Page 7 of Smudged Lines (Tattooed Hearts Duet 2)

“Whoa, tone it down. I can't take you both shouting.” Turning to Simon first, I answered his question since he’d been the least grouchy about it. “Yes, sorry. It was the night we were stuck in the rain. We slept together, and then he ran off like a scared little boy the next morning. Sorry, I thought you knew with all of your combined secret keeping between you both.”

Exhaling, I turned back to face Slade. His glare hadn’t lessened any. “I first met Thane at Rookies when my date stood me up. We shared a pickled appetizer and talked all night. He kissed me at the end, but then I hit my head the next day, and with everything going on, I pushed it to the back burner. He showed back up a week later when I hit a cat. You were already gone at that point. When he walked into the store, he said he'd come to visit you, and was shocked to learn I worked there. My mom was at the shop, so she invited him to dinner. Simon came too. When I arrived in Nashville, I ran into him one night. I was drunk at a bar, and Thane helped me home. We've been hanging out ever since. We’re friends. He was there tonight, at karaoke, but had to leave for emergency surgery right after you guys arrived. There,” I sighed, my hands naturally going to my hips in defiance. “Does that satisfy your questions? Or do you want me to go into every encounter we’ve had since Nashville as well?”

It was clear by my tone that I was annoyed, and I almost wanted him to say yes so I could yell at him some more. I was tired of feeling like I was on trial, and I would let him have it. Sitting down, I was glad for the decision a moment later when Slade dropped his bomb.

“That's impossible.” He looked annoyed, like I was wasting his time as he massaged his temples.

“No, it's true. I was there for dinner,” Simon offered. “He seemed nice. What does he have to do with this, though?”

“No,” Slade said through gritted teeth. “I'm sure apersonwas there for dinner. I just meant it was impossible for it to be my brother.”

“Um, well. Okay, whatever family drama you two have is between you. But I think I know when someone says, hey, I'm Thane Evans, Slade's twin. I wouldn't make that up.”

Slade snorted, exasperation heavy in his stance. His whole body appeared like it might snap if touched. His jaw ticked as his breathing quickened, the muscles in his forearms flexing. When he calmed a hair, he finished filling us in. “No. I'm saying it's impossible he’s my brother, becauseThanehas been in Liberia for almost two months with Vets Without Borders. He left a few days after we slept together. So you see, Peach, unless my brother has been lying to me about his whereabouts. It wasn’t him.”

Cold fear washed over me at what this meant. “But, but, but, no,” I stuttered, violently shaking my head. “That's not possible.” Turning to Simon, I tried to find some hope in him. “You were there. He introduced himself as Thane Evans. I-I-I…” I couldn't think anymore, the bottom had officially fallen out from under me. Simon’s eyes were wide, and he looked back to Slade, realizing when I could no longer speak.

“If your brother is in West Africa, then who the Hell did we have over for dinner?”

“That's the question I’d like to know as well. I think…” he paused, sighing, his energy leaving him. “Maybe, Simon’s right.” I looked up at him, my head spinning from everything. Something in Slade’s voice pulled me forward through the fog, allowing me to listen.

“Neither of us is at fault. We've both been played by this person, Peach. Someone has been toying with our lives for far too long. I don't know about you, but that royally pisses me off. Clearly, we have shit to work out,” he stated, pointing between us both with his finger. “But I'm willing to listen… and accept I haven't given you a fair chance. If you are as well?”

He knelt down in front of me, taking my hands into his large ones. The ink on them covered mine, and they felt warm. The part of me accustomed to fighting with him for years wanted to junk punch him for good measure. However, if I looked closely, I could see how it covered a lot of hurt and pain even if at my own expense.

“Being nice to me now doesn’t take away the pain you two caused me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get past that. I don’t trust either of you.”

He swallowed, and I noticed an emotion in his eyes I didn’t want to acknowledge. He nodded, squeezing my hand. “That’s fair. I haven’t been the nicest or my best the past few years. Can we try to be friends at least? We were once the best of them.”

I stared, not wanting to give in to the man who’d hurt me. But the girl who had been in love with her pen pal and then epically crushed on her hot bossnemy wanted to believe there was a different ending for her story that didn’t end with her in tears and alone.

“Okay, friends,” I agreed. “You have a lot of groveling to do. Can you answer me one thing first, though?”

He nodded, his thumbs circling my palms, and I found it soothing. “Why do you call me Peach?”

Slade gave a rueful smile, the corners lifting up as his eyes heated. “Because you're the prettiest peach there is. Your skin reminds me of peaches and cream, and it was the drink you had that night… before I knew who you were. I’d wanted to lick it off your lips, so it became a way to punish myself for wanting you so much.”

“You wanted my skin?” I asked, confused.

“No,Peaches. I wanted to drown in your fucking cream.”

Pen Pal Letter

NOX TO THANE

Moony Blaze,

I immediately downloaded the song and loved it! That was epic! How amazing would that be? To travel and sing, getting to do what you love? I mean, of course, assuming I didn’t die of stage fright, or puke all over people. I could see that happening too.

So, funny story, huh?

Okay, it wasn’t very funny for me, but you’ll probably laugh. Because I don’t know if I agree with you today that having a younger brother is better after this incident.

So, I’m taking a shower and Noah comes in. It’s not totally uncommon, I mean, we share a bathroom and he’s little and sometimes he has to go, so whatever. He comes in and is all cute and innocent.

“Lenny?”

“Uh, yeah, bud? I'm a little busy right now?”

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