Page 3 of Ink Me Three Times
"You drink beer, or do we need to make Arlo summon up a fancy cocktail?" Karl asks, already leaning on the bar like he’s planning to stay a while.
"Beer is fine," Jesse answers for me. "She also glares and mutters insults under her breath when she’s uncomfortable, so you two should get along great."
"I already like her," Leo says, and I’m not entirely sure if he’s joking.
That’s when a voice like honey dipped dynamite cuts through the low bar chatter behind us.
"Well, well. Look what the wind blew in."
I turn just in time to see her slide into the booth beside Jesse like she’s been doing it all her life. Long, glossy dark hair, leather jacket, that sharp, magnetic smile aimed straight at him. Her thigh brushes his and he doesn’t even flinch.
"Hey, Ness," Jesse says, too casual. His arm stretches out along the back of the booth, like it always happens to land there.
"Didn’t know we were doing family reunions tonight," she says, her gaze drifting toward me. It’s not hostile, if anything, it’s friendly with a hint of curiosity, but there’s something knowing behind her eyes.
"Ivy, this is Vanessa," Jesse says, clearly avoiding eye contact with her mouth. "Ness, my sister."
Vanessa sticks out a hand, her nails painted the kind of dark plum that means business. "Nice to meet you. Jesse’s mentioned you. Less than he mentions himself, but still."
"I’m shocked," I deadpan, shaking her hand. Her grip is firm. Confident. She smells like warm spice and trouble. "You from around here?"
She snorts. "Unfortunately. Tried to leave once. But Coyote Glen has its claws in me."
"She works over at the clinic," Jesse adds. "And also works on my last nerve."
"You love it," Vanessa says, her smile sharp enough to draw blood. "Besides, you keep inviting me back."
Karl leans toward me, stage whispering behind his pint glass. "That’s Vanessa Cruz. Off and on with Jesse. It’s like a damn whirlwind. Don’t try to keep up."
Vanessa doesn’t even blink. "I heard that, Madden."
"You were supposed to," Karl says with a grin.
Vanessa smirks and leans in closer to Jesse. "But first, you owe me a rematch at pool. Unless you're scared."
"Only scared I’ll win," he shoots back.
They’re already halfway into a flirt fight when Karl mutters to me, "Told you. Weird."
I take another sip of my beer, letting the noise of the bar swell around me, clinking glasses, bad country covers from the jukebox, Vanessa’s laugh, and Jesse’s teasing comeback.
Leo’s watching quietly from the end of the bar, eyes thoughtful. Pickle’s probably at home licking Jesse’s weird houseplants or peeing on his laundry. And I’m here. In a bar I never meant to walk into, in a town I never planned to live in, surrounded by strangers who already feel like a sitcom cast waiting for me to deliver a punchline.
This place is loud. Messy. Unapologetic.
And if I’m going to survive Coyote Glen?
I’m going to have to get used to it.
CHAPTER TWO
Ivy
Jesse disappears somewherebetween rounds two and three.
One minute he’s nodding along to some old Eagles song, and the next he’s tucked into a booth with Vanessa, their heads bent together like they’re plotting a heist or trying to remember how not to ruin each other.
Their laughter is low and familiar, and I know that look on his face. Half smirk, half heartache. It means I won’t be seeing him again tonight.
