1. Peek-a-boo tattoo
1. Peek-a-boo Tattoo
When I first saw him he was walking through the door of my store. It was a quick glance, so I didn’t even truly notice him.
“Welcome to Replay,” I shouted, barely peeking around my computer. I closed the program I was working in, grabbed a stack of DVDs and went out to the main floor to put away the product. I noticed a tall man in a hat weaving through the aisles. I could tell he was looking for something specific, but just assumed he would find it on his own. He stopped one aisle away from me and was scanning the shelves. I heard him sigh in frustration, so I walked over to him, still holding the stack of DVD’s, and asked, “Sir, can I help you find something?”
He jumped at the sound of my voice and turned to face me, parting his lips into a smile that exposed his pearl-colored, perfectly straight teeth. They practically sparkled under the fluorescent lights.
“Yeah, can you look to see if you have a movie here for me?” His voice deep yet soft, sent shivers down my spine. There was a faint scent of cologne in the air, I couldn’t quite place it, but it smelled familiar. Comfortable. Nostalgic.
He was wearing a black baseball cap, but underneath I could see perfect strawberry blonde curls that were too beautiful to be on a man’s head. His eyes, the purest blue I’d ever seen, reminded me of a picture I had seen in my high school geography textbook of the beaches in Bora Bora. Deep, blue, alluring with the slightest hint of green.
I studied his perfectly imperfect complexion. His sculpted jawline and cheekbones seemed like they had been chiseled from marble. His shoulders were broad and wide. I could tell he was strong. I was lost in him until I realized he was staring at me, waiting for a response.
Hello! What’s wrong with you? I shouted to myself.
I shook my head and chuckled. “I’m sorry, what movie are you looking for?”
I guided him to the front counter so I could check the computer. I could feel his eyes on me with every step and my hands began to sweat. I had been balancing that stack of DVDs in my arms for a few minutes and when I went to set them on the counter one fell to the floor. I bent down to pick it up not realizing he was doing the same. He grabbed the case before I could and I noticed a tattoo peeking out of his sleeve. As he handed me the case, my fingers brushed his. He was cold, like ice.
“Thanks,” I said, trying to hold my composure, goosebumps covered my body.
I glanced at the movie case: Bonnie and Clyde.
I knew the movie well. Two people who were so in love they were willing to do anything for the other, even kill. I almost idolized them. They were just two kids who fell in love and on the wrong side of the law. It wasn’t a picturesque relationship, their devotion is what drew me to them.
I typed his movie title into the system, Battle Royale, and found one in inventory. I googled an image of the cover photo on the walk to section B.
Black binding; red writing.
What is his cologne?
Black binding; red writing.
I want to run my fingers through his hair.
Black binding; red writing.
What would it be like to hold your hand?
Black writing; red binding.
To smell his natural scent.
Black biting; red winding.
FOCUS!
I could feel his eyes on me again as I skimmed the wall for his movie. I looked up and our eyes met. I quickly looked away.
Black binding; red writing.
“Found it,” I shouted as I reached for the case. I held it up for him to see. He moved towards me with determination, slightly intimidating with his muscles tightening the fit of his shirt. I got nervous again. Why was I so nervous around him? I didn’t even know him.
In four strides, his long legs had his six-foot frame towering over me. I had to look up at him like a child standing at the foot of a tree. I wanted to climb him.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “I’ll also take Bonnie and Clyde.”
We walked back to the register in silence. I rang up his movies and off he went, with nothing more than a thank you. I took a deep breath and grabbed the stack of DVDs to put them away. As I walked, I rearranged the titles in alphabetical order until I bumped into a customer and the stack crashed to the floor. I quickly dropped to my knees to pick them up, embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. Oh my god, I’m so sorry” I said pleading for forgiveness, as someone else reached for a case. The person knelt down to help and reached for a case. The peek-a-boo tattoo. I looked up and he was inches from my face. His breath smelled sweet like a Starburst. I wanted to taste it.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to,” I said, panicked. I swallowed hard.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said through a chuckle. We stared at each other for a moment. I found myself counting his freckles. My eyes traced his masculine jawline to his soft, blush colored lips as he licked them and quietly said, “I’m Jonah.”
I stared longer, not knowing what else to do. Why was I frozen?
Say something, stupid!
“I’m Korynne, but everyone calls me Kory,” I said as we got back to our feet. I felt my knees buckle and my hands tremble. My heart pounded my chest.
“It’s nice to meet you Kory. Hopefully we’ll bump into each other again.”
I swallowed harder and nodded silently.
He turned on his heels, strolled down the main aisle and walked out the door. He stole one last glance at me over his shoulder, and our eyes met. I felt a foreign feeling inside me. My heart raced as I replayed our interaction in my mind. What is happening?
