Epilogue
Lochlan
“ I got a graduation present that I want to show you.”
“From who?” I ask as she steps between my legs.
“Hayes felt bad he couldn’t make it to my graduation, and said he owed me.”
Hayes has been caught up in some shit since the day he saw Liv on my front steps.
He stuck around while Jo and I were bouncing around from place to place, but the moment we got back, he’s been gone more than he’s here.
I don’t fault him for it.
I always wanted him to get out of this place, but I’m worried about what he’s involved in.
We’ve been watching each other’s backs for years, and I know when something is wrong.
My new fancy security system tells me every time he comes in and out of the gates at all hours of the night.
He’s only keeping it from me because he thinks he’s doing me a favor, letting me enjoy my newfound happy life with Jo.
I have been enjoying it.
More than I ever thought was possible, but I’ll always remember where I’ve come from.
I want Hayes to get as far away from our past as I have.
Even if that means he doesn’t work here anymore.
“What did Hayes get you?”
“He didn’t get me anything.”
“I’m worried about what that tone means.”
“He did something for me. One of his hobbies.”
“Oh, God.” I can only imagine Jo on the back of his bike or something more deranged, and I brace myself for what she has to say.
“See.” She pulls up her silk nightgown, and I’m not sure what she’s showing me because I can’t stop looking at her standing nearly naked in front of me.
She lifts it higher, showing me a small strawberry on her rib cage beside her breast, no bigger than a real one.
“You let Hayes give you a tattoo right here.” I grip her waist, pulling her onto my lap.
She rolls her eyes.
“He’s your best friend, I knew you wouldn’t kill him. I also had clothes on. I just had to move my shirt up a bit. It took like two seconds.”
I growl, pulling her in closer.
“You’re lucky, I think it’s sexy.”
“Oh, yeah? And, if you were scandalized?”
“I’d have to punish you.”
She smiles widely.
She knows damn well I’d never be able to do anything to her slightly resembling punishment.
“I guess you don’t want to see my other one, then?”
“What the fuck? Where?”
“Right here.” She tugs down the waistband of her panties and points to her tiny heart that I can just hardly see in the moonlight.
The heart has an ‘L’ in the middle of it now.
“For me?” I ask in surprise, and she giggles.
“Well, yeah, of course. Hayes said you can come get a ‘J’ whenever you want, but…” She puts her hand over the tattoo of her on my ribs and smiles shyly.
“You don’t have to, it’s just a formality.”
“I’ll get it on my fucking forehead, fuck formality.”
She bursts out laughing, leaning into my chest.
“I love you, but please, don’t do that.”
“Whatever you say, darlin’.”
Thank you for reading!
The next and final installment of the Chance Encounters Series will be about Liv and Hayes.
You’ll find out why the ghost of her past sent her running…