Page 175 of Paradox
I reposition my hand back to the tattoo, and start on the second last character. “Sure, why not?”
“Won’t it be awkward?”
“Nah. I’m over it. He fucked up—and I don’t ever need to see Shawn’s face again—but it’s not like I played no role in the breakdown of our relationship.”
“Oh, wow. That’s ah,” he stumbles over his words. “That might be the most mature thing you’ve ever said.”
I shrug, even though I know he can’t see me. “Reeze is an amazing artist, and he has a completely different style to either of us. It’d be dumb of me to let him get away. As long as he’s not already moved on.”
“Oh, that’s great. And, no. He’s still living in Shawn’s parent’s pool house, though. Which has gotta be weird. But she’s got herself a studio downtown so I guess they don’t see each other… Anyway, I think you should be the one to call him.”
“Whatever.”
“You sure you’re cool with this?”
“Sure. A little loyalty would have been nice, but I don’t really blame Reeze. He’s not the one who was in a relationship. And I had been pulling away.”
“So it’s true then?”
I rest the Nomi on the coffee table along with the rag and ink pot, and pull Jin onto my lap.
“Finished,” I whisper to him as I maneuver his legs to wrap around my waist. After a chaste kiss on his soft lips, I guide his head to rest against my shoulder then turn my attention back to his brother. “So you’ve spoken to Shawn?”
“Yeah.” His response is meek, but he doesn’t lie.
“Do you care?”
“What? No!”
A little over zealous, but I appreciate the sentiment.
“It’s a little surprising. But you can be with whoever you want to be with.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do I?”
“Shut up,” Tek laughs back at me. “So I guess I have the usual questions.”
“If you can’t be specific, then I won’t be either.”
Jin squeezes me with his thighs and sandwiches his arms between our chests like he’s trying to make himself smaller and easier for me to protect.
“Shawn’s convinced you knew them before you split.”
“And?”
“Did you?”
“Yeah.”
“But you didn’t cheat on her?”
“Is that relevant?”
“After the giant tantrum you threw the day you ran away, fuck yeah it’s relevant.”
