The Man Who Saved Me

Chapter 2

“Go for it,” said Carlos.

Predictable, of course. Shonali had known he’d be all for it.

Carlos, with his dreads and many tattoos, would always be all for doing something just a bit crazy.

It wasn’t just that, though. Shonali had had to fight to get that confidence in her own body back. It had been a difficult road, and a tattoo would seal it. It would finally convince her that she had found her way again.

At least, she hoped it would.

Was she putting far too much pressure on something as simple and as complicated as a tattoo?

Shonali turned to Malia, who had dropped by during her lunch hour.

Carlos, Malia and Shonali had lunch together as often as they could. Carlos met clients often and was out far too much now. Shonali had been considering hiring somebody to do that work. Carlos was far too good with his hands to let him waste his time talking.

Malia was the sensible one, who worked as a real estate agent and was doing extremely well.

It had been Malia’s turn to get lunch for everybody. She had, of course, brought salads, much to Carlos’s disgust.

And Shonali’s.

Knowing them, Malia had got a loaf of bread, too, so Shonali was building sandwiches for her and Carlos. Shonali knew what Carlos liked – fully loaded. So did she, but without pickles.

Shonali had never liked pickles. But she did love the cheese and the generous helping of olives.

Malia looked at the sandwiches and shook her head.

“Carbs are bad,” she said.

“Carbs, yum,” responded Shonali.

Malia shook her head again, more firmly.

Carlos jumped in, as he always did.

“So, what do you think of the tattoo idea?”

Malia shrugged.

“I think if it will make Shonali happy, she should do it. Just not anywhere that’ll sag.”

Shonali snorted inelegantly as she laughed just as she bit down on her sandwich.

She chewed and swallowed hurriedly, grateful she hadn’t choked.

“I knew you would say that. I knew it. I should’ve made a bet.”

Carlos grinned.

“So what’re you going to get a tattoo of? I mean, it has to be something special, right?”

Shonali shrugged.

“I thought I’d get a thunderbolt, maybe build up to Zeus at some point.”

Malia’s eyes narrowed shrewdly.

“Because lightning never strikes twice?”

Shonali smiled. She’d known that Malia would get it.

“I should hope not. Anyway, it would be nice to have the reassurance. I don’t want it to be very elaborate, something stylized on my shoulder blade would be pretty cool.”

Carlos nodded, all enthusiasm.

“I think it’s perfect for you, Shon. Go to my guy. He’ll give you a good deal and he’s the best artist ever. He’s perfectly safe, too. Tell him I sent you. Actually no, I’ll call him myself and get you an appointment.”

Shonali let him go on. She knew that he needed to take care of the people he loved. She considered herself very lucky that he loved her, and Malia.

They were family.

Except she knew that Carlos has always looked at Malia as more than a friend. Shonali couldn’t fault him for that, especially when he had never crossed any boundaries with Malia at all. She’d just seen it because she knew Carlos so well.

Malia, of course, was oblivious. She usually was.

They’d make an unusual, but wonderful couple when they finally got together, thought Shonali.

If they got together, she amended.

“If you change your mind about Zeus, you can always get a cat next to it instead,” said Malia, making Shonali laugh again.

“Thundercats?” she asked, still giggling.

Carlos guffawed, loud and open.

Shonali let the easy friendship and camaraderie that meant so much to her, and had become precious routine, flow. She would never take it for granted.

She would never take anything in life for granted again. Sometimes, you really had to come close to losing before you could truly value everything you had.

As conversation turned to silly cartoons, Shonali joined in, as usual.

But she found herself getting distracted.

Thinking of Adam Catten early that morning had unsettled her.

Well, not just that. The nightmare had unsettled her more than she’d expected. She hadn’t been braced for it.

That’s what came with letting your guard down.

“Shon, are you all right?”

Malia’s words cut through her reverie.

Shonali smiled quickly, pushing all those disturbing thoughts aside.

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Has Fred tried to get in touch with you?”

Shonali sighed.

She couldn’t blame Malia for not completely trusting her to keep her promise that she wouldn’t let that slimy bas*ard back into her life again. She’d made that promise a couple of times and faltered.

“No. I don’t know, I mean. I’ve blocked him on absolutely everything. So I don’t even know if he’s tried to get back in touch with me. You don’t have to worry, Malia. I’m out of it for good, this time.”

“If he crawls back, you call me, Shon. I’ll give him something to remember,” swore Carlos.

Carlos’s abiding regret was that he had never gotten the chance to bloody Fred’s pretty face.

Carlos was a gentle giant in every sense of the word. But when somebody he loved was hurt, he could be fierce.

Shonali smiled at him fondly.

“I know you will. But I don’t think he’ll try anything. He’s terrified of Malia now, at any rate.”

Malia sniffed.

“He’s a coward. I’m glad he’s out of your life, Shon. See that it stays so. If you feel yourself beginning to cave, call me. Don’t hesitate. Don’t even think twice.”

Shonali nodded, swallowing the annoyance that she felt.

It was irritating to be treated as if she had no agency and no will power, but she had brought that on herself. She’d been a complete doormat with Fred.

But she’d just been so focused on trying to do her best. She had just wanted to do things right, give it everything she’d got.

That’s what you did with relationships, wasn’t it? You gave them everything you’ve got.

Of course, Fred hadn’t shared that belief, so things hadn’t worked out as she’d hoped they would.

No, it was for the best, of course. She was far better off alone than with that jackass.

“Right, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a showing in twenty and need to prep.”