Page 103 of Exposed Ink

“Yeah, I was planning to surprise him, but then …”

“The accident,” she finishes.

“Yeah.”

And then, after the Jamie drama, Shane had to leave for work. We’ve been texting while he’s been gone—in between the movies Taylor and I have binged and the reading marathon we had last night—but telling him that I want to move in with him in a text message doesn’t feel right.

“Well, what are you waiting for then?” she asks. “These are cute, but if you want to show him that you want to move in, why don’t you just do it?”

“What?”

“You already know my dad and I want you here. So, why don’t you just move in? He’ll like that way more than sticky notes.” She shrugs.

“And you’re definitely okay with that?”

I was little when my mom and dad moved in together, but I still remember when she sat down with me to make sure it was okay. I loved Lachlan, so it wasn’t even a question, but Taylor is older, and having another woman move in, after spending all these years with just having her dad to herself, will be a big change.

“I’m more than okay with it,” she says. “And you won’t have to worry about my mom causing problems. She texted me this morning that she accepted an assignment and took off.”

“I’m sorry.” I extend my arms, and Taylor slides in next to me so I can hug her.

“I hate that she couldn’t stay for me,” she says, laying her head on my shoulder. “But it’s for the best. She’s not made for this kind of life, and it’s better that she left now instead of later.”

She pops her head back up. “So, what do you think? Want to surprise my dad?”

“I don’t know how we’d pull it off. He’s due to get off his shift in the next hour.”

“That’s easy!” She grins. “Just distract him. The guy will go anywhere you go. And while you’re keeping him busy, I can find some friends who will help me move your stuff in. And I know my grandpa will help for sure.”

Her idea is sound, but I’m not sure how I could distract him. And then an idea hits me.

I pull out my phone and send Shane a text.

Can you meet me at Exposed Ink when you get off work?

Shane

Of course. Everything okay?

We had a session scheduled for today, but it wasn’t until later.

Yeah, I have a scheduling conflict, so I need to move our session to earlier.

Shane

Okay, see you soon.

“Done,” I tell Taylor.

“Perfect. Now, give me your key and leave the rest up to me.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Shane

Fuck,it’s been a long couple of days. Usually, I don’t mind being at work, but having to leave after the bullshit drama Jamie tried to cause nearly killed me.

All I wanted was to spend the night with Kinsley, reassuring her that she was all I wanted. But I couldn’t leave my brothers in a lurch. If something had happened and they didn’t have enough guys, I would have had to live with that. So, begrudgingly, I left.

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