Page 64 of Revved up & Ready

“Why am I the only one getting warned?” she asks, looking between Bea and Devon.

“Because Bea’s a vault, and even if Devon told Rhett, he wouldn’t care,” I answer.

“So, this is a secret Luke can’t know?” Allie nods, nibbling the foot off another cookie. “Got it.”

“I think Cam has a tattoo of me,” I whisper.

Bea’s mouth drops open in shock—her eyes glittering with excitement.

Allie gasps a scandalized“What?”

When I look to Devon, her eyes are narrowed, but she says nothing,holding her judgment for later.

“He already got a tattoo for you?” Bea whispers, sounding more intrigued than anything.

“No, no. I think he’s had it for years, before he ever met me or knew who I was.” Hearing the words out loud, I realize just how unrealistic this sounds.

“What the fuck?” Allie whispers, petting Spaghetti’s curly brown head.

“I’m not evensureit’s me, but she’s dressed like me, and she has dimples,” I say. “I don’t thinkheeven realizes it’s me.”

No one says anything, but I get a trio of matchingoh-sweetheart-that’s-not-what-you-think-it-isfaces.

“I’m not explaining this well,” I say, pulling on the wide brim of my hat.

“You’re really not,” Bea says, in the most soothing voice imaginable. “But we’re along for the ride. Try again.”

I snort a laugh at her gentle tone. “The tattoo is a pin-up girl in a pinkRace Nakedt-shirt.”

“I’ve never seen that one,” Allie comments.

My cheeks flush at the memory of the timeIsaw it. My first thought is to not let my friends know what happened between us,but I can’t talk to them about that anyway.We’ve already told them we’re together, so now I can’t tell them about the first time he kissed me only two weeks ago.I suppose I could tell itas if it happened sooner,but how do I keep the details straight? What if I mess it up?The lines between truth and lie tangle further.What point was I trying to make?

“Where is it?” Allie asks, reminding me where we left off.

“It’s on the side of his thigh, but way up here.” I lean back, tapping the area on my body to show them.

“And you feel like the tattoo can represent you now that you’re together?” Bea graciously suggests.

“No, I think he used a photo of me as reference.” Scrolling my phone for the photo in question, I explain what he told me about the tattoo. “Here,” I say, holding it out for them to inspect when I find it.

“I remember that night. I took that photo,” Devon says. We exchange a glance, silently agreeing not to mention it also happened to be the night I met Jared.

“That’s positively precious,” Bea says. “You two were connected already such a long time ago. You’re meant to be.”Meant to be. Cameron Hacker and I meant for each other.The thought rattles something in my heart that I’m trying desperately not to let loose.

“I think we’re going to have to see this tattoo to be sure,” Allie says, “But if it’s true, that’s the cutest shit I’ve ever heard.”

“It honestly might be,” Devon agrees, a small curve to her lips.

As we lounge by the pool, I’m struck by how different my life is now compared to when I came to visit a little over a year ago. Back then, Allie, Devon, and I had a pool day, too, and it was the happiest I’d felt in months. I was in a rough place—knew I needed big changes, but was too scared to make them. So, I spent the whole weekend imagining Ihadalready made those changes.

When I pictured a happier version of myself, I wasn’t with Jared anymore. I lived close to good friends, and I made timefor things that made me feel fulfilled. And now that I have all of those things, I’m happy.

What Ihadn’timagined was a different man.But there’s one here now.He’s larger than life, treats me better than I deserve, and it’s getting harder and harder to picture life without him.

When the guys come back, Allie manages to keep her mouth shut about the pinup tattoo, but I’ll be shocked if it hasn’t made its way to Cam by morning.

He steps around sleeping dogs to reach our spot by the edge of the pool. “You are absolutely gorgeous today. Sunshine looks good on you, sunshine.”

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