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Kole had expected Finn to offer to help, but he seemed to know that this was Beck’s role, and Kole couldn’t have agreed more. As Beck tattooed Becca, Kole watched. The ink took the form of an infinity symbol made of ribbon, which extended into a couple of loops before the loose end flew free. They had chosen a teal colour because it was widely known as a symbol of healing, courage and strength.

Kole’s phone rang, distracting him. He frowned at the private number, tempted to ignore it, but he excuse himself into the corridor.

“Hello?”

“Mr Peterson. It’s Officer Kirby. I thought you’d like to know that we’ve arrested Andrew for arson. His prints were on the petrol can. While here, he attempted suicide, so now he’s on a psychiatric ward and being looked after. You shouldn’t need to worry about him now.”

“Thank you, Officer.” Kole exhaled as he hung up. As he entered the room again, Beck raised his eyebrows. Kole put his thumbs up. He’d explain later.

When Beck finished with Becca, Kole felt a sense of pride. Not because his design was now inked onto skin, but because Beck was seemingly taking some power back from being able to do it for them. When he finished all seven women, Becca stepped closer.

“What about you, Beck? Would you like to join us?”

Beck’s throat bobbed several times before he nodded. “Finn?” he croaked.

Finn took Beck’s place and, as Beck met Kole’s gaze, tattooed the man with the symbol of a survivor. Something he didn’t need, but so truly deserved.

****

Chapter 23

Beck

Nine months later

“Welcome to our eighth Bonser event!” Joey said to the Life in Ink crew before the doors opened on the first morning.

It was, once again, the third weekend in January. Beck could feel the phantom cramping in his hands before he’d even started, a reminder that it was going to be a long day, and he wasn’t as young as he once was. His left hand had healed beautifully with only minor residual aching on occasion. Their space had five reclinable chairs and trolleys that had been filled with their tools, and a table stood in front where Ethan and Ani would speak with the potential clients.

“How many do you think we’ll get done this year? Will we beat last year’s?” Dallas asked. The same question he askedeveryyear.

“It’s got to be more,” Finn said. “We have Kole now.”

Beck glanced over at his boyfriend, seeing the flush heat his cheeks when they all looked at him. He’d been training for the past nine months to tattoo, and he was damn good, though he refused to tattoo anything big at the event. He said he wasn’t ready. The plan was for him to do the smaller tattoos, but Beck was sure he could slip in a bigger one now and then. Kole was also going to do some designing, so it would truly make a difference to their number count.

As Joey’s spiel ran on, Beck reflected on how so much could change within a year. That time last year, he had no inclination of a relationship with anyone, let alone Ethan’s best friend. But at that point, he could barely remember what his life had been like before Kole had entered it. And he much preferred it that way.

“Let’s do this!” Dallas shouted, throwing his muscular arms in the air and sending out an almost visible wave of energy.

By the end of the day, they were all flagging, even with a surprise visit from Donovan and his family. Two adorable kids that Wally had been nannying before they got together. Beck’s hands weren’t thanking him, cramping with every movement; Finn’s finger had a brace on it—he thought he’d sprained it; Dallas had resorted to sitting down, which he rarely did; and Joey appeared barely awake. They were getting old.

As for Kole, he was a bloody machine. With not being used to inking so much, Kole’s hands had given up on him far earlier than the rest of them, but he had continued to draw design after design. There was no way they hadn’t smashed the record from the previous year, even on the first day of that year.

“Ani, what did we do?” Beck asked.

“I don’t even have the energy to tease you,” she said from her perch at the table, head resting against one hand and eyes closed. “Sixty.”

Beck’s jaw dropped. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

“Nope. I don’t even think I’m going to be able to move tomorrow, and I’ve been just talking to people all day.” She groaned as she stretched her legs out.

“Holy shit,” Dallas said, and even he seemed less than enthused by the number. “Boss? I think we’re going to have to trade our bodies in for younger versions.”

Joey snorted. “You’re the fittest of us all, so imagine howwefeel.”

“I really don’t want to,” Dallas complained. “I’m even considering not going out tonight.”

Finn huffed a laugh. “The only thing I’m doing tonight is sleeping.”

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