Chapter 51
Declan
Three Days Ago
“Don’t give me that look.” It could be my imagination, but I’d swear Sean pushes the needle in just a little harder than necessary, just for a second.
“You’re going to fucking bolt again?” he accuses. His eyes are trained on the spot on my chest he’s tattooing, but the angry slash of his eyebrows is unmistakable. “After everything you just said, after everything you’ve built here, you’re just going to up and leave?”
“I didn’t –”
“Forget me,” Sean cuts in. “Forget the shop, and the fact that we’ve got a good thing going here. You love her. I know you do, so don’t fucking deny it.”
“I didn’t say –”
“You love her, and you’re still going to walk away? Just like that?”
“Will you quit being a judgmental prick for five seconds so I can talk?” I yell.
Sean lifts his machine and sits back in his chair, glaring at me. The silence in the shop when he takes his foot off the pedal is deafening.
“Talk then,” he barks at me.
“Sean,” Frankie chides. “Be nice.” But when I look over, I note the way she glares at me, too. When she notices me looking, she just raises an eyebrow.
Well? that look says. Explain yourself.
“I received a job offer,” I confess. “From a shop down in New York. My old boss split from her partner and opened her own place, and a buddy of mine followed her. They’ve got a booth to fill.”
“Fucking christ,” Sean mutters.
“Will you relax?” I laugh, but it’s more exasperation than amusement. “I called him up and turned it down last night. I would have done it sooner, but I’ll admit there was a small part of me that liked having the option open. I didn’t consider it though, not seriously.”
“I didn’t doubt you for a second,” Frankie says proudly. I shoot her a look, but she only grins.
“What the fuck were you on about when you said you’re not sitting around and waiting?” Sean accuses. “You said –”
“Sean, buddy, fucking relax or I’ll call the guy back up and tell him I’ve changed my mind.”
“Asshole,” Sean says, though he’s smiling now.
“I need some time off,” I tell him. “I don’t have any appointments late on Thursday, and Friday was going to be a light day for me anyway. I reworked my appointments so I can have that day free. Sorry, I probably should have checked with you first.”
“I don’t care,” Sean says, waving me off. “But what do you need the day for?”
“I’m going to head to Boston Thursday night and crash on a friend’s couch. Friday I’ll meet with my therapist in person, maybe for the last time, and then I’ll pack up all the stuff I’ve left in my storage unit over the years. Time to clear it out and be done with it.”
“Shit, you’re serious.”
“I am. I’m all in here. On Elsie, on being your partner. If you still want me,” I add.
“Hell yeah, I do.” Sean grins. “You’re sure about this?”
“I’m sure.”
“My boys,” Frankie coos. “Hard to believe there will soon be three of you.”
It takes a few seconds for her meaning to sink in. “You’re having a boy?” I yell.
“We are,” she laughs. “God help me.”
“I’m gonna need your ass around to help keep this kid in line,” Sean tells me. “You look scarier than I do.”
“Fuck off,” I laugh. “Holy shit, you’re going to have a son.”
“Wild, right?”
“You guys are going to be the best parents,” I tell them. “He’s so lucky already.”
I want to jump up and hug them both, but I’m still lying down mid-tattoo, so it’ll have to wait.
A half hour later, Sean is finished and wiping down my newest ink. My first color tattoo. A permanent reminder of my girl with the flowers. Sean doesn’t say it, but he has to know it’s for her.
“Work things out with Elsie, will you?” he pleads before I leave. “This ‘space’ thing is bullshit, and you know it. Figure it out.”
“That’s the plan, buddy.” I stand and pull my shirt back on. “As soon as I get back, I think I’ll go talk to her.”
“Good.” Sean stands and claps me on the back in a quick hug.
“Go to Boston,” he says. “Pack up your shit. Then come back home and get your girl.”