Page 143 of Splintered Hearts

Noah has given me something so irreplaceable, and I’ll give him all of me in return.

Every ugly piece.

Thirty Five

Jamie

“Hey, uh, I was wondering if you had any walk-in availability today?” Fuck, what am I doing? Ian might not even be there today. Maybe he sold it to someone new. Even as that thought comes to mind, I know it’s not true. Ian is there.

Madd Ink.

Yeah. Only one person I know would have kept that name. “I, uh... I just need an appointment, soon. Like, today.” Honestly, now. Noah fell asleep an hour ago. We’re not leaving until the afternoon and had stayed up all night binge-watching a drama and trading orgasms. I’m wrung out, but I need to do this. I can try and sleep on the ride home.

“Let me go see if he’s free today.”

“Thanks.”

Anxiety pulses in my chest with each second I wait. “He said he doesn’t have any availability, but you’re welcome to make an appointment.”

“Oh, um . . . It’s kind of an emergency.”

“Emergency?”

I think for a moment. I hate to do this. Honestly, I don’t really know the reaction I’m about to get. “Can you, uh... can you tell him it’s Jamie?”

“Honey, you could be Hugh Jackman and it wouldn’t matter. He’s just booked today.”

“Please. Just please tell him it’s Jamie.”

She sighs. “Alright, one moment.” After a few minutes I hear the phone crackle on the other end before she’s back. “Please tell me you’re a lover. That man needs to get laid—ow!” I hear voices on the other end... some words that sound like curses in a language I don’t understand. “Sorry, my great almighty boss says come as soon as you can. Sooner the better.”

“Tell him I’m leaving the lake house now. I have to walk. Be there soon.”

With every step to the shop I feel my stomach sink deeper and deeper. I love this little town but there’s too much history between us to really enjoy it. Next time. After Noah knows everything I’ll take him around town. Last night was world-ending. I definitely still prefer topping, but last night changed shit. The amount of love poured into me by that man has changed my brain chemistry.

Noah fucking loves me.

And I’m about to show him how much I love him back.

This is way overdue, but the shame of it makes me sick, and I have no idea what I’m walking into.

Relief and devastation hit me as I enter the shop. It’s... the same, but also not. Same brick wall. Same shitty art pieces that Maddox just had to fucking have despite all of us saying they looked stupid.

And his art is ... everywhere.

This used to be my fucking home.

Now, I’m a stranger.

“Hey.” A pretty woman with pink and black hair smiles at me. Her purple lips grow into a wide smile, and her body is covered in tattoos. She also has snake-bite piercings and a septum ring. One tattoo in particular catches my eye.

“Hey, did Maddox do that?” I point to the one on her throat; ithas his vibe all over it.

Nodding, she cups her neck. “Yeah, he did”

I lift the arm of my sleeve. “He did all mine, but this one was his first big one.”

“That’s sick. He was so—”

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