Page 92 of All Your Firsts

After cleaning her skin with gentle strokes, I press a piece of transfer paper against her side, making sure to capture every intricate detail. I grab the edge of the paper and take it off before going over the whole design with a critical eye, leaning right, then left. It has to be perfect. This is the most important tattoo I’ve ever done.

“Perfect.”

She walks to the full-length mirror on the other side of the shop. A genuine smile graces my lips.

“It is perfect.”

Rosie skips back to my station and lies down on her side. We get right to work, and the second the needles brush against her skin, she winces. This is going to be a long-ass day for her.

We stay in relative silence for a while. Her in her head and me in mine. It becomes almost peaceful as I’m lulled by the buzzing of the tattoo machines.

“Gage texted and said he’s coming to collect me soon. Looks like you’re going to be rid of me and back to your life.”

I look over at her, and she has a look I don’t understand on her face.

“Is that what you want?” I ask, leading the conversation away from me and life after her.

I know what I want, but what the hell does she want?

“I don’t know that I have a choice,” she says, resigned.

“Bullshit. You always have a choice.”

“If I did, I wouldn’t be here.”

My stomach plummets, but I school my features. “So, you regret it?”

But what I really mean by it is me.Does she regret me?

The bell rings above the door before she can comment further.

“I heard someone was getting tattooed,” Trey says as he looks over my shoulder.

“How’s it feeling, Rosie? You need someone to hold your hand?”

I shake my head. “You’re a stupid fucker if you’re still flirting with her after knowing who her family is.”

“What’s your excuse?” he fires back.

I ignore him. “Why’re you here?”

Trey smiles like he knows I’m changing the subject.

“Waiting for Ax. I told him I’d meet him at Jess’s, but he declined.”

“Shocker.” I laugh.

“He needs to chill. She’s like my little sister, for fuck’s sake.”

“You seem to enjoy fucking with him about her.”

“Serves him right after breaking my fucking nose.”

“Why’d he break your nose?” Rosie asks through a wince.

“He thought I was trying to poach Jess.”

“Were you?”

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