Page 55 of Bound By Ink

“Scott, wait. Just sit down and say it, okay?”

“Will you listen to everything before you pass judgment?” I frown at him because, right now, I need my brother. I need a point of view that isn’t my own.

“Sure,” he says as he relaxes and pats the sofa beside him. I swallow hard before I sit uncomfortably. I wring my hands together on my knee, staring at them.

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Start at the beginning, kiddo. I know I’ve missed a lot. I’m here though, okay.”

I nod, blowing out as much tension as possible before I fall into the list of regrettable decisions.

“So, I started seeing Derren.” I word vomit, telling him about the first night out and Killian coming to fetch me. Being abandoned at the bar, and Killian coming and getting me. I avoid the topic of our basic sex, unreciprocated pleasure, which I thought was tooembarrassing. Until I blurt out about sex with Killian, the way he made me feel, then the guilt trip from Derren.

“He then said I needed to prove I loved him by getting his name tattooed on me. He wanted Killian to do it.”

He sat and listened to the whole thing until this part, then he butts in, “Please tell me Killian wasn’t so fucking stupid to tattoo Derren’s fucking name on you?”

I stand slowly, tugging down my pyjama bottoms and then peeling back the covering. There’s a pause before a grin spreads across his face, then he bites down on both lips, pulling them into his mouth to stop himself laughing.

“It’s not fucking funny, Steven,” I snap, pushing the cover down and pulling my bottoms up.

“Wait, listen. Sit back down.” He shakes his head.

“He’s in love with you, you plank.” The grin on his face is smug, like he knows something I don’t.

“He said he loved me.” But then I told him I couldn’t go through with the tattoo. And then he didn’t say it, he didn’t say it back. I know I hurt him again.

“Not Derren. Killian. Killian is in love with you, you muppet. He will do anything to protect you, and for whatever reason, something has changed in your dynamic. Something has changed in the way he sees you. You know Killian probably even better than I do. Show me the ink again.”

I stand up and peel the covering off. With his hand pressed against my hip, he shifts closer, looking at each detail before sitting back.

“Dude, this work is impeccable. It’s beautiful.”

“He lied to me, though. I can’t trust him ever again.”

“When did he lie to you? Killian hasneverlied to you, not even about little things?” I know he’s right, but this time he did. It hurts.

“He said he would tattoo Derren’s name on me. Then he tattooed his own.”

“Okay, really think about it. What did he actually say?” Steven looks at me with that smug smirk again.

“Something about giving me the tattoo I deserve. That people would know who I belonged to when they saw it.”

“Well, I don’t think he lied. I think he gave you exactly what he said he would. And it is stunning, let’s face it, he’s fucking talented.” He is, but this isn’t the point I’m trying to figure out right now.

“That’s not helpful, Steven. Can you cover it up?” My brother is as skilled as Killian. He just kinda let his career slide after we lost our parents.

“I mean, I could… but I won’t.”

“What the hell, Steven, why not?”

“Look, I don’t like Derren. I don’t think he’s good for you. After what I saw, he doesn’t deserve you.”

“And Killian does?”

“Who has been the one constant in your life? The one who always looked after you, put you first, protected you?”

“He pushes me around and calls me Nerd,” I say, unsure, frowning at the thought.