Page 43 of Hear Me Roar

“For?” I hedged, growing more uneasy with each second that tickedby.

“For a newtat.”

What?

I didn't think it was possible to be more confused, but I waswrong.

So damnwrong.

“Well, I figured that, but what I don’t understand iswhyyou would lie aboutthat.”

“Because it was supposed to be a surprise, but also because I didn’t think you’d particularly care for me going back there,” he explained, which only served to baffle me all the more. Forget the surprise aspect. My brain focused solely on why he'd think I’d have an issue with him going to get another tattoo. He was covered in them, for crying out loud. Obviously, I likedthem.

“Why would I care if you…” I started, but then it hitme.

Steel Inkwas the shop where Knox had gone for years to get all his tats. Tats his ex – the very one who'd texted him just a few weeks ago – had so lovingly inked on him during herapprenticeship.

“Was she there?” I asked immediately, my voicehushed.

Knox swallowed deeply, his lips set in a grim line through a bout of silence before he nodded. “Yes.”

“Was your appointment really with herthen?”

“No. I booked with Pun over a monthago.”

“But,” I pressed, because there was always a ‘but’ in situations likethese.

“But his previous session was running over, so he asked Brie to prepme.”

No.

Dread briskly filled my veins, tossing all rationale out the window. Red flags thrashed about as alarm bells blared, my stomach churning in a nauseatingfashion.

“Please don’t tell me you’re about to say you fuckedher.”

“Really, baby,” he spat, his tone oozing disgust. “You think I’d cheat on you after what she did tome?”

“I would hope not, and you’ve never given me a reason to think otherwise, but then why are you sonervous?”

“Nervous? I’m not nervous, Hazel, not by a long shot. I’mpissed.”

“Why? What the hell happened?” The question rumbled in my chest around a growl. If he was angry, that meant something went down, and more than likely, that something was a probable factor I’d be pissed abouttoo.

“Nothing I shouldn’t have expected. She was all too eager to help Pun out, and while I continued to shut her down, it only served to fuel heron.”

Thisbitch.

“What. The hell. Did shedo?”

“Nothing at first, until she saw thedesign.”

“What was wrong with thedesign?”

Without so much as a word, he gripped the hem of his tee and whipped it over his head, tossing it over the back of the couch. My eyes traced the lines I'd followed many times, searching for his newest addition, until they landed on the purplish ink that would wash away after a shower. It wasn’t permanent, but to say I was not expecting to see that would’ve been the understatement of the year. I gasped, my hand popping over my mouth as I stared at the script adorning his chest;Hazel Raewith an infinity symbol looped under it, right above hisheart.

“Are you crazy?” I finally managed toask.

“For you? Hell yes,” he said withconviction.

---