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CHAPTER TWO

Lainey

H ave you ever had one of those magical moments when everything feels so unbelievably perfect?

That’s how I feel right now. Rolling down the Montana highway in the passenger seat with my two best friends, Carly and Himari, beside me. The scenery is spectacular with the majestic mountains jutting into the clear blue sky. The summer wind is blowing in through the open windows, taking my blonde hair for a ride. Carly is driving. The music is blasting. Open Skittles and chip bags on the center console. Himari’s bare feet out the window in the back. We’re all singing at the top of our lungs, heading to some obscure out-of-the-way tattoo shop so we can each get a tattoo to celebrate the end of college.

We just graduated after a long four years. Summer is starting. Our whole lives ahead of us…

It’s perfect.

But it won’t be for long. Himari is heading back to Japan at the end of the summer and Carly will probably move back home to Boston. I still don’t know where I’m headed once our lease is up at the end of July. I could go home to Florida and stay with either of my parents, but my heart is not really into either of those options. I don’t know. But I don’t have to stress about it today. Right now, in this moment, everything is perfect.

We have all we need. Life can’t possibly get any better.

Free Falling by Tom Petty finishes and Carly turns down the music. “Any more Starbursts back there?”

“Oh yeah,” Himari says as she dumps a bunch into Carly’s open palm.

We pass a few cows in a field. One looks at me. I wave to her. She doesn’t wave back.

“You’re sure this place is going to be good, right?” Himari asks. Out of the three of us, she’s the most nervous to get a tattoo. I think she has a thing with needles.

“It’s the best tattoo shop around,” Carly says. “Remember the big wolf on Jason’s back? He got it there.”

“Jason was so hot,” Himari says, fanning herself. “I’m going to miss these American men.”

“You can always stay,” I tell her.

She smiles sadly and then looks out the window. I know she’s going back. She misses her family. A part of me wishes I didn’t say that. I don’t want anything to ruin today’s fun vibe. I mean, it’s not every day that you get your first tattoo with your best friends.

“I never told you guys,” Carly says, grinning. “I gave Jason a blow job.”

Himari slaps the back of Carly’s seat. “Shut. Up.”

“Get out,” I say, chuckling. “When?”

“At the Saint Patrick’s Day party,” she says, looking pretty pleased with herself.

I laugh to play along, but my stomach is quivering a little bit. I don’t really like hearing salacious stories like this. Carly and Himari definitely took advantage of their college years. We all shared a rented townhouse, and there were more than a couple of guys coming and going from their rooms during that time. Meanwhile, my room was locked up and out of commission for anything more than sleeping and studying. No men for me. No, thank you.

That wasn’t part of my college experience. I had no interest in that at all.

I glance at the GPS as Carly goes into detail. More detail than I care to know.

We have seventeen minutes left until we get to the Heat & Ink Tattoo Parlor. It was over ninety minutes away, but Carly convinced us it was worth the drive. Apparently, they have a woman there who specializes in flowers, which is perfect for me.

I want to get a white lily on the back of my shoulder. I told the girls it was my favorite flower, which it is, but the tattoo means more to me than that. It’s a present for my future soulmate. It’s a symbol of my purity and commitment to him. A gift to let him know that I waited for him to arrive.

Carly and Himari can’t believe I’m still a virgin, but to me, it’s the most natural thing in the world. I can’t imagine doing anything with someone who’s not meant to be mine.

I guess I’m old-fashioned that way. They think it’s silly, but I don’t know. I think it’s kind of romantic.

“Did you decide on what you’re getting?” Himari asks Carly once they’re done with all that salacious talk. She wants to get an inspiring quote on her back shoulder, but she wasn’t sure which one.

“I’m ninety-five percent sure,” she says as she drums her hands on the steering wheel. “Ready for it?”

“Go,” I say, grinning.

“She believed she could, so she did.”

“Love it,” Himari says.

Carly looks at me with a wince. “Is it corny?”

“It’s classic,” I say. “And it’s true.”

I can tell her brain is turning as she looks out the windshield .

“What’s the backup tattoo?” I ask.

