Page 59 of Ink

I’d prefer it actually, but she’s not ready to hear that.

“I’m not getting into the couch conversation again and I’m not taking over your bed. Evan said she can take me to work, too.”

“Speaking of getting to work, I had your car towed here. I’m going to have it looked at and see if we can get it runnin’ for ya.”

Sutton stops what she’s doing and looks at me. “What?”

“I’m goin’ to get it runnin’. Are you okay?”

Shit, why does she look mad?

“Am I okay?” she asks, her hands going straight to her hips. “No, I’m not okay! I remember telling you specifically that I would take care of it after I found a place. Are you forgetting that?” Her face is flushed, and her eyes are wild. “Gosh, I don’t have the money right now. In fact, I don’t have any freaking money!”

“I told you not to worry about the money.”

Sutton’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Do you even hear yourself right now? Because you telling me to not worry about it doesn’t work. In fact, everything is a million times worse on top of me wanting to smother you with a pillow.” A squeak escapes her mouth before she quickly slaps her hand over it. “I’m so sorry. That was completely out of line,” she says through her hand, sounding muffled.

“Don’t apologize. Say what you feel and don’t hold back. Life’s too short to live in a world where you can’t live in the moment.”

Sutton’s head tilts to the side as she thinks about what I just said. “You’re right. I do want to smother you sometimes. Most of the time, I want to do it at work.”

A loud laugh booms out of me. Fuck, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much. “Go for it, bunny. I like a little bit of pain when I tap that ass.”

The blush I love so much ignites all over her face. “That’s hardly professional in the workplace.”

“What about me says ‘professional?’”

Sutton’s mouth opens and closes as she looks me up and down at a loss for words. “Is there something I can help you with? I’m trying to pack and you’re distracting me,” she says, changing the subject.

I’ll give her that.

I feel better knowing I affect her just as much as she affects me. No one likes being in a one sided… whatever the fuck this is.

“I need to talk to you about somethin’.”

She pauses halfway through zipping a bag and turns back to me with her hand still on the zipper. All traces of being flustered are gone from her face and concern is in its place. “What’s up?”

“It’s nothin’ bad, so stop lookin’ at me like that.”

I hate that her immediate reaction to talking about something is dread.

“Well, spit it out. My anxiety can’t take anymore.”

“Once we get you settled at Evan’s, I’m going to be gone for a couple days at most. If you need anything, tell Evan or text me and I’ll have one of the guys help until I get back. I’m going to have Gage pick you up for work, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

She looks around my room, almost seeming a little lost.

“Where are you going?” she asks after a moment.

“I have some club business I need to take care of.”

The wheels are turning behind her bright hazel eyes. I know she wants to ask what business I’ll be doing that is taking me away for a couple of days, but she doesn’t.

“So you won’t be at the shop? Do you need me to reschedule your appointments?”

The corner of my lip turns up. Always so selfless. “Already did, bunny, but thanks for lookin’ out.”

“I mean, that is what you pay me for.” She rolls her eyes. “I know I kind of freaked out about my car… but have the guys had a chance to look at it?”