“I love that!” She looks over at me. “Do you have one?”
Nodding once, I walk over toward her. I show her the inside of my wrist. In delicate cursive, our band name is written out. She stares at it for a few seconds with wonder, placing her fingertip over my black tattoo. My skin tickles when I fee hers against mine.
I watch her intently, and her eyes seem distant.
“I’ve never fully looked at this tattoo. All the others on your arms stand out. Tattoos fascinate me. The fact that they’re all unique to the person is incredible.”
As she continues to glance at my other tattoos I have on my arms and fingers, Amelia and Elijah give me a death glare behind Trinity’s back.
They’re sick of my bullshit. I would be too.
“You should get one.” Elijah breaks the silence.
I look up at him with an eyebrow raised.
“Me, get a tattoo?” She shakes her head quickly and bites her lip.
“You’re a badass, but to make you a total badass, you need ink,” my brother states while crossing his arms across his chest.
Trinity bites her lip and glances up at me. Her eyes bore into mine, secretly asking me a question.
“You don’t have to, babe,” I softly reassure her.
Her slim fingers fiddle with my rings. “To be honest, I kind of want one.”
I straighten up and give her a smile. “Really?”
Nodding her head, she explains, “I’ve wanted one for a long time. But my mom wouldn’t allow me to get one.”
“You’re a grown-ass person,” Elijah chuckles. “You don’t need her permission.”
“I don’t want to go alone,” she grumbles and gives him a look.
I crack a smile and pull her body into mine. “Well, if you want to get one, you have us now.”
While her front teeth bite lightly on her pinkie nail, Trinity questions herself out loud, “Should I do this? Should I get a tattoo?” After thinking in silence with me and my siblings just staring at her, she blurts out, “Yes, I should! I only live once, so fuck it.”
That’s my girl. Time to get some ink on her.
“You got that right.” Amelia scoffs and starts peeling a clementine.
After she peels the orange skin away, Elijah snatches the fruit from her and stuffs the entire thing in his mouth.
“Hey!” she yells and pushes his shoulder.
As he staggers back, he bites into the orange, and the juice sprays all over Amelia, making her flinch back as the sticky liquid lands all over her face.
Better her than me …
All Elijah can seem to do is laugh around the fruit stuffed in his mouth. Hunching over, he grips his stomach. “What are brothers for?” he wheezes out at her and playfully shrugs his shoulders as they still shake from his laughter.
Like I said before, he’s a donkey.
* * *
I’m standing in a tattoo parlor with Trinity by my side. The grungy, dark place causes her hand to tighten in mine.
I made sure to call Mom before we left. Telling her about my whereabouts calms the panic she feels when she thinks I’m not safe. It surprised me that she’s supportive of Trinity’s decision. I even heard a hint of excitement in her tone. Even though Mom will never admit this, I know she secretly hates Trinity’s mom. As long as Trinity’s mom doesn’t find out about this tattoo, we’ll have no problems.
