Page 96 of Pucking Obsessed

I’m proud of that.

I hold the notepad nervously in front of Robyn. “My ink is about my past. Pain. I want new ink that is only about now. Happiness.”

Robyn breaks into a smile. “That’s awesome.”

My gaze is piercing. “I wantyou.”

I flip open the notepad to show Robyn the new design that I’ve drawn.

I’ve been working on it for the last couple of weeks: A simple robin with its wings outstretched like it’s about to take flight.

Be free.

Robyn’s eyes widen.

Awe-struck, she reaches out, as if to touch the feathers of the red robin. Then she stops herself, although her finger traces over the air above the design.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers. “Is this…me?”

“I want you nestled between the roses and the thorns. You accepted my darkness, but I also have light now.”

“Phoenix,” Robyn breathes. She leans over to kiss me, lightly. “Are you sure?”

To me, this is the most intimate thing that I can offer her.

My body.

My soul.

This way, Robyn will be forever with me. When we’re apart, I’ll only have to look down at my arm, and my pretty Robyn will be there.

I stroke over the design. “If you are…?”

Robyn kisses me again. “You never need my permission to take control over your own body. But if you want to know how I feel, it’s blown away.Fucking honored.I love it.”

She’s smiling widely.

She must mean it then, right?

I relax.

“Freedom has a tattoo parlor on Main Street,” I say. “I have an appointment this afternoon. Jude has given me the time off. Would you come with me? I’ve always been alone for my tattoos before.”

“Try to stop me.” Robyn nuzzles even closer to me. “I’ll hold your hand.”

I scrunch up my nose. “Perhaps just watch.”

Unexpectedly, my phone rings.

I try to pull away from Robyn to answer it, but she makes a complaining sound and wrenches her chair nearer to mine.

Instead, I struggle to slide my hand into my pocket and answer my phone, as Robyn loops her arm around my shoulder.

Uncomfortable, I glance around and realize with relief that we’re now alone in the café.

I hold the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Are you still with Robyn?” D’Angelo demands.

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