Page 23 of Revere

“Promise you won’t judge?”

“Do I need to?” My eyebrows pinch.

Violet breathes out a laugh, pulling up a picture on her phone and turning the screen to me. “The top one is mine; the bottom one is his.”

Hers is the word Saint written in calligraphy with rose petals falling from it. They remind me of the neon petals on the tattoo parlor sign. Kole’s tattoo is simple, just Violet’s name written in sharp lettering. It’s not surprising given he seems to the point when it comes to her.

“Saint?” I hitch an eyebrow, glancing at her.

She bites her lower lip. “It’s just this thing…”

“Got it.” I nod sharply. “I don’t need to know anymore.”

Violet laughs, sliding her phone back into her pocket. “I’m getting it on my hip. It will be small.”

“Where’s Kole getting his?”

Her cheeks warm, and her gaze darts to Kole, standing at the front counter across the lobby. “Somewhere… lower.”

My eyes widen as I realize what she’s saying. “Seriously? He’s getting hisyou know whattattooed.”

“His dick?” Violet rolls his eyes. “You can say the word without bursting into flames. But no, not that. Justlowerthan mine. I’ll be the only one who sees it.”

“Well, that reinforces my decision to wait out here.”

“Understandable.” Violet smiles. “I’m going to check on him.”

I nod, and Violet crosses the lobby toward Kole. He’s looking at something in the case, but like he senses her whenever she’snear, his arm lifts the second she’s within reach, and he pulls her to his side.

Violet falls into conversation with the black-haired girl at the front desk, and I continue to scan the walls until I finally decide to get comfortable on the couch in the waiting area.

This is a waste of time. I could be at the library studying or working on my research paper right now.

I almost turned Violet down when she offered for me to join her today, but then Mila’s voice popped into the back of my head, and I made the decision I know she would have wanted me to make. The point of this summer is to live my own life.

Live.

Not hide.

So even if that means wasting an afternoon supporting my friend making reckless decisions by inking her skin permanently, I’ll be here.

After a few minutes, a man emerges from the back. He’s covered in tattoos, and from the way he plants an inappropriate kiss on the dark-haired girl working the front desk, they must be dating.

Violet offers a final wave as she and Kole follow the tattooed man into the back, and then it’s just me listening to music that makes me want to rip my ears off in the uncomfortable lobby.

I pull out my phone, and like Mila sensed my boredom, a text from her pops through.

Mila

You better be having a life for both of us this summer because Bristal is empty.

Patience

Empty sounds perfect.

Mila

You can’t see my face right now, but I’m rolling my eyes at that comment.