Talks like a valley girly, walks like a valley girl, curses like a sailor.
"What is going on here Sam?" I ask and notice only three people working on a Friday night.
"What is none of your business, just a little something to welcome you to the shop." He says and hands me a plaque with my name on it, designed by him and all his artistic glory. "Sam..."
I look up at him and Asa, Otto and CD come hug me. "We are proud of you Jen." He says and takes one of the five-dollar bills Mya gave me for a tip and places it in the framed plaque and secures it. "You are officially one of us." He says and they all clap.
"You guys are nuts, I have been piercing a while."
Dali comes from the back hallway with Noah holding a cake that said 'Welcome to the Paradox' in hot pink and black plaid and I knew Bright made it when I saw the box's insignia Brew's Bakery.
"You just got your first client out the door, happy, successfully pierced and definitely returning. Your certificate is on the wall and the website now. That makes it official." Noah says and kisses my cheek.
"I wouldn’t be here without you Noah." I say and hug him closer.
"Back-atcha babes." He says and kisses my cheek again while everyone hugs me and welcomes me.
I take a picture of the cake and send it to Cal with a description.
Me: Your sister just got her tragus pierced by me and the whole shop got me a cake to celebrate my official start with a paying client, not a volunteer or walk in. Awesome right?
I take a picture of my plaque and send it to him to.
Me: They saved her tip to put here to.
I am basking in the glory of being Jenny Pope Branding, Dermal and Piercing specialist galore and leaving the cocktail waitress at the strip club behind. I don’t know if Axe would be proud of this one day, but I am. I look at my friends, my people and the family I built and am grateful.
"So, we are done for the day, we can celebrate and kick back or go home for the night?" Sam says and we all laugh at the last part.
"I am game." I say and everyone but Noah agrees.
"I can’t doll, I have some band business tonight as you know. But I will take you out for booze and grub this weekend. Deal?"
I of course agree, knowing he and the guys will be working late tonight on band promos or something. I look at my phone and see the messages from Cal.
Cal: Red, I am so proud of you. Winna pierce me?
Cal: That five bucks is worth five hundred Firefly. So proud.
I melt at his text and the words proud are the greatest he could give me.
Me: I will pierce your dick, you bet.
I send, so happy that there is no weirdness from his earlier text. I believe his words and effort every day and that’s enough.
Cal: There better be one hell of an incentive to get me to agree to that Red.
I laugh out loud and they all look at me. "Sorry, hold on and I will give you my attention." I say and shoot him another text.
Me: I can think of twenty right now. I will tell you all about them tonight. We are celebrating on Sully's dime tonight, so I will be home late too. Thanks, you for letting Noah come congratulate me.
Cal: Have fun, you deserve it. Call me if you need a ride Firefly.
Just to fuck with him I send another text even though everyone is waiting on me.
Me: I will just call an Uber.