Page 81 of Verses

And Claire gave me her full attention. “Just relax, Hayley. You can close your eyes or look somewhere else—or you can watch. It’s different for everybody. You just find what works for you.”

“I’ll try closed first.” And, as I allowed my eyes to shut, I realized for the first time that they were playing some strange hipster music in the shop. As I heard Claire tinkering with her tools, getting ready to ink up my arm, I thought about me and Kyle. Our relationship had turned sour, but it had started good. But, over time, it had grown so damn toxic.

Was it him? Was it me? Or was it just our unique combination? Had we been too young when we’d gotten together? Was it everything we’d gone through?

No matter the case…Kyle would do better with another woman.

Just as I would do better with another man.

And I kept that other man in my mind, soothing me the whole time I got that tattoo. I thought,Pain is temporary, but love is forever.

I had yet to discover that for certain and was starting to doubt I ever would.

CHAPTER 23

Our week was up and I was ready to have a long conversation with Wolf.

And maybe I could even talk him into doing more than kissing this time.

Before that, though, I wanted to talk with Kyle—because, as much as I hated to admit that Wolf was right, he’d made a valid point. It didn’t matter that Kyle and I had moved on. Even with the fact that I knewhewasn’t wasting any time getting back on the proverbial horse, I wanted to let him know that I was going to be seeing someone.

I wasn’t ready to tell him it was someone in the band, though. Once I had his blessing, then maybe later I could tell him—or, when he found out on his own, it wouldn’t come as big a shock.

When I got home after my tattoo appointment, Kyle was sitting on the couch strumming one of his guitars. “What are you playing?” I asked.

“I’m working on ‘Soulless’.”

Holy shit.That washuge. “Soulless” was a song that he and Liam had been working on last spring but hadn’t made much progress on. Kyle working on it…on his own without his brother: that was more than I would have ever expected.

But I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I knew Kyle, and if I started fawning, he’d either get pissed off or stop altogether. So instead of asking him a bazillion questions about what inspired him, I decided to keep it simple. First, I took off my coat and sat on the couch next to him—but not too close. “How’s it coming along?”

“Slow. I keep getting stuck at the same spot.”

“Do you want any help with it?”

“No. I need to figure it out myself.” He started plucking strings again. “Thanks, though.”

Wow. He’d actually thanked me. Kyle was definitely making progress and I was impressed—but, again, that was nothing I’d say out loud to him. “Yeah.” I watched him play for a little while, grateful that he wasn’t letting it bother him. Finally, I said, “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Would you…be okay if I started dating someone?” When he stopped playing, I added, “Be honest.”

He looked up from his guitar to meet my eyes. “It’d kind of make me a steaming pile of dick cheese if I said it would bother me, considering I’ve been dating other people.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

“But call me a steaming pile of dick cheese, because itdoesbother me.”

“Oh.”

“But I know logically that I have no right to feel that way. We were together so long, Hayley; it’d be hard to see you with someone else, regardless of how much time passed.”

“Yeah…but I’m not gonna be single forever.”

“I know.” He started plucking some strings again, no longer making eye contact. “Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see somebody if you want to. Is it anybody I know?”

Oh, Jesus. I wasn’t ready to divulge it—especially since I didn’t know if Wolf wanted me to let the cat out of the bag. “Maybe.” I hoped the way I said it made Kyle think I wasn’t sure if he knew the guy.

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