Page 15

“Ha ha, you’re funny. I wasn’t at the window watching or anything. Reese was telling me about it at work one day. I’ll message you the address in case you get brave.”

“Thank you.” I’m not sure if I’m actually grateful or not. I know that I should either pluck up the courage and do it or just forget about it. Maybe having this address sitting on my cell will be the kick up the ass I need.

Deciding against lazing in bed all day, I pull my hoodie off, remove my leggings, and open my closet. I grab the first thing I put my hand on, a black T-shirt dress, and pull it over my head.

After running my fingers through my now-dry hair, I grab my purse from the dresser and slip my feet into my flip-flops. At the last minute, I turn and pull my sketch from the mirror, just in case Brooke is right.

“I’m going out,” I say as I pass Brooke’s door.

“Do you want company?”

“No, I need to clear my head.”

“Okay, have fun.”

I climb into my car and start the engine. The music is still on low after my devastating drive home from my aunt’s yesterday.

Jesus, how was that only yesterday?

Grabbing my cell, I quickly shoot my aunt a text to check in with her before turning the volume up. I back off the driveway and press my foot on the accelerator.

I don’t have a destination in mind—I just intend to drive until I feel the need to return home once again, but I’m not surprised when I pull up to a parking lot that I’ve become very familiar with over the years.

Ignoring the benches, I walk up to the top of the hill and drop onto the grass.

This is my happy place. The spot I come to when things in the town below get too much. All I can hear is the sound of birdsong and the very faint crashing of waves in the distance.

Lying back, I close my eyes and allow the afternoon sun to warm my skin.

I think back to last night and how easily I followed Corey to that hotel and cringe at my behavior. One suggestion of a good night and I follow his lead like he’s the fucking pied piper.

My stomach clenches uncomfortably. I’ve spent years finding other outlets to help me deal with everything that happened, but one threat of losing another person I love, and I fall straight back into old ways.

I hate myself for it. It doesn’t matter how many times Brooke tells me that it’s different, that I’m different. I still feel the same as I used to back then after making yet another bad decision.

Children playing somewhere in the distance force me to sit up. I look down the hill slightly to see them running around and laughing. The sight is like a baseball bat to the chest.

This place is where my parents used to bring us to play. We learned to ride our bikes without training wheels here, we flew our kites, and it was where we’d spend hours chasing butterflies.

I sigh as tears burn the backs of my eyes. There are so many memories of them in this town that I’ve often wondered if I should have left, if it would have made it any easier. But then I think of Brooke and her parents, and my aunt. I could never leave them.

Without any family to take me in, I found myself being bounced around foster families and group homes after I lost them.

Each one was worse than the last. I’d assumed it was karma. It was my fault they’d died that day, so it was the universe punishing me for being so selfish.

My final family was totally different from any I’d experienced before, and I had no idea how to handle it. I’d left behind the ones who only cared about the money they got for taking in an orphan and found myself inside a loving one, which, for some fucked-up reason, genuinely wanted me there.

I couldn’t believe it the day I was dropped off to find this lovely house with seemingly happy and normal parents. There had to be a catch. I’d spent the past few years in hell—enough to know there was always a catch.

But I was welcomed into their family as if I were their own and shown to a bedroom bigger than I’d experienced in a lot of years. It was unbelievable, but I couldn’t handle it.

To this day, I have no idea why they put up with me.

They did everything they could for me, but I pushed back at every opportunity.

I’d skip school and end up being returned by the police when they found me off-my-ass drunk somewhere.

I’d climb from my bedroom window to escape, to find a distraction I so desperately craved.

I was the teenager from hell, I know that, but they stood by me, and Brooke and I struck up a sisterly bond that to this day hasn’t been broken.

We are the most unlikely of friends, but she’s seen me at my darkest, and, just like her parents, she never let me go. For that, I’ll forever be grateful.

The light wind blows and movement at my feet catches my eye. Reaching out, I pull the dandelion from the ground and hold it up in front of me, inspecting the seeds.

Sucking in a deep breath, I purse my lips and blow. The seeds are immediately released and dance off into the warm afternoon air, floating away to find a new life elsewhere.

