And then there was the piercing station in the corner. A small setup with cushioned seats, a counter full of earrings and studs, sterilization tools, and a mirror angled so you could see the full effect before committing. Somehow, Phoenix had zeroed in on it like a predator spotting its prey.
"Don't you have enough piercings already?" I asked, trying to sound casual but feeling my chest tighten.
Phoenix tapped one of his existing piercings with a lazy smirk.
"I do," he said, clearly enjoying my mild panic. Then he leaned forward, pointing dramatically to his eyebrow. "But I need more. I want to get one here."
I froze. His eyebrow? That would hurt, wouldn't it?
"That's going to hurt a lot," I said, my voice a mixture of disbelief and concern.
"Yeah," he replied casually. "Piercings always hurt. That's kind of the point."
He turned toward me suddenly, eyes bright. "I think you should get another piercing on your ears. It would look really good on you."
