Table Of Contents
Other Books by A.L. Brooks
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Other Books from Ylva Publishing
About A.L. Brooks
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www.ylva-publishing.com
Other Books by A.L. Brooks
The Long Shot
Write Your Own Script
One Way or Another
Up on the Roof
Miles Apart
Dark Horse
The Club
Never Too Late for Heroes by A.L. Brooks
(The Superheroines Collection)
Acknowledgements
Thanks once again to the team at Ylva for all their work in bringing another novel of mine to life.
Big thanks to my wonderful beta readers, Katja, Erin, and Amy, and to Cari for the extra read-through at the end.
And an enormous thank-you, with a big bow on top, to my editor, the editor-in-chief herself, Sandra Gerth. Oh wow, did you ever push me on this one! But thank you so much for your guidance, your patience, and all the things you taught me throughout this process. I owe you so many ice creams…
Lastly, a few words for anyone who has picked up this book because they, too, are questioning their sexuality. Know that if and when you are ready, there is a wonderful community waiting to welcome you in. Follow your heart; you won’t regret it.
Chapter 1
“You want to do what ?” The cappuccino in Carmen’s hand wobbled precariously as Felicity’s words sunk home.
“You heard me.” Felicity sipped from her own coffee, then put her cup down on the table.
“And you’re only just telling me now?”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while.” Felicity grinned. “I want one before it’s too late.”
“It appears our definitions of ‘too late’ are very different.”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t be like that. Loads of people have them!”
“Yes, they do.” Carmen held up a finger. “When they are much younger and their bodies don’t have the—” She caught herself just as Felicity frowned.
“No.” Felicity’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you want to finish that sentence.”
Carmen shook her head. “You’re right, I don’t.” She paused. “But…really?”
“Carmen, I love you, but sometimes you can be a complete stick-in-the-mud. I’m not ancient—I’m forty-four!”
“I know, and I didn’t mean to imply you were ancient. But, well, isn’t it a bit of a cliché? I mean, a middle-aged woman who’s just divorced husband number two and—”
“Middle-aged ?” Felicity screeched.
Several heads in the café turned.
Carmen’s ire rose. She gave everyone a wave that she hoped suggested they could turn their attentions elsewhere and glared at her friend of over twenty years. “I apologise. But you do know what I mean.”
Felicity huffed and sipped her drink once more. She blew out a loud breath as she lowered her cup. “I suppose so. But I’m still going to do it. You only live once.”
“Well, that brings up yet another aspect to this. Isn’t it awfully dangerous?”
Felicity snorted. “They use a needle, Carmen, not a carving knife.”
Carmen rewarded her friend with a withering stare, which was blatantly ignored. “I know that, but don’t you have to be concerned about the transmission of diseases if the needles aren’t clean?”
“Of course—if you go to some backstreet, unlicensed hack. Funnily enough, I don’t plan to do that.”
“But how will you know if they’re safe?”
“Carmen, please, give me some credit. I’ve researched! I know exactly where I’m going.” Felicity cleared her throat. “The appointment is at eleven.”
“Eleven? You mean today? ” Carmen stared at her. “You didn’t think to mention that when you invited me for coffee this morning?”
Felicity did have the grace to blush. “Well, yes, I may have left out that little titbit of information. But I want you with me! And I thought you might not come if I told you what was going on. Please, darling, I want to do this. And if nothing else, I’d value your opinion on the design.”
“I… But… You…” Carmen stopped talking since she was clearly incapable of forming complete sentences.
Felicity leaned forward and patted her hand. “Close your mouth, darling, you look like a fish. And drink up; it’s nearly time to go.” Her eyes shone with excitement.
Carmen downed the last of her cappuccino, knowing there was no point in arguing any longer.
Ten minutes later, they stood outside the tattoo studio.
“Okay.” Carmen turned to Felicity. “I’m only going to ask this one last time. Are you sure?”
“I am.”
Carmen looked at the studio frontage and read aloud the name emblazoned on the window. “Phoenix Tattoos.”
The banner was, she had to admit, artfully done, with a small image of a phoenix placed between the two words, which themselves were stylised flames in a wide range of oranges, reds, yellows, and gold. The window was tinted, so she couldn’t see inside, but the exterior of the studio was spotlessly clean and the wood-framed door was polished to a beautiful shine.
Okay. Not a total cesspit, then . Maybe Felicity had researched properly.
Felicity let out a small squeak that Carmen hoped came from excitement. “Come on.” She grasped Carmen’s arm and pulled her up the step.
The inside of the studio was as surprising as the outside. The tattooist’s chair sat towards the back of the room, centred on a shiny, cream-tiled floor and surrounded by stainless-steel counters. On top of those stood plastic boxes of all sizes, clearly labelled and organised into neat rows. Nothing was out of place, and everything looked immaculately clean. It was more like the kitchen of a fancy restaurant than how Carmen would ever have imagined a tattoo studio to be.
At the entrance was a small desk. To the right was a waiting area decorated with two large brown leather sofas which sat opposite each other on what looked like a real wood floor. A low table between the sofas held a selection of magazines and large folders. A water cooler took up one corner of the room and a machine for making hot drinks the other.
Wow. This looks
