Page 17 of Chasing Ink (House of Ink #3)
Fuck My Life
S kye
Now I know the universe hates me. Two pink lines glaringly obvious.
I walk into my brother’s booth where he is prepping for a client and drop the stick in front of him. He looks up, a confused frown on his brow.
“What’s this?”
“Don’t act dense,” I say. “We both know what that is.”
“Skye...”
“Go and find him, Luke.” I say flatly. “I don’t care what you have to say or do but you fucked up my life and now you need to fix it. I will not raise this child on my own.”
“He left because he wanted to.”
“He left to fix my life! He left because you couldn’t be reasoned with! And I want him back.”
Laine walks in and stares at both of us before turning to my brother. “He loves her, Luke. Whether you like it or not. He calls twice a day just to ask how she is doing.”
“What?” we ask in unison.
“You’re hurting your sister, yourself, your best friend, and our damn business. So now you need to fix this.”
“You have no right...”
“I have every right. Just like you did when Irene left.”
He stares at Laine, but I can see the moment he gives in. He knows that he needs to make peace with this and move on, or he is going to lose more than just his best friend.
“How do I find him?” he asks.
“I’ll give you the address.”
They walk to Laine’s booth, and I hear them talking but I leave them alone. That is, until my brother walks out of the tattoo parlor. Laine is waiting for me, already locking the front door, when I walk out of the booth.
“He begged me not to tell you,” he says softly, “and as long as both of you were semi okay, I kept my mouth shut. But this isn’t about you two anymore.”
“Is he okay?” I ask, my voice a hoarse whisper.
“No, babe, he most definitely is not okay. But he believes he is doing the right thing, and you know how fucking pig-headed he can be.”
A broken laugh falls from my lips at the perfect description of the man I love.
“He misses you and every time I tell him how sad you are it breaks his heart,” Laine says. “Luke will bring him home.”
“If he doesn’t, you need to give me that address.”
“If he doesn’t, I’ll drive you there my damn self.”