The Ending I Want

Then, he told me that he’d booked an appointment for a tattoo today.

I swear, when he gets time to do these things, I’ll never know. But then I’m pretty sure he probably just emails his PA and has her do it. I learned that his PA is called Pam, and she’s worked for him for eight years. I only found that out because I asked him.

I feel like I should send the woman a bunch of flowers for the appointments he has had her booking for me.

So, we’re heading to the tattoo parlor, and I actually have no clue what tattoo I’m going to have done.

Sure, I put it on my list that I wanted one, but I didn’t know what tattoo I wanted.

But then I guess it doesn’t really matter what I have. It’s more about the experience of having the tattoo done, not what it is.

I figure I’ll just pick out the first tattoo I see. I just need to decide where on my body to have it done.

I’m thinking, my ass. It’s the flabbiest part, so it’ll hurt the least.

“So, do you know what tattoo you’re going to have?” Liam asks from beside me, almost like he’s reading my mind.

“I’m not sure.” I lift my shoulder in a half-shrug. “I don’t really care what it is.”

“You’re getting ink permanently etched onto your body, and you don’t care what it is?”

“Nope.”

He’s looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I guess, to him, it would seem a little crazy. Because he doesn’t know that it’s not the tattoo itself that matters but the experience of having it done.

I don’t want to die a tattoo virgin.

“You can pick the tattoo for me if you want.”

The crazy look leaves his face and is replaced with surprise. “You want me to pick something for you?”

“You don’t have to. But I’d like it if you did.”

Then, it’ll be like I’m getting his mark on me. Something Liam chose to put on my skin.

Yeah, I like that idea.

“I’d love to.” He leans over and kisses me.

Paul pulls up outside the tattoo parlor. I let myself out of the car. Paul is out of his door, on his way to open mine. Smiling, he shakes his head in exasperation at me.

“Sorry. I just forget. I’m used to letting myself out of cars.”

Liam gets out behind me. “Well, you shouldn’t be. You should have spent your whole life being chauffeured around, Boston.”

“Aw, you say the nicest things.” I grin at him over my shoulder.

Liam shuts the car door, and we walk over to the tattoo parlor.

He gets the door for me. I walk inside. There’s a girl behind the counter. Her arms are covered in tattoos. She has a piercing in her lip and another in her nose. Her ears are full of piercings. She has white-blonde hair—shaved at one side, the other side hanging just below her ear.

She’s really attractive.

“Hey.” She smiles at us.

I see the way her eyes widen at Liam. Can’t say I blame her.

He’s dressed in jeans and a V-neck gray sweater. His wavy hair is in that just-got-out-of-bed look, which I love so much. He’s looking his usual gorgeous self.

“We have an appointment for Taylor Shaw, but I’m hoping you can fit another one in.”

“Another one?” I turn to him.

“Yeah. Me.”

“You?” My eyes widen in surprise.

“Babe, you’re getting a tattoo done, and you’re letting me choose the design, so the least I can do is return the favor.”

“It’s not a favor, Hunter. I want you to pick it.”

“I know. And knowing you trust me makes me fucking happy. So, I want to give that feeling back to you.”

My heart does that little thumpity-thump in my chest.

“We’re pretty clear at the moment.” The girl is looking on the computer. “Yeah, we should be able to fit you in, no problem.” She smiles at Liam.

“Thanks,” he says to her.

“If you’ll both just take a seat, we’ll be with you soon.”

I follow Liam over to the seats, still stunned that he’s getting a tattoo. And that I have to choose what he gets.

“So, whereabouts are you going to get the tattoo?” I ask him.

“No fucking clue. I only decided about five minutes ago that I was getting one done.” He chuckles. “Where are you getting yours?”

“Ass.”

“Are you calling me one? Or is that where you’re putting the tattoo?”

That has me laughing. “That’s where I’m putting it, silly.”

“Then, that’s where I’ll have mine.”

“You’re going to get your ass tattooed?” I can’t stop smiling and staring at him.

“Yep.” He nods, a smile on his lips. Then, he looks at me, catching me still staring at him. “What?”

“Nothing. I’m just surprised, is all.”

“That I’m getting a tattoo?”

“Yeah.”

“And why does that surprise you?”

“I don’t know. I guess it shouldn’t. It’s not like you’re afraid to do anything.”

His eyes catch and hold mine, the look in them turning serious. “Boston, there are many things that I’m afraid of.”

I don’t know why, but his words and the look on his face make my mouth dry.

For a moment, I feel like his words are about me.

That he’s afraid of me.

“Which one of you is Taylor?” A huge bear of a man is walking toward us, a smile on his face. He’s got long hair tied back, a thick beard, and there isn’t an inch of his skin showing that isn’t tattooed—aside from his face, that is.