“Oh uh, I don’t… remember.”
Shit.Shit.A muscle in Dean’s jaw tightened, and his hands were fists at his sides. The same hands that helped me dye my hair today, the ones that gently caressed my collarbone as he spoke to me about his worries for the season. I wanted to spend time with him for as long as he let me. Not… Gabe.
“Sure you do. Come on, we could slip him your number.” Callum nudged me.
I shook my head, my stomach twisting with all the secrets and feelings. Dean was pissed, that was certain, but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to give Gabe my number. It was a perfectly fun interaction that ended here in the shop. My friends took things too far sometimes, but I wasn’t sure how to escape this without giving Dean and I away.
Guilt clawed at me, scraping me inside out at how horrible of a friend I was to Lo. I shook my head, opening my mouth with the hopes the words would come out. Instead, I looked like an idiot who’s face tingled with blush.
“Or we could acknowledge you’re making Mack uncomfortable and let her have this moment. She got a tattoo, and she’s terrified of needles. That’s fucking big.” Dean held out a fist, and I bumped it.
Gratitude washed over me. He understood.
Lo frowned, her entire face falling as she chewed her lip. “Dean is right. I’m sorry, girl. You and Gabe had tension though, so I wanted to play on it. You freaking hate needles, and look at you! You got a tattoo!”
“I sure did!” I held up my wrist and did a wiggle. “I know you guys are teasing me, but just… I want to savor this moment.”
“Yeah, we went too far. I’m sorry.” Lo pulled me into a half-hug. “We’re gonna have matching tattoos for life.”
“Yeah, we are.” I leaned into her, breathing in her familiar perfume. I loved Lo, and the unspoken lie between us grewheavy. I had to tell her. I made a vow to tell her as soon as we were alone. “Can’t believe Callum is getting one too.”
“Lo, come help me decide on this. Do I do a heart or a football? Or do I do both? I’m comfortable with both, but what’s sexier?”
“Jesus.” Lo broke the embrace and stood next to Callum as he doodled on some paper. Vee was with them, and that left Dean and me.
“I want to see it,” he said, softly.
I held out my arm, showing him the underside where my tattoo was, and he gently touched me. He grazed a finger over the plastic, his lips turning up in a cute little smile. “I love it.”
“Thanks. I’m a badass now.”
His eyes warmed. “Sorry I crashed. Callum texted me to come and get a tattoo with him, and I knew you were here…”
“So you came.”
“So I came.” He smiled at me, a soft, gentle one that made butterflies swarm my gut. Whenever he was near, life outside the two of us disappeared. He captivated me, like he always had, but my attraction to him was deeper. How the hell would I survive the end of summer?
The butterflies shifted, a wave of unease ruining the moment. My smile faltered, and Dean noticed immediately. “What’s with the face?”
“Oh. Nothing.” I waved my hand, pushing the thought away.Change the subject.“Are you really going to get a tattoo?”
“Sure. Always wanted one. What should I get?” He shrugged, like having a death needle on your skin was no big deal.
“You’re so casual about this. A tattoo is forever. And it hurts. Gabe was quick—”
“Fucking Gabe.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t like him.”
A snort-laugh escaped before I could stop it. “You’re jealous.”
“He made you blushandsmile. I like doing those things.” His eyes searched mine, bounding from my left eye to the right, like he was looking for something. The lines around his eyebrows deepened, the serious set of his lips contradicting the warmth in his gaze. “I want all your cute blushes and smiles, Mackenzie.”
His voice came out low, raspy, heated. His breath tickled my face, and I wanted to slam my mouth on his. We hadn’t fooled around after Lo ran into us earlier. We focused on the hair job, and the urge to kiss him overtook me. This moment felt heavier than what it was. Heavier between us, like something had shifted.
“For five weeks, right?” I whispered.
He nodded, but longing remained there.
“Gah! Look at this. Gabe, you’re a dream!” Ale cheered, shimmying her way out of the room. Her entrance broke the moment, and I jumped back, blushing head to toe at my thoughts of Dean.
