*** Penta protested as Cash pulled her to her feet. “I am not getting a tattoo.” She found his sexy and loved to trace them with her fingers—and her tongue—but was certain one would look ridiculous on her. What about the kids? Delilah had already been hinting she wanted one and she was only fourteen. What kind of example would it be? “It’s only temporary.” Cash cupped her elbow and licked a rivulet of ice cream that had escaped from her cone off her wrist. “Mmmm. That’s delicious. I want more.” She didn’t think he was talking about the icy treat. Her entire body shivered at the swipe of his warm tongue and goosebumps rippled on her flushed cheeks. She struggled to corral her straggling thoughts. “How long do they last?” Cash tickled the inside of her wrist with the tip of his tongue and then released her. “I don’t know. Probably a couple weeks, depending where you put it. Come on.” He strode down the hill and she followed reluctantly. “I don’t think we have time for this.” She ate the last of her ice cream and detoured to a garbage can to toss in her napkin. “It’s going to rain and I didn’t bring an umbrella. We should go back to my house.” Cash tilted his ruddy head to look at the sky and then raised a skeptical eyebrow. “There are four clouds and none of them look like rain. Nice try.” He stopped in front of a canvas tent. The inside walls were covered in images depicting all the designs available. Two middle-aged men hovered protectively over not-quite teenage girl as a woman with short blonde hair drew a rainbow on the girl’s forearm with a fine ink pen. A stir of interest replaced Penta’s concern. If these parents thought it was okay for their daughter... “You promise it will wash off?” “I promise.” Cash looked at her with a smile hidden in his eyes, the one she was sure only she could see. “Penta Unleashed, remember? Be a bad girl and get a tattoo.” She straightened her spine and made her decision. “What would I get?” “What do you want it to say about you?” He lifted his hand, the one with the phoenix tattoo across the back. “Make it meaningful, even if it only is temporary.” Just like us, Penta thought with a sudden stab of sorrow. The tattoo wouldn't last, just like her relationship with Cash. Just like us. *** Now hop to Leslie Hachtel and see what flash fiction she's come up with!
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