Page 102 of Time for Change

BJ nods and helps me pull up my pant leg. She gets the transfer positioned where I want it and grabs her gun. When the buzzing starts, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. It hurts like hell, the burn almost more than I can take, but I manage to hold on. I keep my focus on the positives in my life. I think about school and how every day I’m getting closer to my degree. I think about my siblings and how just a handful of weeks ago, they didn’t even know I existed. Now, we’re forming a relationship, a bond. It’s something I’ve never had yet craved.

And I think about Jack.

Even though our relationship has ended, I carry nothing but good away from it. I learned a lot about myself during our brief time together and learned how to love. Maybe someday, I’ll know what it’s like to be loved in return. Who knows what’s in store for me.

“All done.”

I crack open my eyes, not even realizing the buzz of the gun had stopped. My eyes land on BJ, who’s smiling at me, and then they bounce over to Jameson, who’s looking on with the faintest hint of a smile on his own lips.

“What do you think?” I ask him before I even look down at my ankle.

“Fucking badass, little sister.”

I don’t know if it’s what he said or how he said it that has me on the verge of tears. Slowly, I gaze down and see my new tattoo for the first time. “Wow,” I murmur, my throat suddenly dry and hoarse.

“It’s beautiful,” BJ replies. “I’m so proud of this piece. And you.”

I slowly stand up, while my sister recleans the space. I pause directly in front of Jameson, not really sure what to say or do. He’s not a touchy-feely guy, but I want to show him what he means to me—what today has meant to me. Even spending less than a few hours with them both makes my heart happy.

“Amanda!” Jameson hollers, stepping into the hallway and startling us all.

“What? Jesus, is there an emergency?” Amanda yells back, coming down the hall.

“No emergency. I need a favor,” he says, pulling out his cell phone. “I need you to take a picture of me with my sisters.”

My heart clenches in my chest before dropping to my feet.

He looks at me and gives me a smile—a real smile. “Time to update the photo in that frame, kid. Let’s take one of all three of us.”

“To moving forward,” BJ chimes in, stepping up to the left of our brother, while I take my place at his right.

“To forging our own paths in life,” he adds.

“To siblings.”

“Say cheese,” Amanda directs, and as silly as it sounds, we all do, smiling widely for our first official photo as relatives.

When the photo is done, I’m turned and pulled against Jameson’s chest. “He’s working through some things of his own, I’m sure. I don’t know Jack well, but he’d be a fucking idiot if he lets you go, and I don’t think he’s an idiot. Don’t give up hope, okay?”

I nod, unable to speak.

“Good. Now, come on. I’m taking my sisters to dinner.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jack

Two weeks.

Two of the longest, most painful weeks of my life.

Especially during the week, where the house is silent and my heart aches for me to reach out to her. I want to. Bad. So fucking bad it hurts, but I don’t. I can’t. It’s not fair to either one of us, especially her. I refuse to string her along, and the last thing she deserves is someone who can only see her a few times a week, when our schedules line up just right.

She’s not a dirty little secret, and I refuse to treat her that way.

It’s mid-February.

Valentine’s Day.

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