Sitting back down, I dragged Madeline's chair closer to mine. Before resting my hand on her thigh.
“So Maddy, I heard you’ve got engaged.” Luca said, only for Bastion to hit him hard.
“Serious?” Bas yelled, glancing at the door again. “This situation isn’t hard enough without reminding him. How are you, my twin?”
“What? I didn’t ask her who!”
I lit a cigarette.
“I’m so confused.” Madeline muttered, looking at them.
Maybe that conversation with Nikolai can’t wait. She took the cigarette from me.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed her smoking with me until she was back.
Squeezing her thigh. Thank fuck she said yes.
Had the twins done a line of cocaine while I wasn’t looking? What the fuck was with those stupid grins?
“Alright, I’m starting to get concerned now. What is with you two?” Madeline asked, taking my whiskey. “Are you two just being weird because of our engagement?”
“I haven’t told them, so it wouldn’t be that.” I glanced at Nik. “Unless you told them.”
“How could I tell them? I didn’t know she said yes.” Why was he looking at me like that? “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been about you all week, Vince? The sleep I’ve lost worrying about you?” Finishing his whiskey. “How many times I have walked to your house and walked back? Worried. You’ve never asked for time off. Ever.”
“You could have called.”
“I did.”
Right. I had forgotten to call him back.
He shook his head. “I had my medication increased.”
“Well, you know now.”
Nik opened his mouth, ready to keep arguing.
“Stop it Nikolai, we’re just glad you’re back, Maddy,” Bastion cut him off. “So fucking happy you're back.”
No one would be nearly as happy as I was.
My life was liveable again.
CHAPTER 22
Madeline
It was a permanent piece of art on my body. Forever. Staring in the mirror at the stencil. I would have to restyle every backless dress to compliment it.
“It is a big piece for your first.” the tattoo artist gave me an uneasy smile. Apparently, she wasn’t allowed to talk to me. Which I insisted she didn’t listen to.
“I can break up the tattoo sessions for the crest in to as many as you need.”
I nodded, but my eyes were not leaving the mirror.
“The lettering is done on the day, but I thought you might want to see the full design. With his name.”
It wasn’t what she said, it was how she said it.His name.