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“A four leaf clover,” Trace answered, taking a seat.
I stepped closer to him, leaning down, to peer at the tattoo over his heart.
The words, ‘To live in the hearts you leave behind is not to die,’ formed the shape of a heart with the initials, T.W., inside.
“For your dad?” I asked shakily.
“Yeah,” he replied, studying my face.
“And what does this one say?” I pointed to the tattoo in small script on top of his shoulder.
“Inhale the future, exhale the past,” he answered.
“Hmm,” I murmured.
“What are you thinking?” He raised a dark brow.
“I honestly don’t know,” I whispered, my eyes roaming over the tattoos and his chest.
“Is this good?” Justin asked. I had completely forgotten he was in the room. Trace appraised the design and nodded. “And where do you want it?”
“Here,” Trace pointed to a spot on his right side, below another line of script. I couldn’t read that one either and something told me not to ask what it said.
Justin pressed the design into Trace’s skin and scooted the stool to Trace’s side.
Trace grinned up at me from where he sat as the needle roared to life. “Hold my hand? I’m scared,” he winked, reaching out for my hand.
I rolled my eyes but placed my hand in his anyw
ay. “I’m sure you’re really scared,” I replied sarcastically.
“Terrified,” his lips quirked as he withheld laughter.
“Are you guys dating?” Justin asked, eyes intent upon his work.
“Uh-” I stuttered.
“Yes,” Trace replied and my eyes widened.
Justin chuckled. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you date a girl since Aubrey.”
My whole body stiffened at the sound of another girl’s name.
Trace’s hand tightened against mine and his jaw clenched. “When you know it’s right, it’s right.”
“Yeah, well,” Justin shrugged, wiping away excess ink, “I still thought no one would ever tie you down again.”
Trace made a face of disgust, and turned away from me, but he didn’t release my hand.
Justin finished the tattoo, and went through the same procedure with Trace, as he did with me.
We each paid him, because I demanded that I pay for my own, and headed back to the front.
Avery and Luca were already waiting there for us.
“I wanted to see your tattoo before we left,” Avery explained. “Especially since it’s in my handwriting,” she danced.
I peeled back one side of the wrapping and showed her.
