Page 82 of Bound By Temptation

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Milly said. “You’ve been together for a long time, but something pulled you apart.”

My body stiffened. “What?”

She only smiled. “Just be happy. Love is pure, but it’s complicated. Love can hold you high in good times and get you through the tough times. Love can also hurt. It can break and bend. There will be fights and miscommunications. But it’s the strongest bond you’ll have. One you can trust and count on. It goes both ways, so hold on to it tightly.”

“We’re not together,” I told Milly, and Ax growled.

“Are too,” he retorted.

Milly smiled wide. “You are and have been in each other’s hearts.”

“Now enough of your mumbo jumbo,” Harold said.

“Even after fifty-three years, you still think it’s mumbo jumbo? I swear sometimes I want to take your cane and hit you with it.”

Harold very wisely moved his cane to the other hand out of Milly’s grasp. “Woman. I know you know what you’re talkin’ about. I’m sayin’ let these youngins’ get on with their night instead of standin’ here talkin’ to us.”

Milly side-eyed him, and I just knew he was going to get it when we walked away.

“Thank you for your kindness,” I told them.

“Nice to meet ya,” Ax said, and Harold’s brow lifted, but he kept his mouth shut.

“Bye,” Milly said as Harold nodded.

“Bye.”

We walked away, and I didn’t know what to think.

Ax held my hand as we headed to the roller coaster. “Was that weird or just me?” I asked him.

He chuckled. “You don’t remember who that is?”

I looked up, my brow lifted. “Milly?”

He smiled. “Remember the side show that was here when we were probably in grade school?”

“Yeah…, but I’ve never been to it.”

“Milly was the fortune teller for years.”

“No way! You’re lying,” I said, shocked.

He stopped and wrapped me in his arms. “No, actually I’m not. Guess she’s really good at telling people’s future.”

My head tilted. “Good? She said we’ve been together for years. We’re not even together now, Ax. She’s very wrong.”

“Stop sayin’ that shit. We are together. And babe. Think about it. You’ve never been away from me. I tattooed you on my arm to carry you everywhere after you left.”

“What? The one on your arm? That makes no sense. A heart, an eye, and claw marks. I don’t get it.”

“Look closer. The eye is yours. I gave my artist a picture of you, and he recreated it. ‘I’ for Indie. The bleeding heart because my heart has been bleeding since I made you leave my life. The claw marks are because you’re a panther when you want to be, and you sliced me because I deserved it.”

“You thought of all of that with the tattoo?”

“Yeah. I needed you with me. I’m the one who fucked up and couldn’t let you go.”

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