Page 115 of Whips and Chains
I widened my eyes. “Really?”
He nodded, even though he looked a little green. “Apparently.” He stared up at the tattoo shop like it might suddenly grow teeth and snatch a bite out of him. “Shit. This seemed like a good idea at the time.”
I shoved him toward the door. “It’s a great idea. The worst he can say is no, right? But what if he says yes?” Excitement lit up inside me for him. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I doubted I wanted to clean for the rest of my days.
But Levi knew.
At least his heart did. He’d sent me hundreds of drawings over the last year, each one better than the last. Art was his calling, and watching him realize that, and now actually follow through filled me with a pride and joy I’d really only felt for Toby in the past.
But I liked the way it felt. And it made me want to find that thing that lit me up the way art did with Levi.
I pulled him toward the door, my heart racing, suddenly as nervous as if I was asking for my dream job.
I wanted this for him so bad.
A bell above the door tinkled when we went in, and it was probably a good thing, because if it hadn’t I wasn’t sure Dax, with Nyah grinding on his lap, would have even noticed. The two of them both looked up guiltily.
I raised an eyebrow. “Well, well, well. What’s going on here?”
Levi grinned. “Taking a little personal time in the middle of the day, huh?”
Nyah’s pretty face flushed pink, and her eyes sparkled. She went to get up off Dax’s lap, but he banded an arm around her middle, holding her there.
I practically saw the love hearts form in her eyes as she watched him reach his free hand out to Levi so they could shake.
When she finally dragged her gaze back up to me, she was so full of happiness it was impossible not to feel it as well.
Dax glanced between me and Levi. “What brings you two in here today? Want some new ink? Maybe a piercing?”
“No,” Levi answered quickly before I could say a word.
I hid a laugh.
Levi shifted his weight from foot to foot uncomfortably, the tension radiating off him. I wanted to reach out and squeeze his fingers for reassurance, but I didn’t want Dax to think Levi needed me for emotional support either. So I made out like I was really interested in the art on the walls instead.
Levi cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask for a job.”
Dax paused. “Here?”
Levi nodded. “I don’t care what I’m doing. I’ll sweep floors or answer the phone or go on lunch runs. Whatever you need. You don’t need to pay me much. I just need the bare minimum to survive.”
Dax shook his head. “Levi…”
I squeezed my eyes shut, my stomach dropping. Shit. I didn’t want him to say no.
Levi shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “Yeah, sorry. Right. I knew it was a long shot. Don’t worry about it.”
He reached for my hand, and this time I was there, wrapping my fingers around his and squeezing them reassuringly.
I was sure I was just as disappointed as he was.
It hit me hard that this was what it felt like to love someone. That it wasn’t all tummy butterflies and hot sex. But feeling their sadness and disappointment as if it were my own. Sharing that burden and lightening the load just a bit by being there for him.
God, I loved him.
In that moment, I was surer than I ever had been.
Dax untangled himself from Nyah, lifting her off his lap and setting her down next to him so he could stand. “Christ, Levi. The first thing we’re going to have to work on is your listening skills. Or maybe your confidence. You didn’t even let me get a word out before you’d written yourself off and were walking back out the door.”
