“It is. Stop freaking out.” He rubs the transfer on my shoulder, and lets out a slow whistle. “Sit back and relax. This is my way of showing you how amazing you are.”
“Fine,” leaning my head back I close my eyes, waiting for the buzz of the tattoo gun to fill the room.
His touch is gentle, and I wasn’t expecting that. I figured his strokes would be hard and precise, but I almost can’t feel the needle piercing my skin. He goes in back and forth motions, and I close my eyes, basking in the closeness I feel with him. He’s become my protector, friend, and boyfriend in such a short amount of time. If anyone would have told me that Adrian would be the person I turn to the most, three months ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. Yet here we are, figuring out this murky thing they call love one step at a time.
I must have dozed off at some point because the room is quiet again. All of Adrian’s supplies are put away, and he’s wiping the last of the excess ink off of my skin. “Are you ready to see it?”
I jump out of the chair and run to the mirror. My jaw drops at the image he’s created for me. An anchor takes up my entire shoulder. Strength written down the middle. The words “be your own anchor” in script beneath. “It’s amazing, Adrian. I love it.”
“I know you feel like you were weak the night he confronted you, but you aren’t. I wanted to give you a small reminder of how strong you really are. Even if I’m not around, you have the strength to take care of yourself. You just have to dig deep enough within you to find it.” He wipes wetness away from my cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
“Because it’s beautiful, Adrian,” I hiccup. “Not just the tattoo but everything you just said. You give me strength in ways you don’t even realize. You are my home, and I don’t want to go a day without you in my life. You saved me, literally and metaphorically. I swore dating off, and then you happened. You approached me when I was too scared to say anything to you. I love you so damn much.” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. I pour all of myself into that one simple action. My hopes, dreams and fears. Everything I want for us, for our future.
“I love you, too,” his lips move against mine, “you are it for me.”
“I better be,” I laugh, pulling back, “I need to get back to work”
“Or you could stay in here the rest of the day,” he wriggles his eyebrows.
“Nope,” I shake my head. “I haven’t been here in days. If I give all of you a break, you’ll think you can run all over me.”
Opening the door, I walk to my desk in the lobby. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought this possible. When I walked into Life in Ink to get my first tattoo, I wasn’t looking for anything more than a reminder that I’m enough. I’ve gained so much more. A group of friends that is more like family, and an amazing guy who will literally take a punch to protect me. Even though there will be adjustments and difficulties as I face Dawson in court, I know I’ll be okay. I have Adrian by my side, and I can always count on him to lift me up. To show me that I’m strong and he loves me without any strings attached.