Page 49 of Stephan

“If you say so, man.”

I okayed the design and laid back in thechair. The outline started, which was the most painful needles.

“So why isn’t this girl with you here?”

“She’s having a movie night with hergirlfriends.” I closed my eyes and pictured her as he did hiswork.

“You’ve had the tat booked in for weeksthough.”

“Yeah, I wanted it before her birthday. It’sSaturday. I’ve planned a huge party and my parents have bought hera car.”

“Wow, sounds like a lucky girl.”

“I didn’t know you’d had it booked for thatlong, Stephan,” Derick said.

“I booked it when she moved in.” I opened myeyes and looked down at Stew, the best tattoo artist in the state.“She deserved that and much, much, more.”

Stew paused and looked up.

“She been through some things?”

“To hell and back over and over. She turnseighteen this weekend and has one hand in a cast and the other in asling from being shot and that’s just her arms.”

“Christ, man. She sounds like one toughbird.”

“That she is.”

“Well I hope she loves the tat.”

I wasn’t sure how Jade would react to thetat. The last couple of days since Jade had come back home, shewasn’t in the kitchen baking and dancing, and she wouldn’t sleep inmy bed. I came to her room to sleep and she wouldn’t let me in thecovers unless I at least had boxers on. She didn’t snuggle in themorning and she wouldn’t go anywhere with my family. My mother hadinvited her shopping, a spa day and just out to lunch, she’ddeclined everything. She dropped the restraining order, but avoidedmy touch. I needed something to show her how serious I was andthere was no one else for me, I loved her.

Yesterday she’d seen her doctor to check hercast and to see if she could take the sling off her other arm. Jadewouldn’t let me be in the room with her and the doctor and Iworried when she took longer than the fifteen minutes I was toldshe’d be. Jade came out bright red and would barely look at me. Iasked her what took her so long and she turned a deeper shade ofred if at all possible. She was given prescriptions but refused metaking her to get them, I left the subject when she begged me toleave it alone and she promised as soon as we got home that she’dget my mum to take her to the chemist. I was curious but left itand tried to ask my mum but she wouldn’t tell me.

This afternoon when Jade had gone out withfriends, I don’t even think she would have told me she was goingexcept for the fact I came to her. I even kissed her goodbye. Shewas killing me. Her eyes used to hold fire, warmth, and love, butnow were dull and almost lifeless. I needed my little bit back.

*****

I got a text at midnight telling me she wasstaying at Cassie’s house. Oh fuck no. I said I wasn’t sleepingwithout her ever again and I bloody meant it. Going to my car, Igot in and drove to Cassie and Scott’s house. I called Scott and hestood smirking at the door when I pulled into the driveway.

“She’s in the spare room.”

Nodding thanks to Scott I went inside and upthe stairs to the spare room. Not bothering knocking I opened thedoor and went to the bed.

“Stephan. What the hell?” Jade sat up, shewore only her bra and I could see the matching panties.

“I promised myself I would never sleep anight without you again. So we either go home or I’m getting inhere with you.”

Jade crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine.Home.”

I went to the bed, picked her up, and threwher over my shoulder.

“Hey, put me down.”

I left the room, went down the stairs, andpassed a laughing Scott who opened the door for me. “Can you getCassie to bring her things tomorrow?”

“Sure, man.”

I left the house and placed Jade gently inthe passenger seat. I smiled as she sat there fuming. I got in anddrove us home.

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