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“Are you blushing?” I cried, poking the dimple in his left cheek.
He swatted my hand away, grinning. “Get out of here! Aren’t you supposed to be having a girls’ night?”
“We totally don’t mind hanging with you,” Shelly responded.
I laughed once. “Speak for yourself.”
T.J. jabbed me in my ribs. “You couldn’t handle hanging with me, Curly Sue.”
Tina arched an eyebrow. “Prove it. Let’s go dance.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your time.”
Tina took one arm, and Shelly took the other. They pulled him to the dance floor, as Kenzie and I followed behind them. We were all laughing as they sandwiched T.J. in between them. He was being a good sport about it, and I was having fun. For the first time, I was happy to be back home, surrounded by my friends. I glanced at Tanner and Charlotte, who were dancing closely just a few feet away. They’d be back together in no time. Tanner winked at me when he caught me staring.
I glanced at the time on my phone, wondering what Chase was doing for the tenth time today. He was most likely performing somewhere in L.A., with dozens of girls hoping to get a chance to talk to him after his set. I did my best to push the thought from my mind, but I could not help wishing he was here as I saw the way Tanner looked at Charlotte.
At one o’clock in the morning, we all waved goodbye and went our separate ways in the parking lot. T.J. walked me and Shelly to her car.
“Goodnight, Red.” They high-fived each other before she got into the driver’s seat. He touched his hand to my arm. “See you tomorrow, doll face. Good work tonight.”
On the ride home, I leaned my head back on the headrest and stared off into the distance out the window.
“You really don’t feel anything for T.J., do you?” Shelly’s question broke the silence.
I shook my head. “I can’t be interested in someone when I’m in love with someone else.”
She placed her hand over mine. “I know how much you miss him. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
“Me, too.”
Chapter Sixteen
Forgiveness
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s going to hurt,” Tanner replied.
T.J. was grinning from behind his desk. “I think it’s perfect for you.”
I turned the piece of paper around to face me. On it was the head of a warrior princess that John, the tattoo artist, had sketched for me based on my description of what I wanted. She had long flowing hair, war paint under her eyes, and wore a headpiece that formed a V on her forehead; the whole tattoo would be done without color, with the exception of her piercing blue eyes.
“Where are you going to put it?” Tanner asked. He was leaning against the wall in T.J.’s office. We had just finished training, and I wanted to show T.J. the tattoo idea before we headed home.
I shrugged, looking at T.J. for his input.
He leaned his elbows onto his desk, rubbing his five o’clock shadow while he contemplated. “It would work on a number of places, like upper arm, shoulder blade, or ribcage.”
“I think I would like it on my arm.” I touched the shoulder that had been injured in my accident a year ago.
Tanner nodded in agreement. “That’s going to look so badass.”
“Let me know if you want company when you decide to go,” T.J. offered.
I stood from my chair, and swung my purse onto my shoulder. “Ready, little bro?”
Tanner tossed me his keys. “I’ll be out in a minute. Just have to talk to Teej for a minute.”
