Chapter 11 #2
My lips tip up in a small smile thinking about the three of us. “Yep, since I was three years old and Charlie adopted me as her surrogate sister. Coop’s her older brother.”
Grinding his teeth, Hal blows out a slow breath, as though he’s trying to calm himself down. “You ever go out with him?”
I look up at him in shock before making a gagging sound. “Eww. Gross, no! He’s like my older brother. Why would you even say that?”
Not to mention the whole Wren and him thing. Even if I did have a crush on him, it’d never happen after everything. Luckily, I feel nothing toward Coop other than familial affection.
Hal chuckles at the horrified look on my face. “It’s a reasonable question, wild girl. I’m sure you’ve always had guys lining up around the block.”
Snorting while taking a bite of the ice cream, I cough as some of the sweet treat makes its way up my nose. My cheeks burn as I, once again, prove I’m anything but ladylike.
Maybe if you ever acted like a lady instead of a boy, a decent man like Hal would want you.
I grit my teeth as I shove her voice out of my head. I know I’m not good enough for anyone who doesn’t want to use me to be interested in me, but I don’t need to be reminded of it. Not now when my stupid little heart flutters every time Hal smiles or places his hand on my lower back.
Sighing, I brush a few strands of hair off my forehead. “Yeah, not quite, Hal. We’re not all heartbreakers like you and your friends.”
I can guarantee those five men have broken many, many hearts over the years. If I’m not careful, I’ll be one of them. With how fragile my heart is right now, I can’t afford to let that happen.
“Somehow, I don’t believe that.” Hal lets the subject go as he finishes his ice-cream cone. Pushing up his hoodie sleeves, he tucks his hands into his pockets. I can’t help but let my gaze rove over his swirling ink, wondering about the stories behind all of it.
Hal notices. “You like tattoos?”
On him? Absolutely.
But you’d be hard-pressed to find something I don’t like on him. That man could wear a burlap sack and still be one of the most attractive guys I’ve ever seen.
Realizing I’ve taken too long to respond, I rush to say, “Yeah. Depending on the tattoo, they can be cool.”
Hal’s eyes light up at my response. “You ever wanna get one? I promise they don’t hurt too much.”
I snort. “I already have one.”
Hal turns to me with wide eyes before he grins at me and waggles his eyebrows. “Oh, really? Where? Can I see? Lemme guess, your lower back? Oooh, maybe your inner thigh?”
I choke on a laugh. “No, Hal. It’s right here.” I place my hand over my heart, resting on the line-art tattoo. I got it the first weekend we moved here, part act of rebellion and part trying to find myself.
He sobers at the placement and the bittersweet look on my face. His voice is soft as he asks, “What is it?”
“It’s a lark, wren, and two finches sitting on a branch.” The artist did a wonderful job transforming my rough sketch into something that looks beautiful, classic, and reminds me of the people I love every time I look at it.
His face scrunches up in confusion. “I get the lark, but why the others?”
“The wren is for my sister, and the finches are for Charlie and Coop.” Coop’s finch is where he belongs next to Wren, and Charlie’s finch is tucked next to mine.
We’re our own little family. We might be broken and small, but we always have each other’s backs. And, for a while there, the four of us were truly happy.
Hal’s voice comes out thick when he says, “It sounds beautiful, wild girl.”
“What about you?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation to lighter topics. I need a reprieve from all the heavy I’ve been talking about with Hal before I break down again. “Have a favorite tattoo?”
Instead of just telling me, Hal pulls up his hoodie and undershirt to show me.
I almost swallow my tongue at the expanse of inked skin and rippling muscle he’s showing off.
My gaze slowly wanders up his black-and-gray tattoos, his washboard abs, and the gun hanging from a shoulder holster until it snags on his pierced nipples.
My eyes widen, and I jerk my gaze away, like I saw something I wasn’t supposed to. Heat rushes to my cheeks and pools in my core. I studiously try to ignore the arousal that’s lighting my blood on fire.
Abs, even ones as nice as Hal’s, shouldn’t have me this hot and bothered. Absolutely nothing good can come from feeling anything for him, much less jumping into bed with him. I’m not even going to start on the weapon he has casually tucked under his hoodie.
“This one is for Cam,” he rasps. “I didn’t get it for a long time after his death to make sure I knew exactly what I wanted.”
At Hal’s voice, I look back at him and focus on where he’s pointing at a small tattoo over his heart. There’s a green dragon protectively cradling a teenage boy in his wings. Clouds and stars are sprinkled around the scene, giving it a slightly hazy, dreamlike quality.
“It’s gorgeous, Hal,” I whisper past the lump in my throat. “Did your twin like dragons?”
Hal’s lips tip up in a bittersweet smile before he drops his undershirt and hoodie. “Something like that. What kinda shifter are you?”
My eyes briefly widen at his question, but I quickly smooth my features. “Anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?”
I’m aware I’m dodging his question, but it’s not like I could tell him, even if I wanted to. Not when I don’t know myself. I’ve never met anyone like me before, and I’ve never told anyone what I can do.
I’ve watched enough movies to know exactly what happens to people who can do weird stuff like me. We end up in cages in a government or corporate lab, which I’d like to avoid, thank you very much.
He barks out a laugh. “Believe it or not, wild girl, but nope. I rarely give enough of a shit to ask anyone about themself.”
I roll my eyes, not believing him for a second that this isn’t a routine he uses on all the girls he picks up. “What makes me so special?”
The grin drops from Hal’s face briefly before he plasters it back on, although it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I dunno. There’s just something about you, Lark.
Something about you that I can’t get out of my head.
Something about you that makes me wanna know everything there is to know about you and spend as much time as I can with you. ”
I wish I could say I don’t get what he means, but I can’t. Because I feel the exact same way about the five of them, and that scares the shit out of me.