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“See the black line that follows along the outside edge of the eagle’s beak?” When I nod, he continues “All I want you to do is run over that line It’s faded so along the botto on the left side”

It doesn’t look too hard, they’re just straight lines, but I’ hih me It’ll kind of be like I’ll be part of him

I take a deep, encouraging breath and nod “Okay”

“That’s h me too

He hands me the tattoo machine and shows me the proper way to hold it He keeps his voice low as he explains, “I’ll press the pedal You just hold it against uide you”

He places a couple of napkins down on the chair beside me, puts the tiny cup of ink on top, then tears off a couple more napkins and folds them twice He looks to the floor and moves the pedal so it’s easier for him to reach

“You ready?”

“No,” I tell hiain I take another deep breath “Yes But”—I warn—“if it looks like crap afterward, it’s your fault”

“I’m not worried”

“I’rumble

All of a sudden, the ht buzzing sound I julower at his chuckle The vibration stops

“Dip the tip in the ink,” he ruain, then stops seconds later I lift the uides it so the tip is just above the area he wants worked on When he feels the tremble in my hand, he murmurs, “Relax”

My chest expands as I blow out air through my nose and try to calive hiently pressing down The minute the needle touches his skin, a bead of black ink appears over the already colored portion A weird sense of excitement fillsbehind a darker black line

He pulls the rab one of the napkins to wipe away the excess ink The line he reveals looks pretty daood, if I do say so myself I can’t help but send him a smile

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