Page 40 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

It wasn't that I didn't trust Adele. Or maybe it was. I wasn't quite sure. What I did know was that our relationship with Julia was starting to strain under the weight of it all. The easy camaraderie, the playful banter… it all felt a bit forced after Adele’s return.

I watched as Julia chatted with Maddie at the front desk, a smile on her face but not in her eyes. I wanted to reach out to her, to reassure her that everything would be okay. But the words always seemed to get stuck in my throat.

Adele breezed past, her laughter filling the room as she joked with a client. I watched her closely, trying to see past the veneer, to understand what was really going on beneath the surface.

Had she truly changed? Or was it all just an act, a well-rehearsed performance designed to win us over?

I couldn't say for sure.

What Ididknow was that I wasn't willing to jeopardize what we had with Julia.

* * *

The next morning, my quiet office was interrupted by Adele's voice, rich with warmth and charm, as she greeted me with a bright smile. "Morning, Kai! I thought I'd surprise you with some coffee," she said, extending a steaming cup toward me.

I accepted it, appreciating the gesture but not without skepticism as to what was behind it. "Thanks, Adele. That's thoughtful of you."

“Americano black,” she said, winking. “Just the way you like it.”

“Appreciated.”

“Say,” she began, a hesitant look on her face. “I was just wondering…”

Before she had a chance to finish, Julia walked in, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. In her hands, she held another cup of coffee, evidently prepared for me as well.

"I guess I'm late to the party," she said, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and irritation.

I looked from one coffee to the other, then back at the two women, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Looks like it's a two-coffee kind of morning for me."

Adele laughed, her eyes sparkling, while Julia's smile was more restrained, her gaze flickering between the two of us.

“Uh, so.” Both women said at the same time. Julia hurried over and set the coffee on my desk.

“I’ll let you get back to it,” she said, her face somewhat tense as she hurried out, Adele’s eyes never leaving Julia.

“Anyway,” Adele continued. “Now that we’re alone…” She glanced away, tapping her fingertip on her chin in a coy manner. “You know what? I guess I forgot what I wanted to say.” She leaned forward again, this time tapping on the top of the coffee lid. “Just enjoy. And think of me while you do.”

As she turned, she swung her arm in such a manner that bumped Julia’s coffee, sending the brew toppling over and right into the trash can next to my desk.

“Damnit, Addy!”

“Oh, look at that!” Adele said, putting her hands on her hips. “God, I can be such a klutz. See you later, boss.”

With that, she headed out, glancing at me one more time over her shoulder before leaving me alone.

What a goddamn mess.

The moment passed, the day unfolded, but the awkwardness lingered, a subtle undercurrent that I couldn't quite shake.

That afternoon I found myself alone in the quiet of my office once again and I knew what I had to do. The tension was building, the rift widening, and I needed to find a way to bridge the gap.

I opened my laptop and typed, my mind made up. A holiday getaway, just us and Julia.

Montana seemed like the perfect destination—a rugged landscape, untamed and unspoiled, a reflection of our own wild hearts.

The arrangements fell into place quickly, a cabin tucked away in the mountains, far from the distractions and the drama.

I closed my laptop when I was done, a sense of purpose settling over me. We needed a break from the daily grind, a chance to rediscover ourselves, and each other.

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