Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“It was the day you told me I was your favorite person.” I pocket my phone. “Figured I would take everyone’s advice and get something meaningful, and this picture is as meaningful as it gets.”
“I love it,” she says, throwing her arms around me. “One day, I’m going to get one for you too.”
I want to tell her not to do that, but I would be a hypocrite, considering the fresh ink on my arm, so instead, I hug her back and say, “Just make sure when you decide to do it, it’s something you want on your body for the rest of your life.”
“Speaking of which,” she says, pulling back and giving me that look that says she’s up to no good. “Since Casey didn’t end up getting her tattoo, she mentioned wanting to get our noses pierced, and you know I’ve been wanting to get one forever. You said no before, but I’m seventeen now, and it’s not permanent.” She side-eyes my tattoo, and I chuckle. “She’s legal, but I’m not. So, what do you think?”
As I look at my beautiful, smart, mature daughter, I can’t help but think about what Kinsley said today. I don’t know what happened, but somehow, she lost her daughter. And as I recall the tears that spilled from her devastated eyes as she confided in me that her daughter had died, it makes me so damn thankful that my daughter is alive and here to ask for insignificant things, like a nose piercing.
“Sure,” I say. “Let me know when you want to go, and I’ll take you girls.”
“Seriously?” Taylor gasps, obviously not expecting me to give in that easily.
“Seriously.”
“Thank you, Dad! You’re the best!”
Taylor hugs me and kisses my cheek. “Oh my God. I have to call Casey and let her know! Thank you.”
With one last hug, she disappears upstairs to her room while I stand in the kitchen and thank God for the blessings in my life.
And then, once I’ve done that, I say a little prayer for Kinsley because even though I don’t know exactly what happened, I know whatever it was, it must’ve been bad.
NINE
Kinsley
I will not think about Shane.
I will not think about Shane.
I will not …
Dammit! I can’t stop thinking about him.
It’s been three days since he showed up at my shop and I tattooed him. Since I learned he had a daughter. Since I admitted out loud for the first time to someone other than my therapist and my family that I had a daughter and I was the reason she was gone.
“Her name was Brenna … and I killed her before she even had a chance to live.”
I’m not gonna lie. When I told Shane I killed her, a part of me was hoping my word choice would push him away.
Boy, my therapist is going to have a field day with that one when we meet next week.
It’s just that he was there, talking about his daughter, and I felt myself getting too close. So rather than stand by and risk getting burned, I put out the fire myself.
Only I didn’t because even after what I said, he didn’t look at me in horror, like someone would look at a murderer. Instead, his features were filled with sympathy and concern. And instead of running, he scheduled another damn appointment.
I tried to push him from my brain, telling myself he was just another client, but the way it felt when we shook hands after he proposed we start over and be friends told me that despite his possible good intentions, there was no being friends with that man.
My phone pings with a text from Natalia, asking if I’ll see her tomorrow at her parents’ house for the barbecue to introduce Melina’s boyfriend, James, to the family.
Me
Of course!
Natalia
Good. We can talk about how you tattooed that firefighter hottie Shane and didn’t tell me.
Me
My dad?
Natalia
You know our dads gossip like teenage girls when they play poker.
Ah, yes. Last night was their weekly poker date. All the guys get together in my uncle Jase’s man cave and play poker for hours. They’ve been doing it for years.
Me
It wasn’t a big deal. He came in, I tattooed him, he left.
Natalia
Nope! Not having this conversation in text. It’s too easy for you to lie. We’ll have it tomorrow so I can see if you’re telling the truth.
Damn her and damn my face that shows every freaking emotion!
I throw my phone onto the nightstand in annoyance, and when it lands, it knocks the book that’s been mocking me since Julia loaned it to me and I found out it’s about a firefighter.
I glare at it for several seconds and then lean over and swipe it off the table. It’s Friday night, my parents are on a date, and I’ve pushed everyone far enough away that they’ve stopped inviting me out.