Page 205 of Paradox
"What needs to stay here?"
"Well, me, but—"
"Jin. That's getting old."
"No it's not. What's so bad about not wanting to leave?"
"This isn't reality."
"It's our reality."
Eden pushes off the tailgate and walks to me on the front porch. "And this place isn't going anywhere. Just like I'm not going anywhere."
"You were the one who said you could work from anywhere."
"Who is gonna drive thirty minutes up a dirt track to get a tattoo?"
"Plenty of people. Tek said himself that at least three or four people a week come into the shop personally to ask for you… In winter… In a nowhere town like Broadrock."
"And how would you suggest we run a business without the internet?"
"We?" My eyes brighten, along with my smile. With a shake of his head, Eden reaches inside for the door, but I stop him from closing it with my foot. "I'm serious. You could convert the shed, or even make a brand new studio."
"I'm not running a studio off-grid, and I know I don't need to explain why. Now quit stalling."
I wrap my arms around Eden's middle. "I don't want things to have to start."
"I know, but I haven't spent the last two weeks going back and forth to Broadrock getting shit sorted.Andmeeting with your parents, for this not to happen."
I bury my head deeper into his chest. "I'm not ready to see them again."
"Easter is still a month away."
"But you saw how my father looked at me."
"But he showed up. Him and your mother both came and heard us out. It was tense, but they love you, Jin, otherwise they wouldn't have come… Besides, how he looked at you is nothing compared to what hesaidto me."
"But it's not the same."
"Exactly, it's so much worse for me. I'm just lucky Tek was there, too."
"And Carey."
Eden kisses the top of my head. "And Carey, that little fucker… I still think your father would have killed me if we weren't in the middle of a busy coffee shop, though."
"I will give Tek some credit for that. But even with Mom already having spoken to him, I could still see the shovel in Dad's hands, ready to dig a double-sized grave to throw both of us into."
"He'd have had to make it a triple cause I would have taken your brother down with me."
"I'm so proud of how you handled that."
"I'm not."
"Well I'm proud of you for not blowing up his truck."
"How do you know I didn't?"
I cock my head to the side and look at Eden like I always do when he talks out of his ass.
