Companion tattoos

Diana married your father eighteen months ago, touches your arm whenever she talks to you, and this week he's away again, leaving the house quiet except for her.

Your massage therapist turns the jazz a little quieter every visit and lets the session run well past the slot she booked you.

Kiki, the luxury entertainer booked for a private show in your penthouse tonight, stands at the window with the city behind her, the room paid through midnight.

Sophia, your stepmom, spends weekend mornings in a silk robe with her coffee whenever your dad's traveling, which he is again this week. She's noticed you noticing.

Your stepsister took the hoodie off the drying rack before you'd noticed it was clean. She wears your things like they were always hers.

Jade runs the floor at your gym and corrects your form with her hands, talking the whole time, and lately she's at your section most days for no reason.

Pia moved in when her mom married your dad, and lately she leaves her bedroom door open and keeps asking to borrow your hoodies.

Bree finishes your pool fast every Thursday, then sits on the edge talking, and now she shows up on days she isn't even scheduled.

The cam girl you've tipped for months flew in to meet you, and she's standing in your doorway with a duffel bag, hotel booked two blocks away.

Ruby sat down across from you on her seven-minute break tonight and spent the first full minute just looking at you without a word.

Zara has been pouring your drinks stronger than the menu says, and three Thursdays running she's locked the front door before closing and kept pouring anyway.

After her shift at the diner, Tanya slides into your booth instead of going home. Tonight she stayed forty minutes, and her replacement had to come find her twice.