Page 45 of Under My Skin

Chapter Forty-Five

LUCY

Pressing the phone to my ear, I wave to Everett as he drives off. “Hey, everything okay?” I ask, already knowing it’s a loaded question.

“Ah! You answered. Does this mean you were already on a plane, or have you not gotten on a plane yet?”

I let my head fall into my hand, the reality of my apartment coming back at full force. “I have not gotten on a plane yet. I’m sorry, I should have texted back. It’s been . . . a morning.”

“She hasn’t gotten on a plane yet,” she whispers to someone else—probably Dina.

There’s a muffled voice in the background, and Allison interprets the question. “Have you bought your ticket?”

“No, I looked last night, but?—”

“Good!” she practically squeals into the phone. “Good, good, good. Liability-wise, I think you’re fine.”

I perk up. “Really? Why?”

“Well,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “The guy came out to inspect the damage early this morning, and it looks like the wiring wasn’t up to code.”

“Wait. Seriously? We’ve never had any issues. ”

“I know! Crazy, right? So, the good news is the complex is likely liable for any damages, the bad news is that we all probably owe Jasmine an apology.”

“Why? I haven’t even spoken to her.”

Allison sighs. “Okay, I might owe her an apology.”

“Poor Jasmine,” I say with a laugh.

“To be fair, I had a lot of reasonable cause to think it was her fault. I’m still not sure I blame the wiring completely, but I’ll let her have this one.”

“So kind of you.”

“It is, isn’t it?” There’s the sound of keys in the background like she might be locking the door.

“So anyway, I don’t think you need to rush back here.

We have the report in writing, and it should be all you need to dispute any charges or fees they might try to pin on you.

” She pauses. “Unless you want an excuse to come home early?”

I look out over the street I grew up on.

The sidewalk where friends and I used to outline each other on the pavement.

The same birch tree that’s been there for as long as I can remember.

A week ago, I didn’t feel connected to this place at all.

It was just a part of my past. A setting for childhood memories.

But as I look out at the street now, I’m not sure I want to leave Copper Ridge in the past. I think I want new memories to take form here, too.

“No,” I finally say with a slight lift to my lips.

“I don’t think so. I think I’m going to stay for a while. ”

There’s a beat of silence on the other end. “For a while? Does this have anything to do with a certain tattoo shop owner?”

I drop my gaze and let my smile spread. “It might, but he’s not the only reason. I think this is where I’m supposed to be right now.”

“Damn,” she says like I’ve impressed her. “Well, okay then. Let me know when you plan on coming back, and I can help you with your stuff.”

“Thanks. I will. I miss you. Tell Dina I say hi.”

“We miss you! How are things with your parents?”

Just then, my mom walks out. “I’ll fill you in later. I have to go. Thanks again for everything.”

She says goodbye, and I disconnect the call.

“Was that Allison?”

“Yeah. She says I don’t need to rush back. It looks like there was some faulty wiring in the kitchen.”

Mom’s eyes widen. “Oh, that’s lucky.”

“Yeah,” I agree with a laugh.

“You know,” my mom says as she takes a seat next to me. “It was Allison and Dina’s wedding that kind of spurred all of this. You gushed about it and showed us those beautiful pictures. It really made me want that for your dad. There’s no reason for him to hide anymore.”

“You deserve to be happy, too.”

“Oh, I am happy. All I ever wanted was to be a mom. The rest of it was just part of the package.” She shrugs. “If I meet someone, so be it. But there’s nothing lacking in my life.” Bumping me with her shoulder, she adds, “Speaking of meeting someone. How’s Everett these days?”

“Smooth.”

“What?” Her lips twist. “I saw nothing.”

Looking down, I wring my hands in my lap. “I like him.”

“How could you not? He’s always been . . .” She searches for the right word. “Good.”

I nod. “He is. I think I might go to his shop for a little while today. There’s a café not too far from it where I can get some work done.”

“I’ll take you. Let me get my keys.”

Before I even have time to respond, she’s on her feet.

She comes back a moment later, and we get into her car.

The entire drive, an anxious excitement courses through my veins.

I thought I was coming here because something was ending.

I thought I’d be mourning the life I had, but what I didn’t know was how much I’d look forward to the life that will take its place.

By the time my mom pulls up to Copper Ridge Tattoo Co. I’m practically bouncing at the thought of seeing Everett again. Now, I get to spend as much time with him as I want. There are no secrets, nothing to hide, and this is only the beginning.

The familiar ding above the entrance gains the attention of everyone in the shop. All the artists are here today, and Troy greets me with an excited, “Hey! There she is!”

Everett stands behind the reception desk, his elbows resting on the desk as he reads over something. He looks up at the sound as he sets the papers down in front of him. He beams at me, and I easily return the gesture.

As soon as I walk to the front of the desk, he says, “Well, look who it is. Coming to say goodbye?”

Leaning over the desk, I slowly shake my head. “Nope.”

He raises an eyebrow. “The call was good news then?”

I nod and look down at the papers in front of him. “What’s this?”

“This,” he says, turning the paper toward me, “is my idea for the shop.”

My mouth falls open. It’s the sketch of me, sitting in the chair at the front of the shop, but he’s completed the entire scene now.

Everything about the place looks different than it does currently.

There are mounted light fixtures along the top of the wall, the stations all have uniform drawers with a shine to them that makes me think he’s envisioning them in copper, and even the front window has an updated logo to match the one I came up with.

“This is incredible,” I say as I continue to marvel over every tiny detail he put into it.

I look up at him. “But why not just draw it from scratch? I’m sure you’ll want different chairs for the waiting area. ”

He shrugs. “Maybe. But no matter what changes in here, I was hoping you’d still be a part of it. ”

My heart flutters in my chest. He changed everything about this place except for me, and he did it with intent and purpose.

I bite my lip as I stare down at the sketch because I don’t know how I got this lucky.

I came back to Copper Ridge because everything was falling apart.

But I already had all the pieces I needed.

They might not fit into my life the way I thought they would, but this new reality doesn’t have me mourning the way things once were.

Instead, I push up on my toes and press my lips to Everett’s, giddy with the prospect of what can be.

When I lower onto my heels, I grin. “There’s no place I’d rather be. ”

THE END