Page 25

“He broke both of his legs?” I ask, wondering if Levi just got told a load of bull. Who breaks both of their legs?
Levi closes his eyes for a second, groaning in frustration. “Yes. The fucker was doing one of his YouTube videos. He jumped from the roof of his house onto a trampoline.”
“A trampoline,” Banner and I question simultaneously.
“Yeah. The trampoline broke and he landed on both feet. Broke his right one in three places and his left in two. He’s lucky the bone didn’t snap through skin, or that he didn’t damage his spine.”
Banner and I look to each other before facing Levi. “What’s his YouTube account name?” Banner asks, beating me to it.
Levi looks between us, then rolls his eyes. “You seriously want to watch that shit?”
“We do,” we say, chuckling at his expression.
“Can you do it? It’s for a competition in a magazine I entered, and the piece can take a few sessions.”
Banner nods. “If the art is good, then yeah.”
“Thank you. I’ll bring it home later. You staying again?”
Banner glances my way, silently questioning me. I shrug. “If you want to. I don’t mind.”
Levi relaxes when he nods to say he’s staying. “How come you’re back early?” I ask.
“I came to ask if you’d ring Banner. I was panicking. I’ve waited ages to get this spot in the magazine.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
Levi and Banner share a look, before Levi addresses me. “It’s a big tattoo.”
“And?”
“And it’s painful. It’s not something you’d have for a first tattoo. And it’s drawn for a male.”
I roll my eyes. “It can’t hurt that bad. Are you saying I couldn’t handle it?”
Levi steps back, turning to Banner for help. When Banner takes his own step back, his hands in the air, I roll my eyes.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t handle it. I just wouldn’t recommend something that big for your first time. Once you’ve had one and you know you can tolerate the pain, then look into getting a bigger one.”
“Good. Let’s go, then,” I tell him, walking over to the chair next to the front door and picking up my bag.
Levi and Banner are still standing in the same position when I turn around, watching me like I’ve lost my mind.
Banner snaps out of it first. “You can’t have your first tattoo without me there.”
I smile at that, remembering the time he was telling me he was going to take me when I was better. He didn’t know it then, but I was looking forward to it.
“You’ve got a meeting to go to, remember,” I remind him.
He shrugs, rolling his eyes as he pulls his phone out. “I’ll text Rafner to let them know I’ll be running late. He’ll be there early. I wouldn’t miss this for the fucking world.”
“Let’s go, then,” I tell them, giving Levi an imploring look.
He shakes out of his shock, and nods. “Okay, then. But if Mark asks, you totally begged me.”
I laugh. Mark doesn’t have a say; he’s covered in tattoos, just like Levi and Banner.
As we leave, the bounce in my step is evident.