“Beyond fear lies freedom,” she says. “I don’t know. This is so hard. It’s going to be on me when I’m ninety-five years old.”

“Yeah, but your skin will be so saggy that it will cover up most of it,” Himari says and we all crack up.

Himari is getting a koi fish on her back shoulder. She’s been wanting one since before we met.

We’re all freaking out when we pull up to the tattoo shop. It’s an adorable little cabin tucked at the base of the Montana mountains, like something out of a rustic dream. The wooden exterior is dark and weathered, the kind that makes you wonder how long it’s been there and how many stories it’s soaked up over the years.

A big maple tree towers over the shop, its branches hanging over the roof like it’s keeping watch. Neon signs glow in the windows—one flashing an intricate tattoo machine, the other a simple OPEN in bold red letters.

Carly pulls into the gravel lot, cutting the engine, and for a second, none of us move.

“This is really happening,” I murmur, my heart suddenly pounding. Now that I think about it, I’m not too fond of needles either…

Carly narrows her eyes on me, a smile tugging at her lips. “No backing out now, Lainey.”

“I’m not backing out,” I say, swallowing hard.

I don’t know why my palms are so sweaty. This is something I want. I’ve thought about it for months, spent hours scrolling through designs, sketching out ideas, picturing the ink on my skin. But now, staring at the bold red door of Heat & Ink, my nerves are humming like a live wire.

Carly throws open her door, steps out, and stretches. “Okay, let’s do this before I second-guess my life choices.”

Himari and I climb out, the scent of pine and crisp mountain air tickling our noses. I can’t believe we’ve been this close to these gorgeous mountains for the past four years and it’s the first time we’ve come out here. It seems like such a waste. This place is special. I can feel the energy tingling in the air.

A bird calls out from somewhere in the forest, sharp and high as we walk to the door. The wooden steps creak as we walk up. Carly is the first one to open the door and head in. She’s always been the bravest.

I take a deep breath as I step inside to the buzz of needles. The warm scent of cedar and vanilla hits my nose, but under the nice scent is a slight smell of sweat mixed with disinfectant and ink.

Carly walks up to the counter as I look around at all of the gorgeous tattoo art hanging on the walls—delicate florals, snarling wolves, intricate mandalas, and old-school flash art of daggers and hearts. These people are talented.

“Hello,” the big burly guy in the black apron says as he walks over with a smile. He’s massive with his T-shirt sleeves rolled up his big tattooed arms. He’s got a big brown beard, messy hair, and bright green eyes. “I’m Magnus. Welcome to Heat & Ink. First time?”

“For tattoos, yes,” Carly says, flashing him a flirty smile.

Himari giggles. Of course, Carly is flirting with him already. She can’t not.

But he doesn’t flirt back. He just heads over to the computer next to the old steel cash register. “Then you’re in the right place.”

I look around the room with my heart pounding. There are three leather tattoo chairs—two empty and one with a ripped shirtless guy laying on it. He’s being tattooed by a cool-looking girl with tattoo sleeves on her arms and straight black hair tied into a ponytail. She’s focusing on tattooing the guy’s magazine-cover chest.

“Hey, ladies,” the guy getting tattooed says, flashing us a sleazy grin. Carly and Himari giggle.

“He’s flexing,” Carly whispers and they laugh even harder.

The girl glances at us with the same fierce green eyes as the guy behind the counter. She’s beautiful. So striking. I’d love to have a cool style like that, but I’d never be able to pull it off. I have too much of a good girl next door vibe to pull off tattoo sleeves.

“Is that your sister?” I ask Magnus, because I’m curious like that. They have to be related to have those same piercing jade-green eyes.

“Yes, that’s my sister Victoria,” Magnus says, smiling, “and our brother Julian is around here somewhere.”

“That’s so cool,” Carly says, running her hand over the old oak counter. “My brother is an accountant. He’s so lame.”

An Incubus song is playing through the speakers in the ceiling as Magnus checks our reservation on the computer. “Who is getting the lily?”

I raise my hand. “That’s me.”

“Then you’ll be with Victoria once she’s done over there,” he says. “It shouldn’t be much longer. And I have a koi fish and a quote.”

