Page 66 of The Do-Over

Because, you know, theywere.

“So how do you guys know each other?” I felt the need to say something as Dante leaned over my arm and worked me over, even though I knew exactly how they knew each other. “Just from Nick’s tattoos?”

Nick said, “You’re so nosy.”

“He works here.” Dante didn’t glance up, but said, “Stark’s our little bitch; he didn’t tell you that?”

I raised an eyebrow and grinned at Nick, and he gave me a head-shake while half smiling. Looking at his face made me think of the almost-kiss, and I don’t know if my face changed or not, but his did.

His jaw flexed and his eyes were hot as the moment hung there. It felt like there was an invisible string, pulling me in his direction. An invisible string that had an electrical current that actually felt stronger than the needle dragging through my skin. I swallowed and blinked.

What had Dante just said?

“No, um, he failed to mention that detail.”

“What, are you ashamed of us, Nickie?” Dante teased.

Nick said, “She’s too nosy and doesn’t need to know shit.”

That made me snort. “Whatever. Nickie.”

Dante thought that was pretty funny, but I couldn’t laugh because Nick was looking at me likethatagain. The intensity of his gaze rendered me incapable of all thought and communication as Dante grunted and muttered syllables while finishing my tattoo.

When Dante was finally finished, he showed me the tattoo and I gasped, lightly running my fingers around the newly inked spot on my arm. “Wow—this is incredible.”

I had a marvelous time ruining everything

I loved it.

Dante left the room to go get something, and Nick stood. He stepped closer to me and slid his hand under my forearm so he could raise it to his eyes. My breath got stuck in my chest as he moved his thumb just under the tattoo—ever so softly—while he was so close to me that I couldn’t remember what the world looked like beyond his face.

“I like it,” he said, his thumb still brushing back and forth over my skin. It felt like he was talking about more than the tattoo as his face hovered over mine, an inch away.

“Let me just put this on your arm,” Dante said as he charged back into the room, a tube of something in one hand and Saran Wrap in the other, “and you can be on your way.”

Nick took a step back, and I was too shocked to do anything other than nod and try to make my heartbeat slow down. Nick walked out of the room and Dante talked to me about how to take care of the tattoo while he put salve on it and covered it in a bandage and plastic wrap. I barely listened, knowing the tattoo would be gone when I woke up to another February 14.

When Dante led me out to the lobby, my DONC partner was standing over by the front door, talking to a guy with spiky black hair and tattoos all over his arms. My cheeks got insta-hot when Nick glanced over at me, and I quickly followed Dante to the counter.

I paid, and when I was signing the receipt, Dante said, “How’d you get the little hermit to come out and play?”

“I actually bullied him into coming.” I handed him the piece of paper and he smiled a really nice, really warm smile.

“Well I’m glad. Nickie’s grown up too fast since the accident and he needs to have a little fun.”

“Accident?” I glanced behind me to make sure Nick didn’t hear and think I was being nosy. “Nick was in an accident?”

“Not Nick—Eric.”

“Eric…?”

“His brother. Today’s the anniversary?”

Nick came over and straightened the look book on the counter. “You ready, Hornby?” He didn’t look like he overheard anything, and I couldn’t help but feel like I stumbled upon something Nick didn’t want me to know.

I nodded and cleared my throat. “Ready, Stark.”

Nick said a goodbye to his friends, and I yelled, “Thank you!” as we walked out the front door.

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