Page 30 of Chasing Ink
“I’ll give you the address.”
They walk to Laine’s booth, and I hear them talking but I leave them alone.That is, until my brother walks out of the tattoo parlor.Laine is waiting for me, already locking the front door, when I walk out of the booth.
“He begged me not to tell you,” he says softly, “and as long as both of you were semi okay, I kept my mouth shut.But this isn’t about you two anymore.”
“Is he okay?”I ask, my voice a hoarse whisper.
“No, babe, he most definitely is not okay.But he believes he is doing the right thing, and you know how fucking pig-headed he can be.”
A broken laugh falls from my lips at the perfect description of the man I love.
“He misses you and every time I tell him how sad you are it breaks his heart,” Laine says.“Luke will bring him home.”
“If he doesn’t, you need to give me that address.”
“If he doesn’t, I’ll drive you there my damn self.”
Chapter Seventeen
Turning Around
Alistair
I drove all the way home.I stopped in front of my house—her house—in the middle of the night and stared.I got out of my truck and stood at the gate.
I almost went in, but I didn’t.
All these weeks of pain will have been for nothing if I just go back.I believe I am doing the best thing for Skye.Instead of going inside, I get back in my truck and leave Franklinton.
For good this time.
****
I’m living less thana hundred miles from home in a tiny apartment above a garage.I found a job as a mechanic and stayed.I couldn’t bear to be any further away from Skye than I already was.
It’s been eight weeks since I walked away, breaking both of our hearts.I speak to Laine every day, twice a day, without fail.For the first two weeks she didn’t leave my house.She didn’t go to work.She stayed in bed with the dogs and cried.