“Quote,” Carly says, raising her hand.

“Koi fish,” Himari says, smiling wide.

“Julian specializes in animals,” Magnus says to Himari, “so, you’ll go with him. I’ll do the quote.”

He opens the window beside the cash and sticks his head out. “Julian!” he bellows into the outdoors. “You’re up!”

“Wish me luck,” Carly says as she skips over to Magnus’ station and hops into the big leather chair.

I swallow hard. This is real. This is happening.

Permanent choices being made in real time.

There’s no backing out now.

“So, what are we writing?” Magnus asks as he pulls up the stool beside Carly and puts on some black latex gloves.

My neck starts tingling when I hear the back door slam shut. It sounds like one of those old screen doors with an overly aggressive spring.

I touch the spot on my neck under my ear, wondering why it’s doing that. It feels like it’s buzzing .

“ Oh ,” I whisper when Julian walks in. He’s built like his brother, but shorter and stronger if that’s possible. He’s all muscle, but he’s not ripped like the sleaze-bag in the chair. He’s got a layer over it that looks perfect for snuggling up on the couch.

His arms are tattooed from the top of his wrists to under the tight sleeves of his white T-shirt, covering every inch of his thick muscular arms. He’s wearing a black apron like his brother and jeans that show off his muscular legs.

He’s hot. Really hot.

My breath quickens as I watch him clearing his throat. His jaw is clenched tight and his bright green eyes are on the ground like he’s angry about something. He’s intimidating. He looks mean but I can feel in my soul that he’s not. If he was an actor, he could play prison bully number one.

He grunts and clears his throat as he stomps over to his station, not even glancing at us. My eyes are locked on him as he grabs a full glass of water and downs all of it, making rough sounds in his throat as he drinks.

“Julian,” Magnus says to him, “the nice lady over there would like a koi fish on her back shoulder.”

His green eyes snap over to us, but they narrow on me.

I feel the intensity of his gaze gripping me like steel.

I can’t breathe as we stare at each other.

The world narrows to just him.

Julian .

His name vibrates in my chest, settling into some deep, secret part of me that I didn’t know existed until this moment. The part is ripped open now, the contents flooding through me, taking over. My pulse stumbles, then speeds up, heat rushing over my skin like a wildfire.

The demanding spot on my neck tingles so much I have to touch it and when I do, his nostrils flare. He inhales deeply, watching me the entire time.

“Not her,” Magnus says. “The other one.”

He doesn’t look at Himari. He doesn’t answer his brother. It’s like he’s lost himself in me. Like he can’t look away. Like he’s stumbled into a dream.

I know, because I’m feeling it too.

His green eyes devour me, undress me, shake me to my core.

What is happening?

It must be nerves for the tattoo. It must be stress from finishing school. It must be…

It’s not.

No matter how many excuses I can come up with, I know this feeling is not occurring from any of them.

This is something different. This is… I don’t know what this is.

“Himari wants the koi fish,” Magnus says, looking at his brother funny. “That girl is waiting for Victoria to finish.”

“No,” he says in a deep gruff voice that sends shivers tingling down my spine. “She’s mine .”

We haven’t broken eye contact this whole time. Everyone is watching us now, wondering what is going on. I wish I knew…

“She wants a flower,” Magnus says. “Victoria is the best at flowers.”

“I’ll go with him,” I say. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to go to him.

“Are you sure?” Himari whispers to me. “He looks a little unhinged.”

I feel unhinged. I feel like I need to be over there with his hands on me. I feel like I won’t be able to breathe until I’m over there.

“I’m sure,” I say as I hurry over.

He’s looking at me in awe as I hop onto the long black leather chair.

His sister Victoria goes back to work, but she keeps an eye on her brother, looking at him funny.

“What’s your name?” Julian asks, his big chest heaving up and down with every heavy breath he takes .

“I’m Lainey,” I say as I put my hand out for a shake.

He slides his big warm hand over mine, swallowing it completely.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he says, staring at me with a look of wonder. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”

I shiver when we finally let go.

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but in a way, I do.

It feels like I’ve been waiting a long time for him too.