Graeme

“Why don’t you go next door with Xander and Carli and I’ll come over when I’m finished.”

We stood in front of a tattoo parlor, and although I never expected to get one, the idea had come to me yesterday when we first arrived in Kitchi Falls, and I saw this place.

While the others were across the street at a bookstore, I’d headed over on a whim and made the appointment.

“Are you sure?” Vee asked. “I’m happy to come in with you.”

I pulled her into me and kissed her on the nose, which was something she loved. She’d told me once it was very “Maplemoor Graeme.” I couldn’t argue with her logic. New York Graeme and Maplemoor Graeme really did feel like two different people sometimes.

And now that New York Graeme had transitioned full-time to Maplemoor Graeme, the former would be a thing of the past.

“It’ll be a surprise. I can hear the music starting already—you guys go ahead.”

We’d finally made good, five months later, on our Christmas party promise for the four of us to take a vacation together.

Though it wasn’t extravagant, and we were only here for a long weekend, this Finger Lakes three-nighter was turning out to be the perfect getaway.

I’d only had to convince both Vee and Carli that The Lochwell and its coffee shop would be perfectly fine while we were gone.

I opened the door and headed inside. The shop was clean, and the walls told the story before the owner said a word . . . framed unit patches, a shadow box with medals, a faded flag behind the front desk. Definitely former military.

It wasn’t until he had introduced himself yesterday that it landed. Lucas. The same name as the hero Vee had defended at book club the first night he stayed. I almost said something but didn’t.

“Welcome back,” he said, bringing me into a back room.

I could admit, he was a good-looking guy but definitely not one I’d want to tangle with.

“Army?” I asked, nodding toward a patch on the wall as he set up his station.

He glanced up, something flickering behind his eyes. “Ten years. You serve?”

“No. But my grandfather did. Korea.”

Lucas was quiet for a beat. “I think I like this grandfather of yours. Have a seat.”

I sat in the tattoo chair and rolled up my left sleeve.

Ten years, he’d said. The patches on the wall filled in the rest. Army Sniper. His personality made sense.

“Appreciate your service, even if you don’t want to hear it.”

He didn’t answer that, which was its own kind of answer.

“You said you wanted coordinates. Inside forearm?”

“Yeah. It’s the building my grandfather left me. Was a brewery at one time.”

Lucas pulled on his gloves and reached for the stencil paper, sketching out the placement I’d given him yesterday with practiced efficiency.

“Oh yeah? Where?”

“Pennsylvania. Was Lochwell Brewing Company at one point.”

He pressed the stencil to the inside of my left forearm, smoothed it down, and peeled it back. The transfer was clean . . . two lines of coordinates sitting just below the crook of my elbow, exactly where I wanted them.

“No shit? Like Lochwell Lager?”

“That’s the one.”

“That’s some fucking good beer. Drink it all the time.”

He uncapped the ink and brought the machine to life, the buzz filling the small room. The first pass was definitely a little spicy. I didn’t move. If this guy could serve ten years, I could manage a tattoo without flinching.

“Appreciate that. My grandfather made the difficult decision to sell the recipes to Bergmann Brewery when I was a kid but kept a small portion of that particular brew. And the building, which is The Lochwell now. Coffee shop, gym, pub, apartments.”

“Nice.” Lucas laughed without looking up, keeping his line steady. “So I’m putting money in your pocket every time I have a lager?”

“You could say that.”

“Well.” He wiped the area clean with a paper towel and moved to the next number. “I know the owner of the bar next door. I’ve been on her case to get it on tap. Maybe you can talk to her. Name’s Mazzie.”

“I definitely will. My friends and fiancée are over there now. Heading that way when I’m finished.”

“Fiancée . . . congrats.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Planning a destination wedding in Hawaii for the fall. Ever been?”

“Nah. I’m happy to keep my ass here for a while.” He paused. “You’re my last of the day. I’ll come over and join you. We can tag team her.”

“Sounds good.”

We didn’t talk much after that. I took his cue and let him work, watching the coordinates take shape on my forearm in clean black lines. There was something settling about it . . . about making permanent the place I’d spent most of my life trying to leave.

When he was done, I looked down and felt something I hadn’t expected.

“I love it.”

“Good. Aim to please.” He set down the machine and reached for the aftercare supplies. “Keep it moisturized, unscented lotion, no sun for two weeks, don’t pick at it when it peels.”

I stood, paid, and by his demeanor, wondered if Lucas might have changed his mind about heading next door. “Intense” was a perfect word for him.

“I’ll see you next door, after I clean up,” he said, much to my surprise.

“Sounds good. And thanks for my first ink. My fiancée mentioned she might be interested in her first too at some point.”

“You know where to find me.”

I made my way next door, a singer with an acoustic guitar working through something slow and twangy that carried out onto the sidewalk. I found my crew near the bar, standing room only on a Saturday night.

“This is a great place,” I said, walking up to them.

“Let me see.” Vee grabbed my arm and pulled it toward her. “What is it?”

“Coordinates for The Lochwell.”

Vee’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She pulled me in and held me close, and not wanting to shed any of my own, I closed mine, too. Couldn’t think about it too hard. Couldn’t look at my best friend. So instead I stood there like that, vaguely hearing Carli saying something about getting me a drink.

Eventually, I pulled away, knowing Vee would have held me like that for as long as I needed.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.” She looked up at me. “Almost as much as I love you.”

Read Kitchi Falls, the three-book small town series where Graeme and gang visit.