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Drew marks my lobes with a black pen and has me approve that they are even. I nod and he gets to work setting up a fresh clamp and needles.
Emree kisses my neck, being sure not to touch my sterilized ear. “Not going to lie, you’re going to look very sexy with a couple piercings,” she whispers.
I smile. “You want your boyfriend all pierced and tatted up, baby? Should I get us matching leather jackets?”
She lets out a breathy laugh. “You haven’t earned boyfriend status back yet, mister. You still haven’t made up for all the bullshit you put me through.”
My heart clenches at the thought of everything I put Emree through the last month. I hurt her over and over and left her with several unanswered questions. While I would love nothing more than to move forward and leave the past behind, that is not fair to her, and I have some serious making up to do.
Turning my head to the side, I kiss her softly on the lips. “I know. Love you, baby.” She smiles but doesn’t say it back, and I understand her not being ready to give her heart to me completely yet.
Ten minutes later, after having filled out the necessary paperwork, I now have two new holes punched through my ears. It didn’t sting as bad as I thought it would, but the pulsing that hasn’t gone away is uncomfortable. Drew goes through all the same aftercare instructions he talked to Em about and gives me the bag filled with supplies. He dismisses us once again and tells me I can pay at the front desk.
“Dude, you got your ears pierced?” Camden asks when he, Levi, and Blaire come up to us as I hand over my debit card to the receptionist to pay for Emree’s and my piercings.
“Em! Your nose piercing looks so cute,” Blaire raves as she looks at Emree’s new jewelry. The two of them start walking toward the exit as Blaire snaps pictures of Emree.
The tatted-up woman hands me back my card and receipt.
“First, you’re booking a tattoo session with Axel, and now you have your ears pierced? What’s going on, man?” Camden asks.
We follow the girls out of the shop as they gush over how cute Em’s new look is.
“I have lived under my father’s thumb for as long as I can remember and I’m tired of it. Besides soccer, I’ve never done anything for myself, especially on impulse. This seems like fun and a nice way to celebrate being free.”
Camden nods and a sympathetic look comes across Levi’s face.
“Your dad’s a dick, and I’m glad you’re away from that. The tattoo you picked out is going to be badass.” Levi has been covered in tattoos since we have known him. He convinced Maddox and Mateo to get one too, though they have far less than he does.
“Maybe I’ll try and catch up to you with the body art,” I joke with Levi and punch his jacket-covered arm.
He laughs and runs a hand over his full beard. “Yeah, you can try.”
Blaire turns around and bounces over to us. “Boys, how do you feel about heading over to the hibachi restaurant that just opened?”
Camden wraps his arms around her waist and buries his face in her neck. “I’m down for some food.”
“I’m taking Em out, so unless she wants to ditch my surprise, we’re out.”
Emree’s eyebrows shoot up. “A surprise?”
Smiling, I reach for her hand. “Yeah, baby. You in for a drive?”
She smiles and nods.
Pulling her closer to me, I kiss the side of her head. “Sorry, guys. Rain check on the hibachi, but you may want to ask Maddox because I know he was dying to try that place and would get his feelings hurt if you went without him.”
Emree and I walk toward my car hand in hand as the afternoon heat pelts down on us. One of the reasons I wanted to drive my own car here was to be alone with her, and I was also planning on convincing Emree to spend the rest of the day with me. She is holding her heart protectively from me until I earn it back.
We drive to Publix, where I can get the supplies for our day. I tell Em to stay in the car while I run inside. She protests and I eventually win. My plan is to get all of her favorite snacks, drinks, and sandwiches for an afternoon picnic on the beach. Emree deserves to be spoiled, and I hadn’t done enough of that in the time we were together. While she is holding back in our relationship now, I did that for the six months we were together because I knew what was coming. I understand more than anyone why she is choosing to protect herself first.
Luckily, the Publix I stop at is near the water, and there is a wall full of everything you need for a good beach day, including picnic blankets. After ordering our sandwiches, grabbing a water for myself and a Diet Coke for Em, and our favorite snacks, I pick out a nice white-and-blue blanket I think she would like and head to the checkout.
After packing the trunk with all of the supplies, we’re heading in the direction of St. Pete Beach. It’s one of the places Mateo lifeguards at during the summer, and the guys and I like to come out here. It usually has a good crowd, but nowhere near as packed as Clearwater Beach. That place is tourist central.
With my hand resting on her bare thigh and the windows down with Emree’s variety playlist—which has everything from Eminem to Taylor Swift—blasting around us, we drive through the busy streets until you can start smelling the saltwater air. Even though I’m driving, I try to catch glances at the girl at my side. Her long, blonde hair is floating through the air, and she doesn’t give a shit about it. When Emree put the windows down, she never bothered to tie her hair back like most women would do and opted to let it fly freely through the wind, most likely getting tangled in the process. She has a bright smile on her face as she watches her hand float through the air outside the window.
She is the most gorgeous creature I have ever laid eyes on and I’m a fool to ever have let her go.
