Page 2 of Blue

Her aunt nodded.

“Like if he were just a shitty mentor or the shop was hell, I mean, that would be an easy no-brainer.”

“Of course.”

Blue’s shoulders slumped. “The guy I’m—I—I was seeing.”

Ugh. That sounded awful. Next time she told the story, because there would be a next time, she’d have to come up with a better opening.

“I hooked up with this guy, a tattooer.” She put the skirt back, having lost all interest in shopping. “And he offered to mentor me. He got me in the shop. Things were amazing.”

Her aunt tightened her lips but didn’t quite frown. She tilted her head to the side as understanding decorated her features.

Blue wasn’t sure how deep she wanted to get into revealing all the details of her relationship with Mooky. Especially since her aunt wasn’t involved with bikers and wouldn’t truly understand. She met the older woman’s concerned eyes.

“We aren’t together anymore. It got messy. I just, I don’t think I can go back there, but it’s my career.”

“Is he being a jerk?” Her aunt asked, but it sounded more like an accusation than a question.

“No.” Blue shook her head.

“Did he cheat?”

“No.” Not really. Not in the traditional sense.

Her aunt cocked a brow. “Did you not want to break up? But he did?”

“Not exactly.”

The older woman folded her arms over her chest. “Okay, I’m confused.”

“I ended it.” Blue rested her hands on the rack of clothing and lowered her head. “I didn’t want to, but it was the best for both of us. He wasn’t thrilled about it. I just—I couldn’t be in the relationship anymore the way it was.”

The nitty-gritty details didn’t have to be aired. Aunt Elaine didn’t need to know about Mooky’s marriage or the fact that his wife had gotten so far under Blue’s skin, Blue punched the woman. Or the fact that the woman had manipulated the police into arresting Mooky. Filling her aunt in on the impending divorce that would never happen would only make Blue relive it all. Once was far too much as it was.

Blue didn’t need any more reminders of the night she walked away from Mooky.

Her aunt rested a hand on Blue’s back. Soothingly, she ran it up and down.

Blue closed her eyes, trying to focus on Aunt Elaine’s gesture and the comfort she should have felt. Instead, memories played in her mind.

Then don’t do it.

Oh, how she wished she didn’t have to, but she had no choice. Existing in limbo, in a dangerous in-between, where the cops got involved was too much. She and Mooky would never know peace if she stayed.

“Oh, sweetie.” Aunt Elaine’s arms surrounded Blue. She tugged Blue back into the present and against her into a hug.

Blue hadn’t realized she’d starting crying. In her aunt’s embrace, the pain bubbled up and exploded out of her in a sob. She needed this day to be a distraction. She craved her aunt’s joyous nature to cleanse her soul and make her forget.

No such luck.

Instead, she sobbed on the older woman’s shoulder. She let everything out. Blue wept for the lost potential—the lost happiness and losing her career path.

She’d given it all up. She had to, but necessity didn’t make it any easier to process.

“There’s always more fish in the sea,” Aunt Elaine said as she ran her hand through Blue’s hair.

“It’s not just that,” Blue sniffled. “It’s tattooing. I love it. How am I going to find another mentor?”

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