Page 62 of Stella
Angel looks surprised. “That’s a big commitment.”
“I know, and I’ve thought about it a lot.”
“Would you want to wait until you’re patched in?”
I shake my head. “I know it’ll happen, and that’s not me just being cocky; I’ve always known that this was gonna happen, one way or the other.”
“I like your confidence,” Angel muses. “It reminds me of myself when I was your age.”
“When you were my age, you were having me,” Rawlings puts in helpfully.
“That’s true, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Angel puts an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and pulls her into a one-armed hug. “Even when you drive me nuts.”
“Dad says I’m the blessing he never knew he wanted,” Rawlings fires back.
I smile at how sweet they are together. I obviously never really got to know my mom, and that makes me sad, but I still have so many great people in my life. I’ve never had that mother-daughter relationship growing up that so many kids have, but I also can’t complain. Dad was fantastic, harsh at times, but his heart was in the right place. Indi has been the closest thing to a mom I’ve ever known, and I’m so grateful for that. Because at the end of the day, I still need someone to confide in, and someone who gives me advice without judging me. I’ve wanted to tell Indi about my feelings for Cale, but I also don’t want to put her in that position because she’s with my dad. I know she wouldn’t purposefully tell him, but she’d also be keeping a secret. And that doesn’t sit well with me.
“He also says you’re the thorn in his side when you don’t do as he asks,” Angel laughs.
Rawlings rolls her eyes. “I’m his favorite, no matter what he says.”
I chuckle. “I have the same love/hate relationship with my brother. And being the oldest as well, I get it.”
“Ugh, boys are so annoying!” Rawlings complains. “Especially because Mom and Dad left it so late to have other kids. They couldn’t get it together for years.”
Angel looks at her daughter affectionately. “We may have taken a little time to get where we needed to be, but the important thing is we came together at the end.”
Brock isn’t Rawling’s biological father, but that made no difference to him. He’s the only father Rawlings has ever known. He and Angel had a second chance, and their love story is pretty epic.
“Blame that on your father,” Angel laughs. “Though, that isn’t entirely fair, because I was just as much to blame for not seeing what was right in front of me for so long.” She turns to look at me. “This goes for both of you; be really careful who you choose, and choose wisely. It’s gonna sound really cheesy, but you have to go with your heart. Yes, of course your gut plays a huge role, and instincts and all of that. But your heart is where it’s at. No matter what.”
It’s almost as if Angel can see into my soul. I’m toying with what to do with my own situation, and it’s really freaking hard.
“That’s funny because Dad says I can’t date until I’m forty-five,” Rawlings complains. “And he might even stretch that out another ten years, just because he can.”
“If it’s any consolation, my dad is exactly the same. We’re just little girls in their eyes, and the bottom line is they just don’t want us to be hurt. It comes from a place of love, that’s what I tell myself every time I want to rip my dad’s head off for being overprotective.”
Rawlings laughs, a sympathetic look on her face. “Tell me about it.”
“Would you be open to me tattooing you?” Angel asks, out of the blue.
I’m stunned into silence. “Really?” I grapple for the right words. “You’d really do that?”
“I have some free time, and I was gonna head over to Bronco’s to check out the studio. I’m sure we could fit something in.”
My eyes are so round, giddiness bubbling up inside of me. “Wow, Angel. I mean, that would be amazing! Are you sure? I was hoping to get the tattoo really big, but it would just be black, so no extra color.”
“I can totally make it work, but you can think about it. How about we meet up tomorrow for coffee and run through the design?” Angel says, like it’s no big deal.
“Really?” I squeak. “I mean, it’s a lot. I wouldn’t want it to take up too much of your time.”
She squeezes my forearm. “I’m sure. If you have the time, then I can make it work.”
I’m absolutely jumping over the moon with her offer. Getting tattooed by Angel? What a fucking dream come true! I can’t believe my luck.
“I’d love that! Oh my god, Angel! Thank you!” I pull her into a hug, tears forming in my eyes. I’ve wanted this for a really, really long time, and now it’s finally happening.
“Where are all the boys around here?” Rawlings asks.
