Tattoos & Unicorns
Kayla Carson
Published by Peyton Wyatt Inc., 2020.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
TATTOOS & UNICORNS
First edition. September 19, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Kayla Carson.
Written by Kayla Carson.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE | TWO YEARS LATER
More by Kayla Carson
Further Reading: My favorite Mistake
Also By Kayla Carson
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Cover Image: Yuliya Kirayonak
Cover Design: Kayla Carson
Editor: Kimberly Reese
Songs/lyrics mentioned: 'It's you' Lewis Brice. Written by: Lewis Brice, Ben Simonetti, and Niko Moon
Thank you to Roanna, for helping me find my voice when I was struggling. To my mom for always listening to my craziness, and encouraging me to always follow my dreams. To my sister for creating the best book jackets, and to my grams, my number one fan.
ONE
“ARE YOU DONE YET?” Morgan called from the living room. “It's a dress Ronnie, not a damn tent!”
Morgan Astor, my best friend of nearly twenty years and my wedding dress designer. I didn't need Vera Wang, or Monique Lhuillier, Morgan Astor was the next big thing. She was designing clothes before she could walk, so when my boyfriend of twelve years finally decided to pop the question I looked no further.
As I looked at myself in the floor length mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door, I couldn't help but smile. Derek and I were high school sweethearts, and I always imagined us sharing a life together. But standing here now made everything that much more real. In two more months I'd be a married woman and in three, Morgan and I would be business owners.
“Ronnie!” Morgan yelled impatiently.
“Coming!” I called back, before smoothing the dress over my stomach one last time.
When I walked out of her bedroom, and into the living room the smile on her face was instant.
“Veronica Locke, you look absolutely gorgeous!”
I couldn't disagree with her. The dress was tailored to me, and hugged my curves in all the right places. It was a mermaid cut, which I never thought that my five foot three frame could pull off, but of course my best friend was a genius. She managed to make me look taller somehow, and hide all of my imperfections beautifully.
It was strapless, and instead of a zipper in the back it was tied together like a bodice with silk ribbon. Morgan came up behind me then to adjust it, before taking a step back again. I gave her a little twirl, and she clapped her hands excitedly.
“I still can't believe you're getting married.” She sighed.
“Morgan, we've talked about this.”
“I know you love him, Ronnie. But he's just so... boring sometimes.”
“Derek isn't boring he's just-”
“Safe?” She interrupted me.
“What's wrong with safe?” I countered. “He loves me, and I love him.”
“You're right. I'm sorry.” She said, switching gears. “Let's get you out of this dress so we can get ready for tonight.”
“Do we have to go out tonight?” I half whined.
“It's business, Ronnie. How do you expect to do well in New York without any real connections?”
New York, the fashion capital. If I was being completely honest with myself I was scared. I was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. I even went to College here, opting out of better known universities even though I had the choice. My parents weren't rich, but my dad did very well for himself. He paid for my college tuition up front, and is our main investor for our boutique. The problem with a town like Raleigh, is that when it comes to fashion there isn't much on the job front. I had a shiny new degree that I needed to put to use, and I just couldn't do it here.
“I'm raiding your closet.” I said, conceding.
“You always do.” She teased, before untying my dress.
Nights like this were where I shone the brightest. Even though I despised dressing up in over the top clothing, and spending money at restaurants where they only served you a portion of what you actually wanted to eat, it was the only way to gain investors. With our boutique so close to opening, we needed to secure our funds, and that's where my bachelor's degree in marketing came into play.
Morgan opted for her signature little black dress, and a pop of red lipstick. She was a tall, leggy blonde, and it went without saying that she was a natural beauty. I, on the other hand had dark brown hair, and hips that I always hated. My short build only made me feel wider, and even though Derek never complained I compared myself to my best friend a lot.
I found a burgundy colored dress in her closet, and when I stepped into it I instantly crinkled my nose. It was a problem I've had since childhood. My self esteem was seriously lacking when it came to my appearance. My brain on the other hand was my money maker. I had learned pretty quickly that Morgan could get what she needed by batting her lashes, and swaying her hips. But it just didn't work for me. So, I found other ways to impress people.
I graduated top of my class at Meredith College, and had impressed my professors so much with my ad, and marketing research that I was able to form a few key connections. One being an up and coming designer who would be showing at New York fashion week next fall. She was extremely generous with sharing her own connections, and that's how Sew New came to be.
“Do you think that I should curl my hair?” Morgan asked, as she brushed past me to stand in front of the bathroom mirror.
“No. The humidity's high today it wouldn't do any good.”
“You're so lucky that your hair is curly!” She huffed.
I rolled my eyes. “It's frizzy, and thick, and I hate it.”
“Stop doing that.” She said, swatting my shoulder. “You're perfect just the way you are.”
“Says the blonde super model standing beside me.”
She rolled her eyes this time. “I'm going to pretend that
