Doubts filled me. Had I gotten ahead of myself? I’d probably read into TJ’s words and actions too much. After all, we’d only met that morning... It made sense that he didn’t fully trust me. But I wished I knew what it was specifically about my question that gave him pause. I’d only asked about the name of the studio. Was it named after a deceased relative or something?
“Hey, um, I’m sorry for bringing it up,” I murmured, eager to fix the situation.
TJ didn’t respond immediately. He took a long, focused glance at my arm. I looked down, too—and gasped in shock.
It was beautiful. The work rivalled—no, surpassed—all those beautiful online tattoos I’d seen while searching for an artist. The linework was perfect, and the colors were vibrant, as if popping off my skin.
“TJ, this is amazing,” I whispered.
“Not done yet,” TJ said. “Just one tiny spot left on the bottom petal.”
But TJ applied plastic wrap to it, then got up and snapped off his sterile gloves. I watched him in confusion. If he was so close to being done, why didn’t he just finish right now?
Instead, he took a step back. His eyes were closed as if in deep thought.
“TJ?” I asked, getting worried.
He sighed deeply. “I don’t want to keep it to myself any longer. I’ve got to tell you the truth, Brady.”
I sat upright, frowning. “What are you talking about?”
TJ didn’t answer. He walked to the front of the studio and closed all the blinds, then pulled out the room divider so the back half of the shop was further blocked from sight. What the hell was he doing?
Oh, god. Was I right about him secretly being a vampire?
When TJ returned, he looked nervous.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “TJ, whatever’s bothering you, please tell me. I’m getting freaked out.”
He gave me a sympathetic look. “Oh, no. I was trying my bestnotto freak you out.”
“Then tell me what’s going on.”
TJ ran a hand through his hair. Despite my confused anxiety, I couldn’t help but stare at the tattoos on his bare bicep as his T-shirt hiked up with the motion.
“Brady,” he began in a soft voice. “You’re the only person in the whole world I feel comfortable confessing this to.”
My heart rate spiked. Theonlyperson? That meant I was special to TJ.
So what did he have to confess to me?
“You can tell me,” I urged. “Whatever it is, I won’t judge you.”
That reassured TJ. His expression softened and the tension in his shoulders vanished.
“All right,” he said, sounding determined. “But first, I need you to close your eyes.”
I didn’t ask why. This confession was clearly important and frightening for TJ, so I wanted to make the experience easier for him. Wordlessly, I shut my eyes and waited for his cue.
I didn’t hear or see anything for a few moments. My heart hammered in anticipation. What would I see when I opened my eyes? Would TJ be standing in front of me as a pale-skinned, fanged vampire?
Just as my imagination ran rampant, a gravelly yet familiar voice spoke: “You can look now.”
That was TJ all right.
Slowly, I peeked my eyes open.
TJ had disappeared.
