Rory closed the door behind Angelo. His arrival was unexpected, she didn't know how he found her, but now she knew why. And she was happy for her friend, she of course had heard wee snippets of Angelo over the years, and it was always clear at least to her that they were more than just childhood friends.
Rory liked to look out for people it had often led to people taking advantage of her goodness though. She liked to call them emotional vampires. It made her seem standoffish and often she said things to people she didn't mean just to push them away.
Self preservation.
Other than Raven she had her shop and that's all she felt she needed. She didn't go out and party like other girls her age instead she devoted her time to her craft, reading and eating.
She set up her tattoo parlour a few years ago now, she was still paying it off, but as it was in a bad area, she got it at a steal. It'll be all hers one day and she could not wait.
Her clients where mostly the kind of men others would run from. They were criminals, made men or mafia bosses. She didn't know why they came to her, but she was grateful for the business. Her calendar was booked solid for months ahead and she needed the cash.
She leaned against the door and let out a breath, sighing in relief. She acted all tough around these made men, it was the only way to survive but she often felt scared living all alone.
Her shop and home were her refuge and solace, but it was often isolating.
She peeled herself off the wall after deciding she couldn't get back to sleep following Angelo's visit, she padded off back to her bedroom to wash up.
She lifted her phone and contemplated messaging Raven. They were best friends; she should know Angelo called by. But then she thought she should not meddle in other people's lives so instead of messaging her friend she opened up the app to order breakfast.
She was a foodie, but she could not cook. Her kitchen was spotless as it was only ever used a few times and each time had been a disaster.
She could make ramen and that was it. But she had eaten the last of her ramen last night before bed.
As if knowing she was ordering food her stomach growled at her in protest.
"Okay I'll feed you now." She sighed at her stomach.
She filled her shopping cart with necessities and a few extras and booked the delivery. It would take over an hour, so she set down her phone and walked to her ensuite.
Her apartment was small it had one bedroom with an ensuite and a living room that had an attached kitchen. To her it was cosy and all the space she needed.
She glanced in the mirror and was not surprised by her appearance but now she thought she didn't make much of a good impression on Angelo.
"Oh well." She laughed.
Her hair was messy, and she was pale. Paler than usual, she could pass for Wednesday Addams. She had a bad habit of staying up late working and sleeping for only a few hours at a time.
She yawned and jumped into the shower, after she dressed for work.
Today she didn't need her leathers for her bike, so she wore black skinny jeans with a matching sports crop top. She was not into fashion she had a uniform of all black usually. Black also helped her feel better about her curves.
She dried and straightened her hair; she left it down and loose. She applied her winged eyeliner and some mascara, and she was done. She preferred a natural look.
She headed to her desk and continued the clients tattoo sketch. Her client would be in, in a few hours so she had plenty of time.
After a while her stomach growled once again.
She glanced around for her phone, but she had left it in her bedroom. She walked the short distance to her bedroom picking up her phone she noticed it had been nearly two hours since she had ordered.
She opened the app and saw a message that there was a delay.
She huffed in annoyance. Her client would arrive shortly, and she had to open the shop soon. Once she started a tattoo, she wouldn't get a chance for a break unless the client wanted one and they usually preferred not to.
Knock Knock
Her head spun round, and she smiled.
"Yeah! Food." She ran to the door and flung it wide open.
"Thanks…" She was about to say her usual delivery drivers name but instead she was greeted by a wall of muscle. He must have been well over six and a half foot; she barely reached his chest.
He was pure muscle.
He had inky black hair that was short at the sides but longer on top with a lock falling to his eyebrows. His locks looked soft, but he didn't seem to be a man that would let you run your fingers through it. Her fingers wiggled wanting to touch it.
Her eyes roamed up his body and meet the softest green eyes she had ever seen. Green like the soul of nature.
She shook her head, lost in thoughts of drawing an endless green forest matching those piercing eyes.
She reached for the delivery bag and pulled on it, but he didn't let go. She frowned.
"Sorry if I was rude staring, thanks for the delivery." She tried to pull on the bag again, but he didn't let go.
She felt unsure at his stare and babbled, "You know only 2 per cent of people in the world has green eyes that's the only reason I was staring. Your unique."
His brows furrowed and she thought she noticed the start of a smile.
She didn't dare stare for too long, but she heard quiet laughter, it sounded husky to her ears like he didn't do it often.
Her head snapped up, but she had missed it. If he had smiled or laughed all traces where now gone. His face was stoic as he regarded her, his gaze pulling her in.
"Can I have my food please?" She held her hand out and he placed the bag in hers. She sighed in relief and closed the door.
But a large black boot stopped her door from closing.