He pins me with a glare. “Really? I had no idea.”
“Then why?—”
“Because I want to.”
“But—”
“Stop arguing with me, Goldie.”
He hands the young cashier his credit card and loads up our bags.
“Have a nice day,” she says.
“Thanks. You, too,” I reply.
She gives us one of those customer service smiles and does a double-take, genuine excitement lighting up her face. “Holy shit. You’re Ruby Lynn Hayes. Can I have your autograph?”
“Sure.” I glance at her nametag. “Carmen, right? Do you have something I can sign?”
She holds out a sharpie, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Actually, could you sign my arm for a tattoo?”
Tattoo requests don’t faze me anymore. I’ve signed so many body parts over the years, I’ve lost count. I even offered to sign my sister-in-law’s ass when we first met, but she politely declined.
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “Could you write ‘Anywhere but here?’ It’s my favorite song.”
I glance back at Liam, recalling why I wrote that song in the first place. He’s looking away, stoic as ever.
I sign the girl's arm, and we take a couple of selfies.
“Thank you so much,” she says.
“You’re welcome, Carmen. It was nice to meet you.”
She turns her attention to the next customer, offering her apologies for the holdup, while I join Liam at the end of the counter.
“That was so cool,” Aiden says. “I want a tattoo, too!”
Liam chuckles and ruffles his hair. “Not until you’remuch older, buddy.”
Liam helps me load my groceries into my truck, and Aiden gives me one more hug.
“Tell Ruby thank you for shopping with you,” Liam says.
“Thank you, Ruby.”
“Anytime, little man.”
They walk back to Liam’s truck, and I wave, my attention lingering on the back of the man who has unknowingly held a piece of my heart for the better part of ten years.
“Where do you want to go, Goldie?”
“Anywhere but here.”
Chapter 4
Anywhere But Here
