Enough Read Online Free Page A

congregating behind me to see my ink.
    “Which is newest?” Rachel traced on my back.
    I assumed she followed the different designs. “The compass on my right shoulder blade.” Tony had done it two weeks before I’d left him He hadn’t known he was giving me the tombstone to remind me about his cheating ass.
    “Like the browns in it.” Rachel pulled my shirt up higher and I held the front of my green T in place so I wouldn’t be giving a show in front as well as back.
    “Damn, you have solid work, almost ready to cover those shoulders.” Rock whistled.
    “Yeah. Nothing makes me happier than new art. I have almost endless ideas, it’s just the cash to make it happen.” I tugged my shirt back in place and sat down.
    “Lucky for you our employee discount is wicked low.” Rock and the others laughed.
    I opened my mouth to ask more but Rachel interrupted.
    “You all want burgers or you going all exotic and changing things up?”
    Dare sat down but kept looking at me with this strange expression—not the sex god vibe, even more intense. I wish I knew what the look meant, but there was zero chance I’d ask him.
    “So I’m starved. Rachel, the burger and fries sound super.” I needed to change the topic.
    “Sure thing, sweetie. And to drink, what’s your poison?”
    Now I had to say it.
    This might be more awkward than the tat show. “Just a sweet tea, I’m likely to fall face-first in my burger with anything stronger. These guys are slave drivers.” I winked at her.
    With a laugh, she moved around the table, but I didn’t hear the other orders because my heart beat too loud in my own ears. Mouth dry, I glanced around but none of the guys stared at me like I had a third eye or some other strange deformity. Good, the first time was always the hardest for me.
    I never drank liquor, or any kind of alcohol to be precise, at least not since I was eighteen. Booze and I were a bad combination, and I’d seen firsthand what it could do if I embraced its tempting numbness. My no-drinking policy had been a sticky point for some in my past, but not even Tony, who tried for months to get me to drink, had succeeded. It was one area he couldn’t control and I’m sure that’s why he’d tried so hard.
    The guys took turns telling stories of stupid clients, and Rock turned to Dare.
    “Bro, you have the worst story, tell it.”
    Dare hesitated and then smiled wide. “Saved by the food.”
    As if on cue, Rachel brought food out and slapped down my burger and fries first. The heavenly scent of greasy beef and thick wavy fries made my stomach sound off again. She handed out burgers all around, and as soon as the last plate was down, I bit into my burger.
    Oh yeah, this burger was orgasmic, so good, better than an orgasm, at least an orgasm from my vibrator. I dug into the food, enjoying each bite. After the first three or four bites, I began to feel human again. I looked up to find the others eating just like me; probably nobody had eaten today.
    The food and company were good. It helped me become part of the group, like friends, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been out without someone owning me. It was damn nice to be a free agent who would go home alone and sleep like the dead.
    I popped the last fry in my mouth and finished off my sweet tea. “This has been fun,” I told the guys. “But I’m out. I need to recover for day three.” I said a quick round of goodbyes and moved toward the door.
    “Wait,” Dare called, and caught up to me in a second. “I’ll walk you home.”
    “It’s feet away, really—”
    He gave me his flat stare.
    “Love to have the company,” I muttered.
    He should’ve been named Brick instead of Dare—the man was stubborn.
    The sun had given way to night and stars shone overhead. I loved how I could see stars in Barden, even Texarkana had too much street light to see them in town. “Thanks for dinner.” I had to say something because the silence was heading toward