Holy shit! I think my mouth drops open. “As in Bones? Grave’s brother?” No fucking way. I look over at Alexa, and now she’s shoving handfuls in her mouth. Most are falling onto the counter.
“We dated in high school and throughout college.” She shrugs. “It’s no big deal.”
“It’s not the same,” Haven repeats. “He fucked Lucy without April’s permission.”
I hang my head. That’s the hardest part of all this. I haven’t spoken to him in five days. I didn’t expect him to chase me, and in all honestly, I wouldn’t have given him the time of day even if he had. But I hate the loneliness of his absence. I hate not being able to call him and hear his voice. And of course, I miss him when it’s late at night and I wish he was lying next to me in my bed.
Just then, Jasmine joins our conversation, exiting the cooler. “Oh, stop harping on that, Haven. You’re just mad because you hate Lucy.”
“Of course, I do.” She lifts her nose up in the air.
I frown. “Did she and Luca date?” Maybe they were once fuck buddies too.
“Hell no,” Haven snaps. “I thought … There was a setup. What I thought happened, didn’t. But it was meant to look like it did.”
I’m confused.
“Exactly.” Emilee walks over to me and places her hand on my shoulders. “Take what happened to Haven as an example.”
“But I don’t understand what happened …” I try to argue.
“There’s nothing wrong with talking it out.” Emilee goes on, interrupting me. “I’ve learned that you need to communicate. And if you miss him half as bad as you act, then it doesn’t hurt to try.”
“Like I said …” Jasmine comes to stand in front of me as Haven and Emilee walk over to the flowers on the shelves. Alexa turns her attention to me and Jasmine. “You have to decide. Fight for it, or let it go.” She smiles. “And all I see is you holding on.”
_______________
Three hours later, they’re all still here. We’re getting things in order for Titan and Emilee’s wedding. It was something I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off, but just like Jasmine had said—these girls are ride or die bitches.
It reminds me of how grateful I am to have had Alexa there for me for all those years and me for her. We’ve been through a lot of shit together. And although I’m no longer with Grave, I hope that these women stay my friends too.
I look up when the bell rings on the door. “Hello. I’m looking for a Miss April Davis.”
“That’s me.” I lift my hand.
She hands me a rectangular box, it’s longer in height then it is in width. But not very thick. “Whoa. It’s heavy.”
“You have a great day, miss,” she calls out, exiting.
“Who is it from?” Alexa asks, already picking up the scissors on the counter.
“It doesn’t say,” I answer, setting it down and taking them from her. I cut the places that are taped and open the top. Reaching in, I grab the contents and pull it out.
Alexa gasps.
“Wow!” Jasmine states.
“That’s gorgeous,” Haven adds.
“Who drew that for you?” Emilee asks, taking the framed 20×30 picture from my hands.
I stare off at the front door where the lady walked out. My heart beating wildly in my chest. “I did.”
“Cross is a tattoo artist,” Grave tells me.
“He is?” My eyes widen while I straddle him naked. We haven’t left my house all weekend. After our dinner, we came back here. You know when you sleep with a guy for the first time, and it can be awkward afterward? Like is he going to leave on his own? Or am I going to have to go crazy on his ass, so I don’t have to put up with him again? It’s not like that with Grave. Not only is the guy hot and great in bed, he has this relaxed vibe about him. Just a go with the flow type of personality. And I like it. He’s easy to talk to and he seems truly interested in what I have to say.
He nods. “Yep. He has a shop inside of Kingdom. If you were to draw him what you want, he’ll do it for you.”
“That would be so cool.”
His hand goes behind my neck and pulls my chest down to his. “It would be,” he whispers against my lips.
“Will you help me?” I ask, lifting my hips to reach between our bodies.
He groans when my hand wraps around the base of his cock. “Whatever you need,” he promises. His right hand finds its way into my already tangled hair.
“Help me decide what tattoo to put where?” I arch a brow. I wasn’t lying to him. I’ve always wanted a tattoo. But you hear how addictive they are, and I was afraid that once I started, I’d never stop. I love all of his. How free he must feel to express himself with such beautiful art.