Page 183 of Fly's Path

Fly might not have loved me…but I love him and I always will. If I can’t be with him forever, I can keep a tiny piece of what we had alive on me.

It’s such a beautiful way to make it through the pain.

A small tattoo wouldn’t cost much. I can live on cold ramen and granola bars for a month.

Worth it.

Teenage intrusive thoughts shouldn’t win, but I find myself wandering towards the shop.

She’s probably busy.

There’s no way I’ll just walk in and she’ll be able to take me.

Rhys has clients who come from around the world to have her tattoo them. I’ll just walk in, and when she says no, the intrusive thoughts will go away.

Little bells chime on the door as I step inside.

Rhys steps out into the main room. “Sheridan. It’s so nice to see you.”

I doubt that. Though it is possible. She didn’t grow up here. “Hey, I was wondering if you had time to do a small tattoo?”

“How small?”

“I’d like to add a crown to my butterfly.”

“A crown to your butterfly?”

“Yes.”

“Something tells me there’s a story there.”

“Don’t all tattoos have one?”

“Yours are always worth the time. I got a copy of your latest series. Will you take a trade? A tattoo for an autograph on my copies? What do you say?”

“Sure, but I can pay.”

“You are. Those books aren’t just my favorites. My husband has been talking about the series for months and months. Trust me, I’m getting the better deal.”

Wow. Cool. “Thanks.”

“Now tell me a bit about this tattoo.”

“It needs to be simple, elegant. Have a hard edge, but there needs to be a beauty to it. Oh, and it needs to be a guy’s crown. One that princes wear.”

“A prince, you say? What is his name?”

“Fly.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No way. I know a guy named Fly. He’s a biker.”

Does everyone know Fly? “In Children of Chaos.”

“You and Fly? Consider me mind-blown. That guy never gives any woman a serious look, let alone a reason to get a tattoo. Tell me everything.”