“Stick around and drink with me. You always leave so quickly. Mom said she had the kids, so you have all night.”
“I’m not in the mood,” I tell my brother.
“What’s up your ass?” he asks, removing his arm from around his flavor of the month’s shoulders.
I tilt my head, not liking his tone. “What’s up my ass?” I repeat his statement, wanting to see if he’ll change his words.
“Well, it’s good to know your hearing works, even if your dick doesn’t.”
The rage I felt earlier today crawls up my spine. “Excuse me?” I seethe as my heart starts to beat faster and my blood heats. No one can piss me off more than Thumper. Since he’s the oldest kid in the family, he felt it was his personal mission in life to pick on all of us. He’d toughen us up before anyone else in the world got their hands on us.
“Thumper, stop,” the woman he’s with begs him. “Leave him be. Your brother’s a nice guy with a broken heart.”
“Fuck that. He’s had four years to sit in his misery and act like a little bitch. That time is over. It’s time for this pansy-ass to reenter the land of the living.”
“Fuck you,” I spit, ready for the brawl that’s going to happen no matter what I do.
He’s itching for a fight, and tonight, I’m caught in his crosshairs.
Whatever.
It won’t be the first time I’ve been punched by him, and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last. And before I know it, a fist is barreling through the air, making contact with the side of my face.
Game on.
CHAPTER5
TATE
Alyssa stares downat her arm, and my stomach twists as I wait to see if she’s happy with the tattoo or not. She’s the last person I want to disappoint.
Timber strides over and stops next to Alyssa, looking down at the tattoo with his critical gaze. “Not too bad there, Tate. The lines are crisp, and you didn’t go too deep. I’m impressed.”
That’s a huge compliment coming from Timber. He’s one of the best tattoo artists in the city, and when I opened the shop, he was chomping at the bit to rent a chair. He lives in a building on the next block and wanted to be able to roll out of bed and walk to work.
“Thanks, Timber,” I say, unable to stop my smile.
Alyssa glances up at him, and their eyes meet.
If she weren’t married, I’d swear those two would hook up. He’s a tall drink of water and every bit of Alyssa’s type, with tattoos everywhere, dark hair, deep brown eyes, and lips that I could only describe as kissable.
“I’m headed out. Need anything before I go?” he asks as he wipes his hands with a paper towel before tossing it in the trash.
“No. We’re good. I’m going to clean up and be out of here in an hour or so.”
“An hour?” Alyssa asks, her eyes big.
“Yeah, babe. I have to sanitize my station and all the fun stuff a business owner does every night when they close up shop.”
“You stayin’ at Tate’s place while you’re here?” Timber asks her.
Alyssa nods. “For one more night. I head back tomorrow afternoon.”
“I can walk you back on my way home.”
I raise my eyebrow as I glance his way. He lives the opposite direction of my house, and it most certainly is not on his way home.
“That would be great. Do you mind, Tate?” Alyssa asks me, already moving to get her purse.
