Page 146 of Splintered Hearts

“It’s fine. I get it.”

Ian busies himself laying the stencil down. “I didn’t get to see him after.” It’s quiet but I flinch at the impact. “His parents wanted a closed casket because... you know. I guess he was really bad.” Bracing myself, I know what he’s about to ask me. “Did you see him?”

“I was behind him. I didn’t see him. I saw Ailee though, a little. I knew she was dead and... and...” Broken. Odd angles. Lifeless brown eyes. “I saw Luci. She was sitting next to me.” She had slumped against me while she slept, and I often wonder whether she would have survived if she’d been sitting up normally like me. I learned afterwards that the driver had hit us from Maddox’s side and he’d had no chance, unfortunately. LikeLuci. Like Ailee. I admit I’m glad I didn’t see him. There was a closed casket for a reason. Seeing Luci was enough.

“I’m sorry, man.” He sniffs, looking away, clearing his throat again. “I just wanted to see him one last time, ya know?”

“I know it doesn’t help but—” God, when the fuck did I become so chatty. “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t seen her. That’s the last image I have of her. It’s horrible.” Even five years later I can’t forget.

“You’re probably right.” Ian focuses on setting up. A door opens and I expect to see the woman from earlier. Instead, a man with deep brown skin walks in, eying Ian curiously. Tattoos crawl up his arms all the way to his neck. The wordtreasurearches above the flow of his pierced eyebrow. His dreads are tied into a bun, the sides of his head shaved. He has gauges a little bigger than my twelve millimeters and tattoos on every visible surface, the loose gray tank top he’s wearing showing off his tattooed ribs. “Where’s the menace?”

That makes Ian smile, and I can’t ignore the look in his eyes as he watches this man. “She’ll be back any minute. Now’s your time Julian for retaliation if you want it.” A warm, rich laugh leaves this guy.

“I nearly sat on one of those fucking ducks. I usually ask to be wined and dined first.” He winks and I cannot unsee the soft blush on Ian’s face.

“Foreplay.”

“Not foreplay! I hate her.” He laughs. “I’m sure she’d peg a man just fine, but I prefer the real thing.” He laughs, then almost as if he’s seeing me for the first time he stops laughing. “Sorry, I—”

“I’m tattooing a tiny fat cock that his boyfriend drew, on his chest. Don’t you dare apologize to him.”

“Tiny... fat...” He comes over, looking at the stencil. “Have you lost your fucking mind?” I don’t know if he’s talking to me orIan but I nod all the same.

The menace in question blows into the shop. “Jules, I swear to fuck I better not find any ducks at my goddamn desk! Ian made me leave, leaving my shit defenseless.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” Julian purrs. “You miss me?”

“Like a bullet.” She winks.

“They’re dumb. Ignore them. I do my best.” He asks if I’m ready and I nod, letting the familiar buzz of the machine calm me. It nearly sets my soul to sleep at the comfort of it. They hurt, don’t get me wrong. It’s a pain I welcome, though. It’s a type of pain that centers my brain. It’s addicting and I absolutely love it.

Relaxing, my eyes drift over the shop before they land on Julian’s handsome face as he watches Ian. Taking note of my gaze, he diverts his, looking at his equipment and setting up for the day. He took the middle booth and I wonder if he’s the permanent artist or an apprentice. He looks about thirty, but people start careers late in life all the time.

Anna walks over, bending over Ian’s shoulder before her cute face scrunches up. “Is that a—”

The machine cuts off. “Tiny cock. Yes.”

“It’s my boyfriend’s tiny cock.” I laugh and Ian stops the machine. “Sorry.”

“Sit still or it’s going to be a fucked-up tiny dick.” The machine starts again as I hold steady. The hum is low enough to hear him talk. “I’m afraid to ask how this even came about.”

How am I going to explain this? “I don’t know if you want to hear this.”

He shuts the machine off, looking at me flatly. “Jamie, I haven’t seen you in five years and I’m tattooing a dick on your chest with a rainbow head. I need answers.”

I give in because why the fuck not. It’ll be the lightest thing we talk about today. “In August I met this guy, he became my roommate. His best friend is actually Hunter’s boyfriend.”

“No shit.”

I nod. “Last night he fucked me for the first time and I told him I loved him. He drew this on me a couple of weeks ago. When we first met he told his best friend I had a rainbow-glitter cock. It became a thing, so he drew it to be a funny smart-ass.” Because he’s my funny smart-ass.

“I’m going to surprise him.”

“You don’t think he’ll be a little pissed?”

“You don’t know Noah. He’s going to think this is the greatest fucking thing ever.” Last night he gave me a gift and now I’m returning the favor. I’m not sure what the future will bring, but I know one thing for sure.

I’ll always belong to Noah.

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