Page 78 of Verses

“All three of them know you’re the heart of the band. Sure, they contribute—they do a lot. But you’re the driving force underneath it all.”

“You really think so?”

“Okay,” he said, challenging me. “Who do you think breathes life into Intent to Murder?”

“Pedro maybe?”

Wolf chuckled, and the sound of it felt like a warm hug. “That kid’s a loose cannon. Yeah, he’s got amazing energy and a great attitude, but you keep him focused. And that’s because you have a vision.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“But Hayley is all work and no play. If the guys in the band aren’t good enough friends for you to count on, who else do you have?”

I wanted to tell Wolf it could be him—but I got the feeling he wouldn’t be having any of it. “Claire. She’s a friend. She works at the tattoo shop across the street from The Apothecary.”

“When’s the last time you hung out?”

“Oh…it’s been, um, at least a year.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, bird. We all need friends.”

“We do. And I’ve always considered you a friend. It wasn’t just because you give me free shots on occasion.”

He laughed. “Now I’m gonna have to charge you for everything.”

“Hey!” I stroked his cheek again—and this time he kissed me with more force, no longer holding back as if he was going to break me.

If I’d thought I had a crush on the man before, his soul-stirring kisses pushed me into smitten territory. He might have been right that I could use more friends…but they were the last thing I was thinking about as Wolf made me feel more like a woman with every steamy kiss.

I could hardly wait for what would come next.

CHAPTER 22

All that talk about old friends sunk in, and I decided I needed to hang out with Claire. The next day, I sent her a text to see when we could hang out. When she invited me to visit her at Metamorphosis, the tattoo shop where she worked, I told her I’d swing by on Saturday afternoon before heading to karaoke.

When I got there on Saturday afternoon, I gave my old friend a hug. Claire had gorgeous brown hair that shined like the locks in a shampoo commercial—and her blue eyes were framed with long black lashes. I knew the lashes were fake, but they looked real. Claire also had two full tattoo sleeves, a walking advertisement for her business.

“You look good, Hayley.”

“You too. You look amazing!”

“Don’t inflate her ego,” said the redheaded girl at the counter. “She hears it enough from all the guys who want her to ink up their biceps.”

Claire rolled her eyes, and I was pretty sure there was no love lost between the two. “I can hang until I have another customer come in.”

With that reassurance, I took off my coat.

“You have a four o’clock,” the counter girl said.

“I know.” There was no mistaking the irritation in my friend’s voice. “But…ifyouwanted to get your first tattoo, then no one could barge in on our girl time.”

“I don’t have a lot of ca—”

“Nonsense, girl. First one’s free.” When I raised my eyebrows, she added, “Within reason, that is.”

“Okay. Sounds good.” I’d always wanted to get a couple of tattoos, and the guys in the band already had a head start on me. The problem was I didn’t know what I wanted.

But, as Claire led me to her big chair, she said, “I think I have the perfect thing for you.” Up on the wall next to the mirror were sheets of drawings. “It’s just a flash tat, but what about this?” she asked, pulling down one of the sheets. She brought it over to me and pointed to a musical staff with notes.

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