Page 32 of Inked Heart
All of it disappears.
I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye and look up.And that’s when I notice Damien watching me.Not in a creepy way.
More like he’s memorizing the moment.
There’s something soft in his expression.Something warm.
“I haven’t heard you laugh like that in a long time,” he says quietly.
The words surprise me.“What?”
He shrugs slightly.“You look happier.”
I blink.Because now that he says it ...he might be right.
Something about sitting here with these people, this strange, wonderful crew of tattoo artists and supposed troublemakers, makes the world feel lighter.Easier.Like I can actually relax.
“You guys are good for my mental health,” I say.
Skye grins.“We have that effect on people.”
Alistair nods solemnly.“It’s the cupcakes.”
“Definitely the cupcakes,” she agrees with a nod.
Damien doesn’t say anything else.But when I glance at him again a few minutes later he’s still smiling, and for some reason that small, quiet smile feels like the safest place in the world.
Chapter Nine
Hidden Ink
Damien
There are moments in life when you realize you’ve made a mistake.Sometimes it’s a big mistake.Sometimes it’s small.And sometimes the mistake is simply forgetting to lock the damn door.
I’m halfway through pulling my t-shirt over my head when the door to the back room swings open.
