Page 57 of Love Legacy

“There’s a lot in here! I have to do this on the couch,” I say, making my way to the living room with the bag. I take a seat on the couch, placing the bag on the ground, and Sage sits close next to me, the heat radiating from her body as she scoots behind me, resting her chin on my shoulder.

I pull out the items she got me one by one, laying them out on the couch. It was such a thoughtful gift. Sage picked up some of my haircare products, a couple satin bonnets, a slightly weighted sweatshirt with a satin-lined hood, and an aromatherapy essential oils set to help with my anxiety.

I twist in my spot to look at my girlfriend.Who knew she was such a softie?

“Sage, this was so nice. You know me so well! I had no idea you were paying this close attention to the products I use.”

She beams, feeling proud of her haul. “I took notes and photos, when I was staying at your apartment over Thanksgiving Break, but I also had Theia give her curly girl stamp of approvalbefore I purchased anything. I got you two sets of hair products and a second bonnet, so that way you could leave some at my apartment. This way, you don’t have to worry about bringing anything back and forth between my place and yours.”

Happy tears well up in my eyes. “Sage, that’s so sweet of you. Thank you. I love it all,” I say, pressing my lips to hers. I already had commandeered a drawer at Sage’s apartment so I could keep clothes there, but now she was actively encouraging me to leave my things at her place, which was a big step for us.

“And then the hoodie has a satin lining so that it doesn’t mess up your hair and it’s slightly weighted, so it’s like a portable weighted blanket. I know you’re always cold, plus the weight can help with your anxiety.”

I pick up the hoodie, examining the weight before holding it close to my chest. It was made out of an extremely soft material and smelled so good. I take another whiff of it, enjoying the familiar scent. “Wait, isn’t that your perfume?”

Sage nods, rubbing the back of her neck as she blushes slightly. “It is. And I slipped a little travel-sized dispenser of it in the hidden pocket in the pouch. We’re going to be apart for the next month, so I wanted to give you something to sleep in or sleep with that reminds you of me since I won’t be there.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face as I reach into the pocket of the hoodie, and sure enough, the travel container was in there, just as she said it would be. I straddle Sage’s lap, wrapping my arms around her neck.

“You’re so amazing, Sagey. Thank you,” I murmur, planting gentle kisses all over her face. She laughs before burying her face in my neck.

“There’s more to your surprise if you’re interested.”

I laugh. “What else could you have possibly gotten me, Sage? This is already too much.”

She picks her head up, her eyes searching my face. “So I know when you got your nose piercing, you talked about being open to getting a tattoo at a later date. The shop is closed this week, but Ryan agreed to come into the shop todayifyou were interested. No pressure though. This is completely up to you.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise. I knew Sage and Ryan were close friends, but she’s willing to come tattoo me on her day off? I’m honored, honestly. “How’d you manage to convince her to do that?”

“She thinks of me as the little sister she never had, plus she really likes you. It’d be a very short session for her since you probably wouldn’t get anything big, so she didn’t mind,” Sage says, rubbing small circles with her thumbs as she holds my hips.

I grin. “Then let’s do it.”

She raises an eyebrow, as if she’s surprised by my answer. “You’re ready to go get your first tattoo?”

“You seem surprised.”

“I am! I wasn’t sure if you’d put any more thought into it. I honestly expected this to just jump-start a conversation about getting tattoos, not that you would be ready to do it.”

I bite my lip. “If I’m going to be honest, I’m super nervous. But I know myself, and if I put it off or try to schedule it ahead of time, I’m just giving myself an opportunity to chicken out. Now that there’s an opportunity being presented to me, I just have to take it.”

Sage smiles. “Alright then, let me just give Ryan a call. You should pack your suitcase for your trip home now. We can stay at my parents’ house, and then we’ll drive you to the airport in the morning from their house. It’ll save an extra trip tonight.”

“We?”

“Yeah, knowing my mom, she’s going to want to drive with me to see you off.”

I grin, pressing my lips to hers. “I guess I’ll go get packed then.”

She returns my smile, giving me a gentle smack on the butt before allowing me to get up from the couch. I head to my room to pack a suitcase for the next month while Sage makes her call. In the past, I wouldn’t have too many clothes with me at school, partially because I was so close to home.

But since things were so rocky with my parents when I left, I took most of my belongings with me to Pinebrook. At least all my clothes. My grandmother has some of my things, and there were a couple boxes left in my childhood bedroom. My plan while I’m home is to finish packing up all my things and give Grannie Mae the rest of the boxes to hold onto. I’ll get them once I’m done with school and I’ve decided where I’m going to go after graduation.

Sage pokes her head into the bedroom. “Almost ready, baby?”

I nod, zipping up my large suitcase. I grab my travel backpack, tucking my electronic devices and chargers into my bag. I pack my headphones and neck pillow as well. Sage grabs my suitcase and I follow her out of the apartment, taking my crossbody bag off the hook by the front door on my way out.

We pull up to Wild Thorn Ink to see Ryan’s motorcycle parked out front.

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