Page 100 of Ink Me Three Times
I shrug, rubbing the back of my neck. “I don’t know for sure, but I think she might be open to something different. I think... maybe we all need to be open to it.”
Freddie’s quiet for a moment. Then he finally speaks, his voice low but firm. “We need to be sure, before we do anything stupid. I mean, there’s a lot riding on this. She works for me, and she’s Jesse’s sister…”
I nod, understanding exactly what he means. It’s more of a risk for him than us. He could lose his best friend.
But I think she’s worth it.
“I get it, man,” I say, meeting Freddie’s eyes. “It’s risky, especially for you. But think about it… this isn’t just about what we want. It’s about whatshewants too. She’s not the kind of person who fits into the usual mold, and I think that’s why she keeps pulling us in. As long as we communicate well…”
Freddie runs his hand through his hair again, looking uncertain, like he’s trying to piece everything together. “So, what now? We just go up to her and ask? This isn’t something you just... throw out there without knowing where she stands.”
I nod. “I think it’s time to talk to her. Be upfront. Let her know what we’re thinking and see if she’s open to it. If she’s not, we back off. No questions, no guilt.”
Timothy raises an eyebrow, a small smirk curling at the corner of his lips. “Look at you, Everett. Talking about feelings and shit. Who knew?”
I give him a side eye, but there’s no humor in my tone when I reply. “This is different, Tim. I’m not about to play games with her. Not when it comes to something that could change everything.”
Timothy gives a little chuckle. “So... when are we going to have the big talk with her?”
I give him a one shouldered shrug. “Tonight is as good a time as any, don’t you think?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ivy
Penny’s finally asleep,thank goodness.
I barely manage to get her tucked in before I feel that wave of exhaustion hit me.
The day was long, and I’m definitely ready to crash, but there’s this lingering buzz from everything that happened today. The convention was overwhelming in the best possible way, and I can’t stop grinning.
Mitchell took second place in the live tattoo competition. Timothy snagged that sponsorship deal like it was nothing. Freddie? He spent the day schmoozing with half the industry, somehow making friends with just about everyone.
I’m proud of them.
I don’t know why it surprised me, but it did. These guys are good at what they do, and they’ve worked hard to get here.
I head into the living room, feeling a little too much like the tagalong, except this time, I don’t mind it. The guys are sprawled out, beers in hand, looking more relaxed than they did earlier. The pressure’s off, and you can tell.
“Penny asleep?” Freddie asks, raising his eyebrows as he cracks open a new beer.
“Yeah, finally,” I say, sitting down next to him. “She was practically bouncing off the walls all day. She’s got more energy than I know what to do with.”
“Good for her,” Mitchell mutters from across the room, eyes still trained on the street outside. He seems to be lost in thought, like there’s something brewing under that cool exterior.
I look over at Timothy, who’s lounging on the couch, one arm draped lazily over the back. He meets my eyes, giving me a slight nod, his mouth curling up into a half smile.
“So,” I say, taking a sip of my water. “You guys did amazing today. I’m seriously impressed.”
“Yeah, well it’s easy when you love it as much as we do,” Timothy says with a shrug, but I notice the pride in his smile.
I glance at Mitchell, noticing how quiet he’s being. Normally, he’s the first one to jump in with a self deprecating joke or sarcastic comment, but tonight, there’s something different about him.
Freddie catches my look and sighs, setting his beer down with a small frown.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice suddenly all business.
My stomach drops a little. Oh no. “What about?”
