Erika
Oh my god! What was I thinking?
Zooey
I don’t know, girl.
Zooey
Getting your boyfriend’s initials tattooed on your shoulder?
Zooey
Your boyfriend who’s now your ex?
Erika
Easily the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
Erika
Why didn’t you stop me?
I roll my eyes. She’s right.
Zooey told me that getting a tattoo for Nick was a bad idea—
That it would doom our relationship.
Erika
I was so in love with him.
I look around the waiting area of the tattoo parlor.
I hear some chatter between tattoo artists and clients.
A punk rock soundtrack plays in the background.
It’s all fine until I hear…
Erika
This is going to hurt, isn’t it?
Zooey
Didn’t it hurt the first time?
Erika
Nick held my hand the entire time.
Erika
But laser removal is different.
Erika
I heard it’s supposed to be even worse.
Zooey
I’ll hold your hand if you want.
I know Zooey will go through this with me if I ask her to.
Erika
I think I need to do this alone.
Zooey
Well, rest assured…
Zooey
That my brother’s the best in the business.
Erika
I still can’t believe Tucker is a tattoo artist now.
Zooey
But it makes sense, doesn’t it?
Erika
I can still picture him.
Erika
A scrawny kid drawing in his sketchbook.
Zooey
You haven’t seen Tucker in a while, have you?
Suddenly, a guy appears from behind the curtain.
He’s tall, built, and has a lot of tattoos.
Usually, I’m not into multiple tattoos.
But on him, they’re ten kinds of hot.
My eyes bug out of my head.
Tucker
Nice to see you again, Erika.
Erika
Nice to meet you again, too.
Erika
I mean, see you…after so many long years…
I feel myself blushing like a fool as I trip over my words.
Zooey
Go get Nick lasered off your body.
I gather up my courage and follow Tucker to his station.
Even the way he walks is sexy.
He looks so secure and in charge.
Tucker
So…what are we doing today?
Erika
Getting rid of this.
And move the strap of my tank top to reveal the entire tattoo.
Erika
Nick Easton. My ex.
He touches the tattoo lightly.
His hand feels nice on my skin.
Tucker
I wish you had come to me for this one.
I want him to keep touching me.
Tucker
I would have tried to talk you out of it.
Tucker
Tattooing a boyfriend’s name is like…
Tucker
The kiss of death for a relationship.
Erika
I got this stupid tattoo and three weeks later…
Erika
He told me he didn’t love me anymore.
Erika
Now I want this sucker lasered off my body.
Erika
Then I can forget about him forever.
Tucker
Okay, hold on a second.
Tucker
You know I can’t do laser treatments, right?
Tucker
You have to go to an actual doctor for that.
Erika
You mean that you can put tattoos ON…
Erika
But you can’t take them OFF?
Tucker
Well…tattoos are supposed to be permanent.
Erika
Yeah. Well, so was Nick.
I wait for the tears to appear.
They always surface when I think too much about Nick.
But with Tucker’s strong hand on my shoulder…
Tucker
It’s a pretty small tattoo.
Tucker
I can’t remove it, but I can do a cover-up.
Tucker
If you’re dead-set on laser treatment, I can give you a referral, but…
Erika
What kind of cover-up?
Tucker
Anything you want, really.
Tucker
I’ll design something special for you.
Tucker
But the laser would be worse.
Tucker
And so will seeing this every day.
I let out a shaky breath.
I’m really nervous about this.
And I know Tucker can tell.
Tucker
Erika, don’t worry. I’ve got you.
Tucker
You’re in good hands.
I find myself staring at his hands.
The ones attached to his strong forearms…
And the rest of his gorgeous self.
Erika
Sorry. It’s just…you’ve changed so much.
He strokes my tattoo with his thumb.
Tucker
You’re still a hopeless romantic.
Erika
And look where it got me.
Tucker
Don’t say it like that.
Tucker
It brought you…to me.
Tucker
Come on. Let’s fix this mess on your shoulder.
It takes about half an hour…
But Tucker finishes the cover-up tattoo.
Erika
It wasn’t as painful as I thought.
Tucker
I told you I’d be gentle.
He holds up a mirror so I can finally see the design.
Erika
It’s…a shooting star!
Tucker
I thought it would be the perfect thing to start over with.
Tucker bandages me up and gives me the aftercare speech.
Tucker
Remember, Erika…think before you ink.
Erika
I’ve learned my lesson.
Erika
It was nice to see you again, Tucker.
I turn to leave, but he stops me.
Tucker
If you ever get the urge to have a butterfly tattooed on your lower back…
Tucker
Or a dolphin tattooed on your ankle…
Tucker
Then come find me.
Tucker
What are you doing later tonight?
Tucker
Why don’t you meet me at the coffee shop next door at eight?
Tucker
So we can discuss your next tattoo in detail.
