February’s Bad Boy: Aiden (Bad Boys of Mustang Mountain #2)

Epilogue

TY

The buzz of my tattoo machine fills the shop, a steady hum that has become second nature over the years. In my chair is a woman who is barely old enough to drink, getting her first tattoo. She tries to flirt between the pain, but she isn’t my type, at least not anymore. I’ve tried to let her down nicely, but she hasn’t stopped, and it’s starting to get really uncomfortable.

“So, do you have a girlfriend?” she asks, her voice laced with forced casualness.

I ignore the question, keeping my tone professional. “Almost done,” I say, wiping away the excess ink and blood. “Just gotta finish this shading, and you’re set.”

She shifts slightly in the chair to get my attention. “Come on, you’re seriously not going to answer?”

I exhale through my nose and keep my expression neutral. “I try not to mix work with personal life.”

She lets out a little laugh, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Well, maybe after work, then.”

“I don’t think so,” I say and get back to shading. At least while I’m tattooing her, she is quiet.

She pouts, but I don’t take the bait. I just focus on my work. Once done, I lean back and set the tattoo gun aside. “Alright, you’re good. Go to the counter, and they’ll set you up with aftercare instructions.”

She lingers for a second, waiting for me to say something else, but when I don’t, she mutters quickly and finally leaves. Relief washes over me.

The front door chimes as someone walks in. I glance up to see Priest. He’s probably checking in before heading home.

“Ty, you about wrapped up?” Priest’s deep voice confirms my guess.

“Yeah, give me five.”

I clean my station, strip off my gloves, and finally turn to Priest. “What’s up?”

“Just checking in. Was she your last appointment?”

“Yeah, I’m heading over to help Kara close up before I crash.”

Priest’s smirk is all-knowing. “Ah, at the bookstore.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t start.”

He holds up his hands, grinning. “Not saying a word, man. Just enjoy your night.”

I flip him off as I grab my jacket and step out into the cool night air. Mustang Mountain, Montana, is quiet, even as people shuffle from the closing stores as I make my way to All Booked Up, Kara’s bookstore a block down Main Street.

Kara has been my best friend since our days at Mustang Mountain High when we were trying to escape shitty family lives. That is what bonded us. We were able to understand each other in a way no one else could.

When I was all about hiding the pain with parties and girls, she was the one person who saw through my bullshit. She kept me grounded and was the one who was always there for me. She was the one who encouraged me to get into tattooing and make a career out of it, even when my guidance counselor said it was a mistake. It turned out to be one of the best things to happen to me.

I take my time walking down to the bookstore. I stop at the Merc to grab two cups of Ruby’s coffee.

“One for you and one for Kara, I presume?” Ruby smirks at me.

“Of course,” I say, and pay for the coffee.

Ruby makes Kara’s just the way she likes it with a splash of peppermint creamer. I’m pretty sure Ruby stocks it just for her. Then she hands me both cups with a smile.

“Tell her I said hello. I’ll see her next week. The next book in the series I’ve been waiting on to release comes out, and I already pre-ordered!” Ruby says.

“I’ll let her know,” I say, heading back into the chilly March Montana air before crossing the street and walking past a few more stores before getting to the bookstore.

I push open the shop door, inhaling the familiar scent of books and vanilla. The place is cozy and warm, a direct contrast to the chill of the night outside. This bookstore has become like my second home. I helped Kara build it up and get ready to open it, and I spend a lot of my free time here with her.

When I walk in, Caitlin and Paisley are talking to Kara at the counter and a bunch of giggles fill the air as I make my way to them. I slip behind the counter and set Kara’s coffee down, and that’s when I see Kara’s face is bright red. Caitlin and Paisley have huge smiles on their faces, like they’ve just caught her in something scandalous.

“Hey, Bookworm. What’s going on?” I ask, instantly suspicious.

Kara groans and covers her face with her hands. “I am freaking out.”

I’m on high alert. Kara is the level-headed one between the two of us. If she is freaked out, then I know I will be too. I remain calm as Caitlin chimes in before I can speak.

Caitlin grins. “Oh, you should tell him.”

“Tell me what?” I step closer to her, worry and a bit of panic racing through my gut.

Kara peeks up at me through her curtain of long dark brown hair, looking half-mortified and half-panicked. “I… got asked out. He has to head out of town for business for a few days, but he asked me to go to dinner when he gets back.”

I blink. That’s what makes her blush like this? “Uh… congrats?”

She huffs. “No, not congrats! I don’t know what I’m doing, Ty. I haven’t dated in… well, since that disastrous date with Todd Evans at our senior prom and you know how that ended,” she says.

Do I ever. It ended with him having a broken nose, two black eyes, and me with a set of bloody knuckles.

It also sent him to juvie and got me suspended. And it was totally worth it after that creep tried to drug her and take advantage of her at prom.

“What do I even talk about? What if I do something embarrassing? I already agreed to the date, but now I’m panicking.” Kara continues, pulling me from my thoughts.

Everyone is quiet for a moment, and I’m not sure what to say because my gut reaction is to try to talk her out of the date. I’m about to open my mouth, but I clamp it shut when I see the look on Paisley’s face.

Paisley’s smirk turns teasing. “Ty, you should give her dating lessons.”

I freeze. “What?”

“You know, show her the ropes,” Caitlin adds, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Teach her how to flirt, how to act on a date. You have plenty of experience with this kind of thing.”

She is referring to my playboy days in high school that continued into my early twenties until just about a year ago, when I realized I wanted more from life. It was when I realized I’d rather be around Kara than any of those girls. Kara has been my biggest supporter of “finding myself,” as she calls it.

Kara bites her lip, looking up at me hopefully. “Would you? I know it’s a lot to ask, but it would really make me feel better.”

This is a terrible idea. I know it. But looking at her—wide green eyes, and nervous smile, I’m completely screwed. I’d do anything for this girl, and she knows it.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Yeah. Alright.”

She beams, her whole face lighting up. Caitlin and Paisley exchange knowing glances, but I ignore them. I tell myself this is just a favor for a friend, nothing more.

But deep down, I already know the truth.

I’m in way over my head.