Page 99 of The Vows We Keep

It takes hours. Partly because it’s a lot of ink. Partly because I can tell when Catalina is reaching her limit. Like me, she’s not used to sitting still doing nothing for long periods of time. But also, I can feel it in the way her muscles move beneath my fingers. They start super tense as her nerves take over, then adrenaline kicks in and the pain of the tattoo becomes almost Zen-like. Then they stiffen again, or she twitches as I move around her back so as not to focus on one area—which can feel unrelenting, especially by the spine. Once that happens, I say that I need a break, so she doesn’t have to.

I know my woman is being brave for me.

I don’t need her to tell me when she needs a moment.

In between inking sessions, we drink coffee and step outside for a breath of frigid air. Halo and Spark stop by with money from the deal we ran last night for the Irish. Money to be laundered through the tattoo studio as the day’s take.

Cat shows them her back. Halo tells her it’s hardcore.

Before she lies down again, I kiss her. Make her soft for me.

And I realize I’m doing all the shit Rae suggested without really thinking about it. Things for Cat’s comfort, things that show her I don’t take her for granted.

I’m not sure why I can’t seem to do that for anyone else but her.

With her, there’s an ease to it.

Maybe it’s because she’s never expected me to change for her. She accepts me as I am, which makes me want to be better.

Her tattoo makes me realize I should get some ink for her on me, show her this connection goes both ways. I try to think through where there’s room on my body. I could get a nopal leaf to match hers. Or ink her name on my ring finger.

Six hours later, I can tell she’s done. Catalina looks sleepy, and I’m somewhere between horny as fuck and exhausted. What she doesn’t know is that the outline of my name is deliberate. With the pattern weaving through it, the letters can be made to disappear at some point in the future if she hates it. And the inverse, which I pray is the outcome, I can color the letters in more fully to make them stand out.

It needs about three more hours’ work for it to be truly complete, but I’m done for the day.

Because my woman just had my name tattooed on her back. And I need her to know just how much that means to me by taking her home and taking care of her.

31

CATALINA

When I wake up, the bed is empty, but on the pillow is a stack of folded black clothing. I grab the one on top. It’s a woman’s vest, and I can’t help but smile. It’s a lightweight bulletproof vest to be worn under clothes. All of them are.

There’s a note on top. The script is utterly beautiful, and it simply says,Happy Valentine’s Day - Colton.

I count them, and there are seven vests. One for every day of the week.

It’s a sweet gesture. I got him a new industrial blender. I’m not sure the deal is fair, as I benefit from both gifts.

I reach for my phone on the bedside table and see the time. Nine thirty. But there is already a slew of messages.

Gwen:Happy Valentine’s Day, ladies.

Iris:Ahh! And to you, babe and all you other babes.

Briar:Everyone getting spoiled?

Rae:Umm, I got a flight to England and a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Me:Hopefully there are two tickets involved.

Rae:LOL! Two airplane tickets to England. One ticket to the Globe. King said it will be a cold day in hell before he’d sit through a Shakespeare play. What did you all score?

Iris:I got this. Meet Macushla. Mac for short.

She’s attached a photograph of a gorgeous puppy that hasn’t yet grown into the size of its paws.

Briar:Omg, I want to meet him so bad.