Page 4 of Claimed By my Best Friend

“But why?” Darrell doesn’t immediately respond, and I fight back the impulse to stomp in frustration. Okay, I need a different approach. I’ll plead with the man if that’s what I need to do. “Look,” I start, my tone soft and placating. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I promise you I won’t regret it if that’s what you are worried about,” I tell him with a smile, in hopes of appeasing his worry. “I know some people regret getting tattoos, but hear me out. The one I want—”

“No.”

“You can’t tell me no without even giving me a reason.” I watch the man organize his things, completely ignoring me, so I grab his arm and pull his attention toward me, but once those intense blue eyes are locked on mine, I lose my ability to speak. God, this man has the sexiest eyes I have ever seen on anyone. It takes me a moment to find my tongue, but I do. “I know your rates are high, but I can afford the tattoo. I’ve been saving up—”

“I am not inking you, Paula,” he says with finality. I follow him around as he sanitizes his equipment, suddenly confused by the turn of events. I was so sure he’d be excited to share this part of himself with me. Heck, this was how I was going to admit my feelings to him, and he’s ruining my plan.

“Are you worried about my career?” I say, placing a hand on his arm. “I know some people don’t think teachers should have tattoos, but I want mine somewhere no one will see. At least hear me out.”

Darrell sighs, his breath whooshing out of him as he turns around to face me once more. “I’m not worried about your job,Paula. It’s… You’re perfect the way you are. Why would you want to let someone mark such beautiful skin?

My stomach flips at his words. “I don’t want just anyone to do it. I wantyouto mark me, Darrell. Can I just tell you my idea?”

“Fine, I’ll humor you. What is it you want?”

I smile, clapping excitedly. “Okay, so I had this idea a few weeks ago. I have something specific in mind, but I want it somewhere that only I will see it.”And you, if my plan works…

“And where’s that?”

I blush. “On my ribs. Um, next to my breast.” Darrell looks frozen in shock, so I hurry on, “I’ve seen tons of pictures online, and I think it’s a good spot, right? I want a teddy bear tattoo right here.” I lift my hand and press my palm to the spot where I want the tattoo before realizing I’m basically cupping my boob.

There is silence, awkward and tense, as my words hang between us. I notice his eyes linger on the hand on my tit before shifting back to my face. My cheeks and neck heat the longer he stares at me, but I don’t say anything. “Paula,” he chokes out, shaking his head and shifting his gaze briefly from me. “Most people’s first tattoos are a simple heart shape on their shoulder or ankle.”

“I want to do this, Darrell. And I want you to be the one to give me my first tattoo.”

He shakes his head, turning his back once more on me. “No.”

I groan at his words, propping helplessly against the wall next to him. “Can you at least give me a reason instead of just turning me down?”

“It’s going to hurt,” he says. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

My heart skips a beat. Well, a couple of beats actually, and I nearly melt on the spot at his words. He does this a lot. Tosses about words that make me want him even more, but they are just words. “I know it’s going to hurt, Darrell, but that’s why I want you to be the one to do it.Please.”

“Still no.”

I glare at the man, getting frustrated. “Fine, if you don’t give me a tattoo, then I’ll get it from another artist.” It’s an empty threat. One that defeats the whole purpose of why I’m getting one in the first place.

“I am the only tattoo artist in Valor Springs.”

“Then I’ll go to the next town.”

“They don’t have one either.”

“Fine,” I say petulantly. “I’ll go to every town in the damn state until I find someone willing to tattoo the damn teddy bear next to my boob.”

“You are acting like a child,” he says, clearly as frustrated as me.

A child?

Is that how he sees me? He is not that much older than me. At twenty-nine, Darrell is only eight years older than me. That’s like…nothing. Still, it hurts that he would say such a thing. That he would think of me as one. Does that mean that I’ve been alone in my feelings? I had hoped he felt something for me, but obviously not. I thought we were friends, equals. But does he see me as more of a little sister or something?

Oh God, I didn’t consider the possibility of that, and yet, it’s there. His protectiveness and possessiveness, all of which made me fall in love with him, was it just him trying to take careof me in a brotherly way? Have I spent two years of loving this man only to get my heart broken?

I run a hand through my hair and flash him a smile I don’t feel. “N-no, you’re right.” I chuckle, the sound coming out a little forced. “It’s a stupid idea. You were right to refuse me.”To reject me. “It’s fine, forget about it.”

I guess I have my answer, and the good news is that I didn’t need to go through the pain of a buzzing needle poking at my skin to figure out that my best friend will never have romantic feelings for me.

Chapter Three

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