Page 17 of Inked Soul

“I assume you’re Sandy.”

I sit down on the grass and give the other fur babies some attention. A situation like this is just as stressful for them as it is for their humans. I allow myself five minutes to breathe and just release the stress of the situation before heading to Skye’s little yellow car. I don’t know Franklinton as well as I wish I did and I was mostly focused on staying alive while Skye was driving, so I take a few wrong turns as I navigate my way back to the tattoo parlor. But I make it back eventually.

Chapter Ten

How To Raise Someone Else’s Child

Luke

Alistair tears out of here so quickly I can’t help but allow dread to settle in my stomach. Hailey walks into my section with a glass of water for my customer and a frown.

“I don’t know,” I answer the unasked question. “Give it ten minutes and then start calling them.”

She hands the glass to Steven, the walk-in customer I was hoping for, before leaving us alone. I’ve worked on him before but he rarely plans on getting new ink. He is more a spur-of-the-moment type of guy.

“This is new,” he says and gestures to me.

I chuckle. Hailey strapped Tyler to my naked chest using one of her scarves. It’s a little weird but it works. I can still help customers, and the kid is fast asleep.

“He’s the son of a girl I’m dating,” I reply. A frown pulls at my features.

Wait. What? When did we start dating? Is this what Laine meant when he said I’d know the right woman for me? Can a few days really be enough to make these kinds of decisions?

My mind has been swirling with thoughts of her for hours. It’s been appreciation and lust, thoughts of claiming and keeping her, or just having some fun. I know I want her, but do I want to keep her? Do I want to raise another man’s child? I do know I don’t want to give her or Tyler up so maybe she is my girl after all...

“Not sure you’re dating?” Steven asks with a chuckle.

“We’ve only known each other a few days and there’s lots of outside issues.”

“But you want to be her man, right?”

“Absolutely,” I reply with a smile.

“That’s cool,” he says, lying back down. “Not many guys are confident enough to raise another man’s child.” I raise a brow. “My old lady had four under the age of eight when I met her. She thought I would run for the hills the moment I found out. Now our oldest just finished high school with honors.”

“And the father?” I don’t want to pry but this guy can give me an insight I didn’t know I needed.

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