Page 62 of Here's to Now

“I can just imagine you guys all sitting around like a bunch of hens gossiping and then getting into these silly little arguments over nothing and everything. I bet you’re a fantastic trio to be around.”

A pang of sadness reverberates in my chest as I realize she’s never been around us together before. Hell, I don’t think she’s evenmetTucker before. I want to drag her from the chair and plant her on a stool at Clyde’s so she can meet my friends, but then our “secret friendship” wouldn’t be so secret anymore. Right now, with the way things are with her and Rae, I don’t think it’d be a good idea to spring the fact that I’ve known her sister and slept with her for six months onto the gang.

Guilt crashes into me as I realize I’ve been hiding the truth from Rae, someone I consider a good friend, just like her sister did all those years.

I hope like hell she can forgive me.

I force a lopsided smirk, trying not to think about it now. “We are. Now turn back around so I can finish up.”

She huffs but follows my orders.

Another few swishes and five minutes of silence later, I’m done. Haley’s nearly drifted off to sleep, which is no surprise with the emotionally taxing day she’s had. I clean up my area a little and remove my latex gloves before I gently lay a hand on her lower back.

She jumps at my touch and her green eyes flutter open. “Sorry,” she mumbles. “That was a little too relaxing.”

“If it makes you feel better, I’ve had clients do that while I’m using a real needle.”

She looks at me incredulously. “How the hell is that even possible?”

“No idea.” I shrug. “I bet that shit hurts like hell.”

She nods, twisting herself back around in the chair. “Okay, let’s see.”

On unsteady legs, I rise from the stool and motion for her to follow, grabbing the handheld mirror from the hook on the wall. I walk her over to the floor-length mirror and take a deep breath.

“Nervous?” I ask as I stare into her eyes in our reflection; I sure as fuck am. What if she doesn’t like it? What if she thinks it’s the dumbest tattoo she’s ever seen? I mean, that’s probably not possible since I’ve seena lotof shitty ink, but thereisa chance. It’s minute, but it’s there.

“No,” she says, turning around to stare at the real me. “It’s going to be gorgeous. I have a feeling.”

I hand her the smaller mirror and hold my breath as she lifts it to where she can see her reflection in the larger one. Haley gasps and IknowI’ve fucked it up. She hates it. Great.

“Look, it’s not permanent,” I push out. “You’ll only need to cover it up for a few days and it’ll wash off. You don’t even have to tell anyone it’s there.”

She lowers the mirror enough to meet my eyes. I’m startled to find her brows drawn together in annoyance. “Are you smoking crack?”

“Um…no?”

“Then what the hell is wrong with you?”

I huff. “Long list.”

“Yeah? Well ‘lacking talent’ isn’t on there.”

“Huh?”

She lifts the handheld again, looking into the mirror behind her. “Look,” she instructs. I stare into the giant mirror behind her and can see her eyes focused solely on the airbrushed artwork covering a good portion of her shoulder blade. “Thisis pure talent, Gaige. I have no need to worry about removing it. In fact, I want to keep it forever. Can you replicate it?”

“Wha…?” The word doesn’t fully leave my mouth, caught up on a ledge of unspoken commentary. I’m speechless.Replicate it?She wants this on her body?Permanently?How…how is that even possible? This is nothing, something I came up with on a whim, and she wants it on her body?

“Can you?” she insists.

I massage the back of my neck, trying to knead away the stiffness gathering there. “Yeah, but…are you sure?”

“Yes, dammit.Please.”

“It’s just a silly tree.”

She gasps again, this time in horror. “Just a silly tree?Gaige, this is theperfecttree. Look again. Please.”

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