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Abiding Ink(5)

By:Ranae Rose


“Sure.”

Mallory retreated to her room, her feet aching inside her sneakers as she contemplated the imminent prospect of whipping up a delicious, nutritious and completely sugar-free meal her mother would actually enjoy. Mallory was no natural-born chef, but over the past few years – since her mother’s doctor had put her on insulin – she really had been making a serious effort to master healthy cooking. It was something she could do … even if it wasn’t enough.

Sighing, Mallory flipped open her laptop and hit the power button. A little escapism before dinner wouldn’t hurt. As soon as she had the web browser open, she typed in the search term she’d been itching to query for the past several hours: Hot Ink tattoo Pittsburgh.

The studio’s website came up right away and she double-clicked, her heart skipping a beat.



* * * * *





“Ooh, donuts from Ms. Health Nut. What’d we do to deserve these?” Wanda, a nurse with flaming red hair and an infamous sweet tooth, swooped down on the box Mallory had just set on the break room table.

“My mom bought these from some kids doing a school fundraiser. She’s diabetic, so we can’t have them in the house. She thought you all might enjoy them.”

“Aha.” Wanda reached in and fished one out. “You’re dumping them on us. Still, thanks.”

“I’ll tell my mom you said thanks.”

Wanda gestured toward the coffee maker. “I know these greasy, gooey donuts are totally beneath you, but are you at least going to join me for a cup of coffee?”

It wasn’t that junk food was beneath Mallory; it was just that with all the healthy shopping and cooking she did for her mom, it was easier to live that way herself, too. Lead by example and all that. Plus, she didn’t want to be diagnosed with diabetes herself ten or fifteen years down the line.

“What do you say?” Wanda prodded.

Mallory glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until her shift started. Plenty of time for half a cup. After pouring one, she sank down into a chair across from Wanda.

“So what are you planning to wear to Dr. Anthony’s party?” Wanda asked, licking a dot of glaze from her lip.

“I have no idea,” Mallory replied truthfully. “Why?”

“Oh, I was thinking about getting a few of the girls from our shift together for a little after-work shopping trip sometime this week. If anyone has time, that is. Plus…” She leaned forward and flashed Mallory a wink. “Rumor has it that Dr. Anthony is very glad that you’ll be attending the party alone.”

Suspicion rippled over Mallory, just like her breath rippled over the surface of her coffee. “What do you mean?”

“I mean Julie said he made a comment about it yesterday. You told him you weren’t bringing a date, right?”

“Only because he asked.”

“Well…” Wanda shrugged. “Apparently he asked because he’s interested. According to Julie, he said he was looking forward to getting to know you better. You know, because you’ve only been working under him for six months.” She flashed another wink.

Ugh. Mallory downed a sip of too-hot coffee, then another. Six months as Dr. Anthony’s subordinate was more than long enough to know exactly why the nurses called him Dr. Heartbreaker behind his back. His love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude was legendary, and while some of the nurses might have been eager to take a chance on him despite his reputation, she wasn’t one of them.

“So, wanna come along on my little shopping trip?”

“Let me know if you’re able to get anything together,” Mallory eventually conceded. “I guess I could use a new outfit for the party.” Like a chunky cable knit, floor-length sweater dress with a turtleneck, maybe. Or, if she couldn’t find one of those, a nun’s habit would work. Anything to escape Dr. Anthony’s roving eye. Even if she didn’t find his perma-grin appealing, she didn’t mind working with him. She liked her current position, and she wasn’t going to risk it by falling victim to her boss’s carnal appetites.

“Maybe I’ll bring a date,” she mumbled as she downed the last swig of her coffee and pushed her chair back from the table.

“Huh?” Wanda looked up from her own empty coffee cup.

“Nothing,” Mallory said. Where would she find a date in time for the party? It was only a week away. Unlike Dr. Anthony, she didn’t have a string of eager would-be lovers lined up at her metaphorical door. In fact, his rumored fascination with her – if she could even call it that – was the closest thing to a romantic overture she’d experienced in months.