Page 30 of Heart Stopping
"Just being realistic," he said. "If I was bothered, I'd have surgery to correct it. As it is, I really don't give a shit."
"Good, I think that's a healthy way to look at it," I said. "We are who we are. And if we don't like it, we can get tattoos and piercings." I raised my arm, almost as covered in ink as his. Each of my ears was pierced four times in different places and my septum was pierced, although I rarely wore any jewelry in it.
"Exactly. What about matching ink?" He squinted at me. "You said you'd never get married, but would you get matching ink with someone?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I've never given it any thought. I mean, ink is permanent and sometimes relationships aren't. I'm not sure I want that reminder on my skin forever."
"What if the relationship doesn't end?" He propped an elbow on the table and rested his cheek on his hand. “If, statistically,fifty percent don't last, then fifty percent also do. Those odds aren't so bad."
"Yeah, well." I shrugged. "I can't see myself getting involved in anything long-term with anyone. If I do, I'll figure it out then."
"You still have your tally?" He gestured toward my forearm, just below my elbow.
I pushed my sleeve back to show a row of seven lines, three with a strike mark through them. There was nothing to suggest what they meant. If you knew, you knew. If you didn't, you could guess because chances were I wouldn't explain it. He only knew because I told him as we were cleaning up after our mutual kill. Back then, I only had two lines struck through.
Archer nodded. "I have some information that might cross another one off. That was why was following you. I wanted a chance to talk to you."
"Some people call or send an email," I pointed out. Considering how attached he was to his phone and using technology, wanting to talk in person was somewhat contradictory.
"Someone might intercept it," he said. "The Internet is always listening. Have you ever searched for something, only to see ads for it turn up on your social media feed? This was better done in person."
He was right. He couldn't exactly send me an email saying, Hey babe, I found someone you're trying to kill, let's go and murder them.'
"Okay, so what?—"
I was interrupted as Boner slipped into the chair beside us.
"Hello love, this is cozy."
CHAPTER 12
BONER
I was walking past the café when I saw Harlow sitting with a person I didn't recognize. Call me a nosy bastard if you like, but I had to slip inside and make my presence known.
Maybe it was some irrational irritation at seeing her with someone else. I'd like to say I don't do jealousy, but frankly that would be bullshit. When it came to this woman, I did jealousy in spades. Also in hearts, diamonds and clubs. As far as I was concerned, she was the whole pack. All fifty-two cards, even if that made me a joker. I prefer to think of myself as a king, personally.
But I digress with the playing card metaphors.
I smiled at her, then at him. Naturally, the one I gave him was less than toasty warm.
"You two aren't plotting the demise of humankind, are you?" I asked.
Let's face it, if anyone was going to do that, they might as well do it in a café.
"Not the whole of humankind," Harlow said. "Just select members of it."
"Not me, I hope." I waved down a server and ordered a cappuccino. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" I nodded to the tattooed man in her presence.
They exchanged a glance, both nodding like they were giving each other permission to share information in front of me. As if I wasn't perfectly reliable.
I could be offended, but I had better things to do than waste time on an emotion like that. I really was the epitome of irrational.
"This is Archer Hardwick," Harlow said. "Archer, this is Edward Bonegard."
I stuck my hand out toward him. "Everyone calls me Boner."
"Everyone calls me Archer." He shook my hand briefly before taking his back.
