Page 99 of Ink Me Three Times
I look down at the card again. What would it be like? Moving to a bigger city, getting a spot with a studio like that?
The idea sits in my gut, a strange mix of excitement and dread.
I shake my head, trying to focus. "So, why me? What’s the catch? I’m not abig namelike some of the guys around here."
He leans in, his voice a little lower now, like we’re sharing a secret. "Because you’ve got something raw. Something real. Iron Lotus isn’t looking for the next ‘big thing.’ We want artists who still have fire, the kind of fire that’s easy to lose when you’rechasing trends. The hunger’s there in your work, Mitchell. I can see it. You’re still hungry."
I hate that he’s right. That fire, that hunger, it's something I try to ignore, something I bury under layers of tattoos and sketches, but it's there. It's always been there.
But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to walk away from everything I know. Coyote Glen’s not much, but it’s mine. It’s real.
"I’ll be waiting, Mitchell. Don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day."
And just like that, he’s gone.
I stand there for a second, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
I know it’s what I’ve been working toward. Hell, it’s what any artist would want. But when I look at the card, all I can think of is Ivy.
I can’t help it.
The thought that I could just leave this place, leave her, leave my twin brother, leave Freddie, leave Coyote Glen behind, it hits harder than it should. There’s something about the whole thing, the weight of it, that makes my chest tighten. Like I’d be walking away from something important.
The evening creeps in, the hum of the convention finally dying down. People are packing up, the noise gradually fading to a dull buzz, but the air between me, Freddie, and Timothy feels thick with something unsaid.
It’s time to talk.
I can’t avoid it anymore. I can’t keep pretending like I’ve got everything under control.
Ivy’s presence, her energy, has been gnawing at me all day.
We’ve done this before. We’ve shared, but Ivy will be different, and I think that’s what we need to discuss.
All of us.
I grab Freddie and Timothy after the crowd thins. Since Ivy is getting Penny to bed, I think this might be a good time for us to chat.
We find a spot by a set of closed doors, out of view. The weight of the decision ahead presses down on me.
“We need to talk,” I say, my voice low. My mind is racing, but I’m trying to keep it steady. “About Ivy. Aboutus.”
Timothy raises an eyebrow, eyes narrowing as he leans against the wall. “Okay, now you’ve got my attention.”
Freddie’s jaw tightens, and for a second, I think he’s going to pull back, maybe shut me down. But when he looks at me, his expression softens. He knows me. Hell, we’ve been through too much for him to not read me like a damn open book.
“Ivy,” I say, feeling the weight of her name in the air. “She’s different, man. She’sdifferent. I can’t figure her out, and I think I’m starting to realize... we don’t have to.”
I watch the shift in their faces, both of them processing it in their own way. Freddie takes a slow breath, running a hand through his hair, and Timothy just nods, still waiting for the rest of the story.
“Look, I’m not saying we’ve got to just dive into this,” I continue. “But I think it’s time we… maybe we should talk about it. About... all of us. Together.”
The words feel heavier than I thought they would. “I’m not talking about some casual fling, not like the way we’ve done things before. I’m talking about... something real.”
Freddie looks away for a moment, his gaze distant. He’s processing, and I can tell he’s not completely sure what I’m suggesting. But I see the flicker of interest too.
“Yeah,” Timothy agrees. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”
I nod quietly, not surprised. Of course Tim’s been thinking about this. We’ve always been in sync. Close in a way only twins can be. We share more than just blood; we share instincts, unspoken thoughts. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, it carries weight. I trust that he’s been turning this over in his head just as much as I have.
