, submissive. I can get behind that,” he says suggestively.

I breathe in his mouth. “I kinda wanted to be on top this time.” Totally kidding on my part. Hello, all that muscle, all of those tattoos, he can do whatever the hell he wants. I wouldn’t care. He pushes his hips into me and groans into my mouth. “Fuck. Shut up.”

I give him a quick peck. “You need to go away.”

He growls low in his throat.

SO hot. “Now!” I say more forcefully. He bites his bottom lip, drying my mouth out. I try to swallow, but there’s nothing.

He backs away. “Tomorrow, Ali. Twelve hours. That’s all the wait I’ve got in me.”

I nod. Twelve freaking hours. TOO LONG. He turns and jogs to his car, peeling out of the driveway. Twelve hours.
 

Chapter 24

I hear chiming.
What?
I didn’t set my alarm because I didn’t want to be up before Deklan showed and pacing the floor.
Why did I do that again?
Now I have no shower and unbrushed teeth. I’m fucking insane. I pop out of bed and run to the front door. I yell through the door, “Wait!” and run back to the bathroom. After I manically brush, mouthwash and spritz with perfume, I run a brush through my hair. I’m so stupid. No makeup, no freaking bra! No time. I run back and pull the door open.

Deklan stalks over to me and grabs my head on both sides, pulling me to his mouth. I get the hottest kiss of my life.
Good. Morning. Alaina
. Although all of his kisses are pretty freaking hot, this kiss steals my breath and gives it back. I’m panting when he reaches under my butt and pulls me up so my thighs grip his hips. I wrap my arms around his neck as he walks toward my bedroom, still licking the inside of my mouth. He never stops walking, just goes to his knees on the bed and walks up until he's lowering my head on a pillow. He puts his weight right where it needs to be, and we both groan. So good. I start undoing the button on his blue shirt, as he undoes my pajama top.