Read Inky for Free Online

the waves-giving life to her and me. Rocking us together, my woman, the sea and me. ” Holy shit.
    He was holding my hands. Just a small smile touching his lips with nothing but concern all over his face. Gus was just watching but Lisa was standing behind me, holding me up.
    “Come on, Ink. Why don’t you sit down and have a break,” Lisa said, loosening her grip on me. “I’ll get you…whatever he’s having. What are you having…whatever your name is?”
    “Corona with lime.” I didn’t catch the star-man’s name. I was too focused on his fingers as they slowly pulled away from me, soft and gentle. I almost wanted to have another panic attack so he wouldn’t let me go.
    I sat down a couple of stools away from him as Lisa served our drinks. I didn’t drink much at work and especially during a shift – Rusty’s rules. Today I was making an exception. “Thank you for doing that. How embarrassing.”
    “I used to get them when I was a kid. My mom used to sing that to me to calm me down.”
    Wow, he smelled good.
    “What brought them on?” I asked. Who’s nosey now?
    “My dad. Yours?”
    “My mom.” We picked up our beers in unison.
    “Cheers.” Looking forward, we both took a swig and sat in contemplative silence.

Chapter 4
    For once, I was up before Evan. We didn’t make it home until almost four but I couldn’t sleep. Rusty let Evan and his roommates stay a while after closing. They sang drunken karaoke songs while Evan and I laughed at their efforts; all in good humor, of course. I never did sing that night. After the panic attack, I just couldn’t do it.
    We finished our beers, I went back to work and my dreamy knight-in-shining-smells-good-nice eyes-guy left without a word. I stood in the kitchen caught up in the memory of him, making enough coffee for everyone when I heard Lisa’s door open.
    “Morning, Ink. Are you feeling better?” Lisa appeared in the kitchen looking like a Victoria Secret model with cute, pink, plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a matching pink, lace-trimmed camisole.
    “Yeah, I haven’t had an attack like that in such a long time. Sorry about that.”
    “I don’t know why you’re apologizing. Lucky that guy was there to help.”
    “What guy?” Evan asked, appearing out of nowhere and startling me. Talk about timing.
    “A customer.” I answered and casually went about getting mugs down from the cupboard. “He just kept telling me to breathe slowly when I had that panic attack.”
    “Ink, the guy was singing you a lullaby. He wasn’t just talking you off the ledge. He was serenading you.” And thank you, Lisa. My man is gonna love hearing that.
    “Some stranger sang you out of a panic attack?” Evan enquired.
    “Yes.” I said. That’s what happened. I wasn’t gonna lie about it, although I hadn’t planned on telling him. Evan wasn’t normally a jealous kind of guy but he might feel differently had he witnessed what happened.
    “Do you know what song it was?” he asked, taking the carafe from the coffee maker.
    “He said his Mom used to sing it to him. I didn’t recognize it.”
    “That’s too bad.” He said as he poured Lisa and me a cup of coffee.
    “Why?” Lisa asked.
    “Because it would be a good thing for me to know if you ever have another one. He’s not always gonna be around, but I will.” He handed Lisa her mug and wrapped me in his arms. Well, fuck me, it’s another glorious day in the arms of my man. That could’ve gone so differently.
    “I love you, Evan.” I said tipping my head back.
    “I know, baby.” He smiled.
    “Aimes is usually up by now. She must’ve had an even longer night than we did.” I stated.
    “Wow, Ink, you really are a heavy sleeper.” Evan laughed under his breath. It wasn’t long until I heard the last door open and a man, who can only be best described as a jar-head, swaggered into our kitchen.
    “Um, good morning everybody.” Our resident Marine said hesitantly.
    “Good morning, Gus. I guess