Epilogue #2
"Yeah. I am."
It is perfect.
Serva me, Servabo te.
Save me and I'll save you.
She hugs her chest. "Oh God. It's going to hurt a lot." She bites her lip. "What if I can't handle it?"
"You can," I say.
"What if I chicken out with just an s on my skin?"
"You won't." I stare back into her eyes. "You've survived a lot worse than a ten-minute rib tattoo."
She nods.
"Everyone is scared to get their first piece."
"You were?"
I nod. "Of course."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but I couldn't admit it. All that macho pride shit."
She laughs. "I can admit it. I'm... it's really going to hurt?"
Again, I nod.
"But I... I can handle it. I think." She motions to her bra pressed against her chest. "Can we do something about this?"
"Here." I take in the rest of the shop. Walker is still at the counter. He's making a point of not looking at us.
It's surprisingly sweet. But then he's been different lately. Ever since he switched from bringing home a different girl every night to a regular fuck buddy.
He insists I'm imagining things, but I'm not.
He's into that girl.
He wants a lot more than her body.
He'll figure it out eventually.
Until then, I'll taunt him about it.
"You two ready yet or what?" he calls out.
"Almost." I shoot him a give me a minute. "Avert your eyes."
He laughs. "You know I do rib tattoos all the time."
"Not on Kay, you don't." I turn back to Kaylee. Her soft green eyes are filled with an equal mix of nerves and excitement. "Here." I fasten a backless tube top out of gauze and tape it to her skin.
She laughs. "Fashionable."
I run my fingers through her hair. "You ready?"
"You're going to hold my hand the entire time?"
"Of course."
"Then I am."
I turn back to Walker. "You're needed."
"Story of my life." He laughs, goes to the sink, washes his hands, moves into the suite and motions to the bench. "Lay on your stomach for me."
"Okay." Kaylee moves onto the bench slowly. She folds her arms and rests her head on them.
I sit next to her and offer my hand.
She takes it.
My body gets light. Floaty.
Fuck. I'm as nervous as she is. More even.
Walker preps her skin then applies the stencil. It's really fucking cozy with both of us next to Kay, but there's no way in hell I'm moving.
He slides on his gloves and picks up his gun. His voice drops to a sincere tone. "You ready, Kaylee?"
Her voice is soft. "I think so."
"You'll get used to it fast. Trust me." He turns on the gun. "This is what it sounds like. I know you've heard it a million times, but it's different when it's right by your ear."
"Okay." Her lips press together.
He looks at Kay. Raises a brow. You ready?
She nods.
Presses her eyelids together.
"Breathe, angel." I rub the space between her thumb and forefinger with my thumb.
She sucks a deep breath through her teeth and exhales slowly.
Walker looks to me. Offers that same you ready? look.
Fuck, I must look as nervous as I feel.
I nod to him then turn back to Kay. "You've got this."
Still, she keeps her eyes closed.
She takes another deep breath. Another slow exhale.
"This is what it feels like." Walker brings the needle to her skin.
She mutters a curse. Squeezes my hand.
"You okay to start?" he asks.
"Stop asking. You're making me lose my nerve." She takes a shaky breath. "Just do it."
He chuckles. "On three."
She nods.
"One, two, three—"
She squeezes my hand as the needle hits her skin. Her eyes stay closed. Her lips stay pressed together.
"Breathe." I rub her hand with my thumb.
She nods as she sucks in a deep breath. Lets out a heavy exhale.
Her grip on my hand tightens.
Fuck, I'm too nervous to do my job properly. I'm supposed to keep her mind occupied. "Emma said she redecorated your place."
"Yeah." Kaylee's exhale is heavy with relief. She must need the distraction. "Mostly her room. She put up a bunch of new pictures of hot guys. She says you have to visualize what you want so the universe can bring it to you."
"You believe that?" I ask.
She grunts as Walker moves onto the second word.
"Um. Well, sorta. I mean, if you don't know what you want, how are you going to get it?
Besides, it's not just hot guys. She has all sorts of stuff about fashion.
And she has those business text books everywhere.
I think I talked her into summer school. "
"Yeah?" I ask.
"I'm pretty sure she already signed up. I've been really distracted studying for finals." She squeezes my hand.
"Did she change the main room?" I ask.
"You haven't seen it? It's all ocean themed. Teal, turquoise, sand, coral, paintings of mermaids," she says. "That will be my next one. The mermaid. Do you still have the art?"
"Of course." My chest fills with pride. She's only halfway through this tattoo and she's already desperate for another.
She grunts as Walker moves onto the third word. It's right over her rib bones. That's tender skin. It hurts like a bitch.
"These paintings any good?" I ask.
"Some of them. Some are... not up to Brendon standards." She laughs. "Emma was bragging about how you'll hate them."
"You like living with her?"
"Yeah. She's my best friend. Don't get me wrong." She pauses. Grits her teeth. "I want to live with you one day. I kinda hate you and my mom for your little not until I graduate agreement. But I... I understand why she's insisting. And why you agreed."
"Good," I say.
"It's just... I love you and I want you around all the time."
"I'll always be around all the time."
"You promise?"
"Yeah."
The buzzing stops.
Kaylee's shoulders relax. "That's it?"
"That's it." Walker sets the gun down. "But sit tight for a second."
She looks up at me with a smile. There's no nervousness in her expression.
It's pure joy.
She squirms through Walker's aftercare routine.
When he's done, he stands. "I'll let Brendon lecture you."
She pushes herself up and throws her arms around him. "Thank you!"
He pats her back. "Sure thing."
I stand. Swallow my growl. I don't like anyone touching her. But he did this as a favor. You can't tattoo someone without touching them.
He steps backward. "I'll leave you two alone." He nods goodbye.
I nod back.
Kaylee turns toward the mirror. Her eyes go wide as she takes in her reflection. The tattoo is bold black letters across her ribs.
I wrap my arms around her. "You like it?"
"I love it." She leans into my touch. "This is perfect. All of it."
It really is.