Page 85 of The Art of Deception

“Fine, fuck it.”

Levi’s eyes light up as Xander grabs Levi around his shoulders like they’ve been waiting for this day in like forever. I’ve never seen them both as happy as they are right now. Jana, Gigi, Hogtie, and Skins go about prepping a station for Levi to work from. I groan, walking with Xander and Levi over to what will be my station as Xander lays down on the bed.

“Where do you want it?” Levi asks.

Xander beams at Levi. “On my left pec, just above my heart.”

My heart dances a little at the idea that he wants something of Levi this close to his heart. Goddamn, Xander’s such a good guy. I’m so lucky. To think how much I hated his alter ego all that time ago, I’m glad I swallowed my pride and gave him the chance to set the record straight.

Levi and I sit beside Xander as he pulls off his tank top. He’s still a marvel. It makes me wonder if Levi’s about to ruin his amazing chest.

I grimace, glancing down at Xander’s happy face. “Is this a good idea?”

“Yes,” Xander replies. “You draw the lion on freehand, and he can tattoo it for me. A piece of both of you. Yeah?”

I fill with warmth at the gesture as I glance at Levi to make sure he’s okay with this arrangement. He nods, so I pick up a Sharpie and start to draw the head of a roaring lion. It’s small, so it fits in with the rest of his artwork. It is not overly detailed, but it is enough to get the idea.

Hogtie brings over the workstation with everything we need. As I glance at Levi, excitement is oozing through him.

“You okay to do this? I can take over at any time.”

Levi scoffs as he professionally pulls the gloves on while I walk him through the process of how to do his first tattoo. He listens intently, taking in every detail. Then, he slowly moves the machine onto Xander’s skin.

“You ready?” Levi asks.

“Go for it, buddy,” Xander states.

Levi kicks the machine into gear, sending the vibration through his hand. Levi’s eyes widen, as if he’s going to chicken out, but he leans down, pressing the machine into Xander’s skin. The black ink seeps out instantly.

“Okay, you’re going in too deep, not so hard, or you’ll do a scratch job. But then not so light, or you’ll blow out. You want to be like Goldilocks, just right.”

Levi corrects himself as I wipe away the ink and blood after his lines. They’re wonky and splotchy, but he’s doing all right for his first go while Xander takes this like a champ. So, I take his hand with my free one as I sit next to Levi. It’s like the four of us—Levi, Xander, peanut, and me—are all here together.

One happy family.

“How are you doing, Xander?” Levi asks like he’s a consummate professional as he draws another line.

“I’m doing just fine. This was a great idea. I needed something from you to bond us together as true brothers.”

Levi stops tattooing while he beams at Xander. “Yeah, we’re brothers!” Levi almost yells in delight.

My heart thumps harder. Xander winks at me. I grip his hand tighter, giving him a thank you.

Everyone surrounds us, watching my brother tattoo my partner as Xander reaches his free hand into his pocket. “While I have you both here, in this place, doing something we all love…” He pulls out a ring box.

Levi stops tattooing. His eyes open wide as he giggles excitedly.

My stomach falls through the floor as I gasp.

“Tomika Beaufort, my life changed the day I walked into Hope & Faith Ink. The name not only suited your life but our story.” Giddy butterflies dance inside my stomach. “I needed hope that you would see past my name, that you would understand the negative that came with it, and that you saw the good in me through all the bad.”

I tighten my hand in his squeezing it, letting him know I see him for him.

“I had faith that you would come back to me, and we could have the most beautiful of lives together. You, me, and Levi. Now we have Kaylie as well, and I can’t waitto meet her. A piece of you, a piece of me. My life is complete having all of you in it.”

Tears well as my heart pounds hard.

“Tomi, I can’t imagine waking up a day without you by my side. Every morning is brighter with you in it, and I need every morning to start with you by my side.” He lets my hand go and opens the ring box to show me a beautiful white-gold bandencrusted with diamonds. A giant ruby sits on top with a halo of diamonds around it. The ring is so unique, out of the ordinary, and totally me that it makes me speechless.

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