Page 103 of Broken

“That look on your face. That is your guilty face. What did you do? And don’t lie. You forget I know you. Something happened last night.”

I followed the instructions Garrett gave me as we were leaving the shop and took off the wrap a couple of hours after I got home. Who could sleep after what we did last night? I washed it and added the cream he gave me.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve looked at it in the mirror today. Astonished at my choice to let him tattoo me. Especially when I’d been so adamant it would never happen.

Against my will, I imagined Jared’s face seeing it. The tattoo and the small crystal hearts in my nipples. I might have gone a little crazy and bought a selection from Katja.

The redness has faded, but I took painkillers this afternoon because it hurt.

“He er… Well, I went to the shop last night and. I kind of… got a tattoo.”

“You never,” Ruby gasps. “Oh wow. Can we see it?”

Sin is staring at me like I’m an alien. Ruby gets off her stool and comes over. My tank top has a built-in support, which is a lot more comfortable than wearing a bra, even though I tried. I do need to control my boobs, they’re not exactly small.

With the two women watching on, I lift up the hem of my shirt and pull it up. Careful to keep my nipples covered, sue me if the only person I feel like showing them to is the man who did the tattoo. I hold it so they can see where the tattoo goes up between my boobs and curves beneath.

“Holy mother,” Ruby bends down. “Calli, that’s beautiful. I wish he tattooed me now. Although I love what Sumner did. Thisis exquisite,” she babbles on. “Look at those fine lines and that color really makes it pop. It’s like a heart. Calli. Do you love it?”

“Yeah, I do,” I murmur, my eyes are locked on Sin. She still hasn’t said a word.

Ruby senses the change in me and turns to look at Sin.

Does she hate me? She was the one encouraging me to get a tattoo when they all did. She is the one who wants me to move on from Jared and everything else that happened. I don’t get it.

Then a tear falls over her lashes. She brushes it away. Holy hell. I move around Ruby and Sin hops off her stool. She pulls me into the tightest of hugs. Who cares if she is crushing me. I love this woman. I’ve always had her support and her kindness in getting me away from my nightmare, making me a part of her circle.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers.

“You saved me,” I say back.

Sin holds me at arm’s length, her eyes watery. “No honey, you saved yourself.”

“It would never have happened without you.”

Sin shakes her head. “You called me. You took the first step.”

“We were amazing together, right?”

“I can live with that.”

“What does a new friend have to do to get in on this action?”

Sin waves her arm, and Ruby comes over to join in the hug. Cliché it might be, I’ve never been happier than I am right now. Until….

“Okay, operation tame Garrett Larkin is underway, ladies.”

Ruby and I exchange a glance. Uh oh.

“No,” I tell her.

“Trust me. I can be subtle.”

“Hopefully better than me,” Ruby laughs.

There is no point arguing when we’re all a jug deep in margarita. I’ll stop her in her tracks tomorrow. Even if a part of me wonders what it would be like.

Garrett won’t be easy to convince. As Sin plots, I try not to let myself believe she can do it.

---