“Fine.” I slide over and get comfortable on the recliner.
“Good thing you’re wearing shorts,” he quips, off the cuff.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just relax and sit still please,” he instructs, all businesslike.
I open my mouth and hitch in a breath to complain about the arrangement, but he cuts me off before I can. “And no talking.”
I let the air come out of my nose. If I were a dragon, it would’ve been fire.
He walks over to his light table and works a pen to paper. A second later he tells me, “I need you to close your eyes.”
“I can’t see it?” I’m incredulous.
“It’s at this moment I’m supposed to ask if you trust Josh.”
He’s watching me seriously.
“NO! YES! OH MY GOD, I DON’T KNOW!”
“He said you have a minute to decide.” He looks at his watch, and I feel the pressure mounting already. One minute?! Really?
“Or what?” I press challengingly.
“You don’t get the next envelope,” Liam informs me matter-of-factly.
“You’re really going to time me!? I croak, incredulous.
“Thirty seconds.”
“I have a minute to decide if I want to be forever inked?? And with what design??”
Liam interrupts. “Fifteen seconds.”
“Jesus, you’re freaking serious!” I shout.
“Ten.”
“Liam!”
“Five, four …”
“HE’S NOT EVEN HERE TO KNOW!!”
“Three …”
“DO IT!! Just, do it.” A smile lights his face, and I realize he’s probably enjoying this as much as Josh.
I rest with my back against the chair and I squeeze my eyes shut.
It’s immediately torture. First Liam uses a warm cloth to scrub my right leg a couple inches away from my ankle as he cleanses my skin.
After that, I feel him blot me with a dry cloth, then his hands, then maybe paper. But I’m sure at any moment I’m going to feel the fucking needle so I’m about to lose my mind!!
A soft blanket covers my lap and legs and Liam states, “You can open your eyes.”
“It’s done?” I’m shocked.
“No, it’s not even close to done.” He laughs. “But now is when I’m supposed to give you this.” He hands me the folded letter.
Thankful I didn’t actually have to go through with getting the tattoo, I dive into Josh’s words.
Scrapper,
I’m more than impressed! Baby, you amaze me!! If you got this letter, you actually let Liam get the preliminary design on your ankle. I love that you trusted me this far.
Now, the rest is up to you—just like everything else in our lives together. If you want the tattoo I chose for you, take a deep breath and let Liam do what he does best.
If you don’t want to go through with it—you don’t have to. You can just get up and walk away. It’s your body, baby.
But just for fun, look at the design to see what you think before you wash it off, and then Liam will bring you back to the hotel.
And, Soph, you’ve totally earned the next envelope.
I release the breath I’m holding in relief.
All decisions we’ll make together. No rogue players here—we’re a team. What you want or don’t want; what you need or don’t need; what you like or don’t like—this is your life, Sophie, and I won’t control it—I simply want to be a part of it. And yeah, I know we’re going to fight and have conflict, who the hell doesn’t? But know you always have the winning vote. I love you.
“Liam? Will it wreck my wedding night or honeymoon if I actually were to go through with the tattoo?” He’s leaning over his art table and his back is to me so I can’t read his expression.
“You wouldn’t be able to swim or submerge it in a hot tub, but other than that, I’d say you were safe.” Liam still doesn’t turn.
“Okay, do it! And hurry before I change my mind!” I squeal.
He glides back to me on his chair, a kind expression painting his face. “I thought you’d say that. So I got the inks ready.”
“You thought I’d do it?” Is he for real? I’ve totally been acting like a toddler in a tantrum.
“Of course. You’re a fighter like the rest of us. I know the type.”
“Liam?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“I got your back,” he says.
I’m amazed at how many friends I have now and how incredible each one of them is. I’ve suffered for so long all by myself and now Charlie and I have been fully inducted into this wonderful family.
I close my eyes as Liam talks about unimportant things to make me feel calm while he puts the needle to my skin. The pain goes through my nerves at first but then it feels numb and, in a strange way, soothing. An overwhelming sense of happiness and pride pours through me—I’m getting a tattoo, and I trusted my fiancé enough to get his design inked forever into my flesh.
I love Josh.
Chapter Nine
Sophie