Page 29 of Ink Me Three Times
"You say that like it’s not my best quality."
"I mean, it’s up there. Alongside the suspicious number of rings."
"I’ll take that as a compliment." I tilt my head. "Also, suspicious? Or charmingly roguish?"
She pauses. "It’s a fine line."
Pickle lets out a small bark, tail thumping, like he’s voting "roguish" with extreme enthusiasm.
I reach down to scratch behind his ears. "See?” I tell him. “She likes me."
"He likes roadkill and mud puddles," she says. "You’re in excellent company."
I give her a faux wounded look. "Wow. Brutal. I thought we were bonding."
"We are," she says dryly. "In the way people bond during disasters."
"You wound me, Fletcher."
"Good."
I sip my coffee, watching her over the rim. She’s got that wild, sleep deprived sparkle in her eye. The one people get after surviving a toddler sugar crash or a failed IKEA build. I like it. I like her. Too much, probably.
"You know," I say casually, "you’re welcome to swing by for a less chaotic visit sometime. Preferably not at full sprint with Pickle foaming at the mouth."
She snorts. "And do what, exactly?"
"Sit in the tattoo chair," I say, winking. "Could even offer you thespecial experiencepackage. No leash required."
There’s a half beat of silence. Then her entire face rearranges itself.
Brows up. Mouth open.
She stares at me, frowning in that way people do when trying to reverse engineer a life decision.
I watch it hit her in real time.
She tilts her head.
Squints.
Then…
"Wait," she blurts, eyes widening, "areyouthe one I slept with?"
The words land like a record scratch across the room. Even Pickle lifts his head in alarm.
"You look so alike and it was dark that night and…"
I choke. Literally choke on my coffee.
Then I start laughing. Loud, wheezing, delighted laughter that echoes off the walls.
"Oh no way," I manage between fits. "No. Nooo. Definitely not."
She goes rigid, face going scarlet.
"I mean… thanks?" I add, still cracking up. "I’m flattered. Truly. But no. That would’ve been Mitchell. Giant broody vibes. Great with shading, terrible with feelings."
