Page 151 of Ink Me Three Times
He sighs, tossing the papers onto the counter. “You hurt her.”
“I know.”
“And you hurt me.”
“I know that too.”
Tim crosses his arms, eyes narrowing. “So what now? You give one apology and it’s fixed?”
“No,” I say immediately. “It’s not fixed. Not even close. But I needed to say it. To start saying the right things instead of hiding behind jokes and fear.”
Something shifts in his expression. Still guarded. Still wary. But maybe—maybe—just a little less angry.
“We're all in this, Mitch,” he says finally. “Whether we like it or not. And Ivy… she deserves better than us screwing it up because we’re too stubborn to talk.”
“Agreed.”
A beat. Then he nods. Just once. It’s not a handshake or a forgiveness or a full circle moment. But it’s a start. I’ll take it.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, jarring against the quiet.
I glance at the screen.
Freddie.
A spike of nerves hits me square in the chest. Because if he’s calling right now, it’s not casual.
I answer. “Hey.”
There’s a pause on the other end. Then: “We need to talk. All of us. Ivy too. We need to sort this shit out once and for all.”
“Yeah,” I say, swallowing hard. “We do.”
His voice is steady. Serious. “Right now? Does that work because I got a sitter for Penny?”
I glance at Tim, who’s already watching me like he knows exactly what that call means.
“Come to the shop” I say.
And I’ll be here.
Because I’m done running.
Whatever’s waiting on the other side of this conversation, whatever truths get dragged out, whoever walks away, whoever stays, I’m not hiding behind fear anymore.
I’m in.
All the way.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Ivy
I stare at the text.
Freddie: Can you come by the shop? Please. It’s time.
Oh no.
