Page 47 of Inked Beasts

She eyes me as she chews and swallows. “If you’re all just friends, and if those aren’t dates, then I guess you wouldn’t mind if I asked one of them to go out with me?”

I don’t know exactly what my face is doing in response to this idea, but whatever it is, it makes Ava burst out laughing. “Girl, you’ve got it bad! Just admit it.”

When I shake my head, dropping it into my hands, she says, “Just own it. You’re a lucky woman. Are you really dating all three of them?”

I look up at her, my shake turning into a nod. “It’s just temporary,” I say. “Just while I’m here. I know it’s an impossible situation.”

She frowns at me as she reaches for her Thai tea. “Why?”

“I mean, it’s not reality, is it? Dating three men. Somehow, they’re all okay with it, but I know it can’t go on forever.”

“Why not? Are they wearing you out?” She lifts an eyebrow, indicating that she’s talking about tiring bedroom activities. I feel my cheeks start to color, and this time it’snotfrom the chili peppers. Certain parts of mehavegotten a little worn out, but I’ve persevered like a trooper. A thoroughly-satisfied trooper.

Again reading my expression, she sighs. “I wish I was getting workouts like that. It’s been a bit of a dry spell for me.”

“Really? I thought you and… was it Erik? …were dating. The guy who was at your place on movie night.”

She shakes her head. “Weareactually just friends, unlike you and yourboyfriends,and don’t try to change the subject.”

I raise my hands, pleading innocence. “You’re the one who changed the subject.”

Ava cleans the last of the incendiary food from her plate, licking her lips to get every bit of the sauce. “I think it’s incredibly romantic, you reuniting with childhood friends after all these years. It sounds like they really care for you. Why would it matter that there’s three of them?”

An ember of hope begins to glow in my chest. I hadn’t expected this response from Ava, and is it possible that her take on our unconventional situation could be more realistic than my mom’s?

Of course, my mom wants to protect me, but her warnings are very much influenced by the way my father hurt her. I know that Kai, Gage, and Thorn would never hurt me like that. Not if they’d vowed not to, and never intentionally, even without us having a commitment.

The waiter brings the check and I grab it, even though I may need to dip into my savings account to purchase new taste buds after trying Ava’s food. She reaches for the bill a moment too late.

“You paid for our last lunch, and the one before that. This one’s on me,” I say, handing over my credit card.

While we wait for the waiter to return, my newly buoyant mood leads me to ask, “Have you been to their shop? Beasts Ink?”

It’s only a few blocks away, and the close proximity has been on my mind all throughout lunch. At Belle Epoque, I may occasionally wander past the kitchen to catch glimpses of Thorn, and I feel the same pull to get a tiny fix of Gage and Kai to get me through the rest of the day.

There’s no denying that my men are addictive.

LEXY

It turns out that Ava never has been inside Beasts Ink, so we stroll down the street, taking in the Christmas decorations on the Strip as we go. She says she went by the shop once, with the intention of checking it out after watching their reality show, but there was a big crowd at the door—mostly women, of course—and she ended up turning back, not wanting to wait.

There’s a crowd there again today.

“This isn’t nearly as bad as last year,” Ava says, making my eyes go wide. There are at least eight people at the door, six of them women, and I wish I didn’t automatically count the women and wonder if any of them are Kai’s and Gage’s types.

We’ve talked a lot about the years we’ve been apart, but I carefully avoided asking about their romantic relationships, because I knew it wouldn’t feel good to hear about them.

I’m glad there’s less of a crowd than Ava experienced, but it also makes me wonder if their popularity is waning.

Clearly, they’re not hurting for business, but maybe they’re not earning what they were in past years.

The two of us slip in behind the small cluster of people in the doorway. There’s a heavy cloud of perfume hanging in the air. I stretch on tiptoes to catch Brax’s eye and wave, making sure he sees that it’s me sneaking in, and not a random fan.

He nods and grins, lifting his chin in greeting before his eyes shift to Ava.

“Who’s that?” she whispers, turning back to give him another look as I lead us to Ember’s desk.

“That’s Brax. Maybe I can introduce you on the way out.” He’s deep in discussion with the perfumey women, who don’t look much older than eighteen.

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