Shane blushed visibly, drew her mouth together in embarrassment and looked at her shoes. She could hear Carmen laugh a full, rich laugh. Shane chuckled despite herself and looked up to see Carmen’s bright smile and captivating, shining eyes. "Yeah, Shane," Carmen said in a laugh. In all honesty, she wanted to try out the other woman’s name on her tongue, and that gave her a fun excuse.

Shane liked the way that sounded. Relieved, she muttered a "Sorry man," to Jake. Thankfully, the buzzing stopped and he wiped off the tattoo for the last time and grabbed the saran wrap. Shane stood and Jake bandaged her arm and back with masking tape and saran wrap. "Only the best for me, eh Jake?" Shane joked. Jake chuckled in response and stood to stretch his long legs.

"Now like last time, leave it on for two hours, go home, take it off, wipe them down with warm water, keep them hydrated with unscented lotion and no swimming until they’re healed." Glancing at Shane, then Carmen, he asked, "Want a cigarette?" He figured he’d give her a reason to wait around for Daniel to be done with Carmen, and give himself a chance to talk to his friend. Sure enough, Shane nodded in agreement and stepped outside with him.

For a moment, Carmen panicked when she thought Shane was leaving. Through the open door, she caught a snippet of their conversation and heard Shane say "Yeah I’m waiting for her, do you think I’m an idiot?" Carmen willed Daniel to step it up, and within ten more minutes, he had finished. Daniel bandaged Carmen as Jake had done for Shane and gave her similar care instructions. Carmen thanked him, tipped him and sauntered to the door.

The door opened, grabbing Shane’s attention away from her cigarette, and Carmen walked out. "Hi" Shane smiled confidently. Carmen cocked her head to the side and with a small smile, replied "Hi yourself." An awkward silence ensued and Jake stomped out his cigarette, told Shane not to be a stranger and followed a new customer into the store.

"Uh, what did you get done?" Shane asked. Carmen’s tank top was still hiked up, and her pants were still lowered, exposing the lean lines of her abdomen, which were crying out to be traced by lips and fingertips. "Down girl," Shane told herself. In the back of her head, she heard the therapist telling her to be more calm about these situations. Not every encounter had to end in sex anymore.