“No,” he answered without hesitation.
“Oh.” I wondered again what sins could an eight-year possibly commit and I once again thought about the girl in the photo. I didn’t know if it was wise to bring it up to him. It would open up a can of worms for sure and I still may not get any answers.
“How bad does it hurt?”
“I’ve felt worse.”
“I should get one –”
“No,” he said vehemently. “I want your body just the way it is. And there is no way in hell anyone is getting their hands on you.”
“Be for real, Keiran.”
“I am. I said no.”
“Shelly’s got one,” Keenan piped in, interrupting our silent stare down.
“Where?” I asked. I haven’t seen one and she never mentioned getting one.
“On her ass. I put my name there a few months ago,” he said cockily. Sheldon was still seventeen so I was sure her parents didn’t allow that.
“Let me guess…her parents don’t know?”
“Nope. Her dad would kill me.”
“So why do it?”
“We were drinking and –”
“Wait, you tattooed her while you guys were drunk?”
He shrugged. “It came out pretty good.”
“That’s not the point and you know it.”
“Ha, all four of us have been drinking since we were thirteen. We can handle our liquor.” I shook my head but didn’t say anything else. They were all crazy. “I promise not to tattoo your ass while I’m drunk.”
“You won’t go anywhere near her ass,” Keiran barked.
Keenan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Guy gets his first girlfriend and suddenly he thinks he’s the boss of everyone.”
“Keenan –” Keiran began.
As much screwing as he did I was sure there had to have been a girlfriend or two, or six so I asked, “What about Anya?”
“That crazy nut? No way! She isn’t even that good of a lay,” Keenan said before Keiran could respond.
“And how would you know? She was Keiran’s girlfriend. You already have a girlfriend.”
“She wasn’t my girlfriend.” Keiran finally answered, cutting Keenan off.
“That’s not what she said.” I crossed my arms over my chest and sat back in my seat.
“Are we really going to do this right now? I fucked her twice. The second time only happened because I was drunk and she hopped on my dick uninvited.”
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes again. I seem to do that a lot around him. He narrowed his eyes at me and breathed through his nose and I could tell he was getting pissed.
“Why do girls always ask questions they don’t want to know the answer to?” Keenan asked. Keiran ignored him and continued to stare at me.
“They’re hardwired that way,” Dash said appearing from the stairs with Sheldon right behind him. “Aw man, you’re getting tatted? Me next.”
“I haven’t finished your design yet. Why do you have to be so complicated anyway?”
“I’m a deep man. What can I say? This one is special.” He then turned his gaze on me. “Hey, Lake. You talk to your girl yet?”
Shit, Willow! I’d forgotten about her because I was so wrapped up in Keiran. I am such a shitty friend. “No, actually, I haven’t. Excuse Me,” I said standing up and heading for the stairs.
“Hey, I’ll come with,” Sheldon said. I shrugged and made my way up the stairs. When I got to Keiran’s room I pulled my cell phone out of my bag and saw a missed call from her. I dialed Willow and waited for her to pick up.
“Thank God. I thought you abandoned me,” she sniffled.
“Do you have a cold?”
“No. My mom is home.” Willow and her mom didn’t usually get along well. She hated how independent and free Willow was. It only got worse when she found out about Dash. Now all they did was argue. Her mom was always pushing her past hang-ups on her. “Are you home? I want to come over.”
“I’m at Keiran’s but I’ll come now.”
She let out a dry laugh. “We both know that isn’t about to happen. When was the last time you slept in your own bed?”
“His uncle is home.”
“Oh snap. You met him? What’s he like?”