Page 17 of Ink Me Three Times

---

Mitchell is still silent. His eyes haven’t left me.

Timothy, oblivious, continues: "So, Ivy… What brings you to town?"

I blink. "Just moved."

Freddie coughs. "She’s, uh… come to stay with her brother for a while. Sort some stuff out, you know?"

Mitchell knows.

Or at least, he knows I’ve left a “Luca” behind.

But he doesn’t let that show.

Timothy nods slowly like that answers nothing at all. "Cool, cool. You like kids?"

I almost laugh. Almost. "Yeah. I do."

Then Penny, sweet, darling Penny, who’s been quiet this whole time, pops up with a crayon in each hand and runs directly at Mitchell.

"Mitchy!"

She hugs his legs like she’s a koala and he’s a eucalyptus tree.

Timothy laughs, fond and surprised. "Well, someone’s got a favorite."

Mitchell finally speaks. His voice is gravel. "Hey, little monster."

He scoops her up automatically, and it’s heartbreakingly effortless. She giggles and rests her head on his shoulder like she’s known him forever. My stomach twists so hard it might implode.

Timothy glances at me, amused. "Hope you don’t mind, Penny’s pretty attached to Mitchell. He’s like toddler catnip."

I try to smile, but it hurts. "She’s got good taste."

Freddie slings his bag over his shoulder. "I’ll be back in a couple hours. You good?"

I nod. Too fast. Way too fast.

"Cool." He claps his friends on the shoulder, says something about the shop, and then, mercifully, they leave.

The door shuts.

I exhale like I’ve been underwater.

Then I bolt for my phone.

Ivy: OMG, Olivia… So you know how I said I had a dumb one night stand when I got to town?

Her response is almost immediate.

Olivia: Yes, the tattoo chair guy??

Ivy: Yeah. HE JUST WALKED INTO FREDDIE’S HOUSE. With his TWIN.

Olivia: WAIT. WHAT. Tattoo Chair Guy has a twin????

Ivy: YES. Identical. One is hot dangerous. One is hot wholesome. Like if lust and emotional stability split into two people.

Olivia: You slept with the dangerous one, didn’t you.

---