Page 51 of The Art of Deception

Jana reaches out, steadying my shoulders, staring me dead in the eyes. “Yes, you do. I know this hurts. I know what Xander… Alex, whoever the fuck he is, has hurt you. What he did was unthinkable. But Tomi, you don’t have the time to have a meltdown over him, and you know why?”

It clicks into place. My heart hammers. I recall the one shining light left in my life. I may have lost everything I hold dear right now—my shop, the people I work with, my career, and Xander—but I still have the one young man who shines the brightest out of everything in the entire world.Levi.

I nod as I take in a deep breath. “I have to be strong for my brother.”

Jana’s gorgeous pale face lights up the small room. “There you go, you’re getting it. I know this is hard, and it fucking sucks, but girl, you have something, no someone, you need to live for. Someone you need to be on your A-game for. If you go down in a heap, what will that do for Levi?”

Inhaling sharply, the thought of me not functioning for Levi almost breaks me all over again. But I find the strength to pull my big girl panties up and wipe my face. “Thank you. You’re so good at this.”

Jana chuckles. “No, Tomi, you’re good at this. You’re amazing with Levi. You’re the best person in his life.”

I pull myself up, dust myself off, and stand tall. “Okay, I’mready. Let’s get on with this. I might be losing my shop, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to cry another stupid tear over Alex-asshole Scott.”

Jana stands, smiling wide. “There’s the Tomi I know.” She wraps her arm around my shoulders, and we head back out into my studio for the last time today. We’re almost finished packing up. When we’re done, we’ll be saying goodbye for good.

But I won’t cry.

Not again.

It’s time to be a stronger, more positive Tomi.

For Levi and me.

I can do this.

I know I can.

Chapter Fifteen

TOMI

One Week Later

The cold texture hits my tongue as the burned caramel flavor explodes through my mouth. It’s the umpteenth time I’ve eaten this ice cream since the tattoo studio closed down a week ago, and what am I doing? I’m sitting here in my pajamas in the middle of the day, eating from a tub of creamy goodness, scrolling through jobs in the employment section.

Way to reach rock bottom, Tomi.

Levi’s at school. It’s a miracle I got him there this morning. He’s been off, suspended multiple times, and has been acting out since the shop closed. He’s been out of his usual routine of going there after school. He doesn’t like change, and this minor adjustment has thrown him for a loop. I’m getting calls from the school saying he’s distracted in class, his temper has flared, and his sensory issues are heightened at the moment. Where he could stand certain things before, now he’s having issues with them. Things like chairs scraping on the floor and in a classroom that’s goingto be an issue.

He isnotcoping.

I amnotcoping.

I miss working.

But more than anything, I miss the feel of my tattoo machine, Betsy, in my hand. The vibration it sends through my fingers is like a shot of adrenaline that I haven’t felt for a week. I miss my friends, my work colleagues, but most of all, much to my horror, I miss Xander.

Having him around, his funny texts, having him to rely on.

I just miss him.

I hate admitting that I miss him.

I know I’m much stronger than this.

So much for a better more positive Tomi.

Xander was never truly real. He was playing a part, his sole purpose to manipulate me—pushing me to leave so they could fast-track their project. But he failed. I stayed my course, only leaving when I hadno other choice. He didn’t accomplish his mission, and for that, at least, I’m grateful. It means I wasn’t just another fool taken for a ride.

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