My heart clenches at the same time my cell pings.

Pulling it from my purse, I find my best friend’s name staring back at me. How does she always know?

Brooke: If you need me, call me x

Scrolling up slightly, I find the address she promised to send me.

Could I?

Her words from earlier come back to me. Today could be the day, you know.

Placing my cell back into my purse, I stand. After taking one last look around and breathing in the fresh air, I head back to my car.

The address is for the other side of town. I have no idea if they’re open or where exactly it is, so I decide that while I’ve got nothing better to do, I’ll have a little road trip before going home and getting another grilling from Brooke.

I stop off at a coffee place and grab myself an afternoon snack and one very strong cappuccino that will hopefully help keep me awake before I carry on.

When I get closer, I put the address into the GPS and allow it to guide me to my destination.

It has me pulling into a dark and dingy parking lot which looks less than appealing, but as I drive around, I spot the neon light from the studio in the distance.

Something flutters in my stomach, but I have no idea if it’s nerves or excitement.

After killing the engine, I sit there staring at the tattoo studio for the longest time. I’ve learned the location—I could leave, knowing that one day, when I feel ready, I could return.

But that isn’t what happens. Instead, I find myself pushing the door open and stepping out. I look around, feeling a little uneasy about the parking lot, before making my way toward the glowing sign. It looks familiar somehow, but I don’t know where I might have seen it before.

A few doors down, there’s a bar. The temptation to go and get a drink to give me a little courage is strong. That’s exactly what the old me would have done.

I tell myself that I’m stronger, that all I’m going to do is go in and ask about getting an appointment.

As I get closer, a pink “Open” sign glows, putting an end to any chance I had of not being able to go inside.

I push the heavy door open, and I startle when a bell chimes, alerting whoever is here that I’ve joined them.

As nerves assault me, I glance around the space.

There are huge black couches in the center of the room with an elaborate chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the light casting unique shadows around the walls that are covered in ink designs.

But they’re not like the ones I’ve seen before.

There are no simple love hearts, or images of Tigger.

It’s artwork. I take a step toward one of the walls, my eyes not knowing which bit to focus on first as a heavy pair of footsteps approaches me.

When I turn around, I find a middle-aged man with short hair and quite possibly the biggest beard I’ve ever seen. Of course, he’s covered in ink.

“Afternoon, how can I help you?” There’s something in his voice that relaxes me immediately.

“Um … I’d like to see about getting a tattoo.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place.” He winks at me, and the twinkle in his eye makes me smile.

“I’ve got a little time now, if you’d like to discuss your plans?”

I start to believe that I can do this, that he’ll be able to keep me relaxed enough to go through with something I’ve spent years dreaming about.

But then everything changes.

“Don’t even think about taking her back to your room, Snake.” My entire body jolts at the sound of his voice a beat before my skin erupts in goose bumps.

He’s here.

My eyes dart around, but I can’t see him. That doesn’t mean that my body doesn’t immediately react to his proximity.

I back away from the desk, my heart pounding uncontrollably in my chest, my hands trembling.

Of all the fucking places for him to be, why does it have to be here?

Just when I thought I was going to take control of just a small part of my life, there he is, turning it upside down again.

Snake’s chin drops as I move toward the door, but the second Corey steps out from the shadows, my body freezes.

“I’ve got this.”

Snake looks between the two of us, concern written all over his face, and for a moment, he refuses to move.

“Snake,” Corey barks, effectively forcing him to leave. “Well, well, well, look who it is.”

Dread fills my stomach, thinking that he’s angry with me for leaving like I did. I don’t know why I care, and that pisses me off more than anything.

“I had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to stay away.”

“What? No, that’s not what …” He rounds the desk, his eyes running the length of my body. I can read his thoughts as if they’re my own. He’s imagining last night.

Fuck. This was a massive fucking mistake.

“I … I …” I stutter, wishing I was closer to the door so I could escape.

Sadly, Corey has other ideas.

“I think we should go and discuss that tattoo you want.”

“N-No, it’s okay. I just stopped in on a whim aaaand—” I squeal as his fingers wrap around my wrist, and he pulls me into him.