When Lightning Strikes Read Online Free PDF Page A

said.
    "It doesn’t matter because I can't go to him for it anyway. The temptation is too great."
    "And you're convinced that you can't be a good example to him?"
    "The thing is, I don't want to do that. I want to date him. I want to kiss him. I want to hold his hand and go to the movies with him. Witnessing is for guys in suits on bikes."
    She laughed. "Those are Mormons, and there's no reason you can't witness to him and then date him afterward," she said.
    I let out a defeated huff. "That's what I'm saying… I don't want to be the witness. I don't know how to witness. I want him prewitnessed-to and ready for a girlfriend. That's what I'll be… the girlfriend."
    "You want me and Eli to go in there and talk to him?" she asked. She sounded sincere, which made me laugh.
    "Nooooo," I said.
    I could just imagine them all dressed in their Sunday best, going in there with a Bible and some tracts about why he should repent and change his ways. Witnessing to Patrick the way I imagined it, was pretty much my worst nightmare—and especially when you add the thought to doing it at Seven Stones with the other quick-witted atheists there to back him up. They'd eat Lauren and Eli alive.
    "Please don't try to go talk to him," I said. "I just called because I thought it was funny that I met Mr. Right and he was an atheist. I thought you'd get a kick out of that."
    "Are you going to avoid getting another tattoo, then?"
    "Probably," I said.
    That was the last thing I wanted to do. In fact, I wanted to drive up to that studio right then and see if his sleeve canceled so we could do another one tonight.
    "I guess you'll just forget about him eventually."
    "Oh, I don't really care," I lied. "I just thought it was funny."
    "It is pretty funny," she said. "I wish I could see what he looked like so I know what your dream guy is. I thought you were gonna go out with Stewart."
    She was talking about a guy at church that she and Eli were trying to set me up with. He was nice enough, but not the guy for me. I wasn't really trying to get set up with someone at church anyway. That thought made me feel a wave of frustration at myself. What was wrong with me that the idea of picking up a guy at a tattoo shop was a thousand times more appealing than picking up a guy at church?
    "Stewart's cool," I said. "But I'm not really looking to go out with anyone right now."
    "You're looking if his name's Patrick Mallory," she said.
    "What? How'd you know his last name?"
    "I had to look him up to see what does it for you. I'm on Instagram right now. His account says 'Patrick Mallory, tattooer at Seven Stones Tattoo in Austin. Upcoming tour fully booked. Please email with inquiries for booking in Austin later this fall.' I'm looking at his page right now. Your brother follows him."
    "What's his Instagram look like," I asked. "Does he have any pictures of his face in there or is it just tattoos?"
    "All tattoos from what I can see. It looks like it's his business account. I don't see any selfies or anything… oh wait… oh yeah, here's one."
    "Is it him?" I asked.
    She laughed. "How should I know? It's two guys. One's a big, Samoan-looking guy and the other's tall with dark hair. It's probably him because he's really handsome. Like all-American football star handsome. Wow."
    "I know, but he's smart and sweet and he travels the world doing this amazing art."
    We were silent for a few seconds.
    "Hey, Dr. Shirar's ready to finish up here. I'll call you later."
    "Okay, sounds good," I said. "Sorry for venting."
    "I like it," she said. "There's nothing I like more than some good old-fashioned atheist converting."
    I laughed. "I'll talk to you later."
    We said goodbye and I finished the drive to my house. I took a shower before downloading the Instagram app so I could check him out. It asked me to register with an email, and rather than go through all that when I shouldn't be looking at him in the first place, I deleted the app.
    I read a little and watched some TV, but no