Ifind a quiet corner of the backyard to sit so we can have a conversation about my boy—blood or not, Ender will always be one of mine.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Celeste.” Ender speaks so highly of her, and I can see why.
“Ender has said such nice things about you, Layla.”I’m not jealous at all.“And Gabe—Ender is just head over heels for him, and that means a lot.”
Layla’s smile falters for a second. “I know how hard it is for him to trust people.” Silence falls between us for a moment, and knowing that Ender has shared more about his past with her since she met him at Camp North End comforts me. “I know I’m biased, but Gabe will be good for him.”
“I hope so.” I hesitate, but the conversation needs to happen. “I know you’ve become close with him.”
“Yes, we have. We’ve got some things in common.”
When I smile and slowly nod, I can tell she understands just how much Ender has told me. “Nowadays, Ender’s situation is not all that unique.”
“But Ender is.” Layla says, and I feel an affinity toward her just for knowing him so well, so quickly.
“Exactly.” I soften my tone, mother to mother. “I just ask that if there ever comes a time…don’t just disappear.”
“I wouldn’t even think of it.” She leans forward in her chair with a smile. “Ender needs all the support he can get, and you’ve done an incredible job already. I only hope I can help him in the slightest bit by being his friend.”
Ender told me she was a special woman—I can see why. “Thank you, Layla.”
She clasps my hand in hers. “I hope we can become friends, too.”
“I would love that.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Memorable Presents Are My Love Language
Gabe
“You sure you want to do this?” Luke has asked me the same question at least twenty times in the past week. I don’tknow how to say it any other way to make him believe me.
“I’m positive,” I say as he opens the door to his friend’s tattoo shop. Once inside, there’s no mistaking it’s Halloween season, from the excessive amount of pumpkin, ghost, and skeleton décor around her shop.
“Look who it is. My favorite chef who can take burns like they’re nothing, but squirms for hours when I put a needle to his skin.” Luke always said Star likes to tease him about his low threshold for pain when it comes to his body art.
“Yeah, yeah. Get it out now.” Luke smirks as he hugs her. “I may bitch and moan about it, but I still sit longer than most of your clients.”
“This is true.”
Luke mentioned how gorgeous Star is, but he didn’t do her justice. Her platinum blonde hair reminds me of Ender’s—only much longer and in braided pigtails. She’s tall and curvy in all the right places, and covered in tattoos. Even though they’re close friends who obviously care about each other, Luke always said the only reason they never hooked up was because she’s a lesbian. I'm thankful for that—if they'd ended up together, I'd probably never have met Ender.
“Gabe, this is Star. She’s going to hurt you.” That gets him punched on the bicep, and I can’t help but laugh. “Fuck, Star. I was just going to tell him to say thank you.”
“Liar.” I like her spunk. “Okay, let’s go. Who’s first?”
I follow her to the back, ahead of Luke. “I’ll go first.”
“Yeah, you don’t want to see the big baby go first. You’ll chicken out.”
“I’m not as bad as she makes me out to be.”
“I’ll see for myself soon, right?” Luke’s eyes roll as I hop onto Star’s chair.
“I like this guy already.” Star laughs as she breaks out her tablet. “Luke said you wanted something little for your first time. What’s your plan?”
I give her the details of what I want and where. The look she gives me in response makes me nervous. “You sure you want this?” she says with a cocked eyebrow.
