TJ's brows raised, intrigued. "Is that so? Then why don't we do the same?"
"You've got a kitchen in here, too? I thought you only had a microwave."
He grinned. "Pancake batter and ink don't mix. I meant going out for a nice breakfast, my silly snugglemuffin."
Love blossomed in my chest. It was a small gesture—just a simple breakfast as fated mates—but it felt like so much more. It spoke to TJ's kindness and his genuine care for me.
"That would be wonderful," I said.
After we got up and stretched to get rid of most of the kinks in our bones, we headed out. Heraldry Ink was located on the main street in town, so it was a short walk to a nice breakfast restaurant nearby. It was a beautiful day, so we grabbed a seat on the patio, which was decorated with fresh flowers for the spring season.
"I'm starving," I said as I hungrily skimmed the menu. "A huge stack of pancakes sounds amazing right about now."
TJ wasn't looking at the menu. He kept glancing at something behind me with a small smile.
"Do you already know what you want?" I asked.
"Hmm... Not yet."
When he still didn't pick it up, I asked, "What is it?"
"It must be fate," TJ murmured. "Look behind you."
Confused, I turned my head—then I gasped. A flower box hung directly behind me, and planted inside was a sunny row of bright red Gerbera daisies.
"No freaking way," I said.
I lifted my newly tattooed arm and put it up next to the real life daisies. They looked nearly identical. Hell, TJ's almost looked better.
TJ pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. "That's gonna be my new wallpaper."
I blushed. It was another small gesture that filled my heart.
"You're too much," I mumbled through a small laugh.
TJ shrugged. "Can't help the way I feel about you, snugglemuffin."
Just as he said that, the waitress showed up. My blush turned as deep as the red daisies, but TJ wasn't fazed at all.
"My mate will have the biggest stack of pancakes you have, and I'll have a western omelet, please," he said, handing her both menus. He turned to me. "Would you like those with chocolate chips or blueberries, my love?
I thought my brain would melt. "B-blueberries."
"Certainly," the waitress said chipperly. Then she glanced at my tattoo and lit up. "Hey, I love your ink!"
Pride welled up in me. "Oh! Thank you."
"I love flower tattoos. I've got my own, but it's nowhere near that good..." She tucked the menus under her arm, then pulled up her sleeve to reveal a floral tattoo. "I'm actually thinking of getting it covered up with something different, but finding a good cover up artist is so hard..."
This reallywasfate.
I exchanged a knowing grin with TJ, who smiled at me, as if giving me permission to gush.
"Well, actually," I said. "My mate here, TJ, is a tattoo artist. He did this cover up on my arm."
The waitress gasped, leaning in to get a better look. "Wait, that's a cover? It looks amazing! And you're the artist?"
TJ nodded. "I am."
