Asher stops and nods his head softly as if he thought about it again. “Yeah, maybe. You’d have to explain it and take the verbal lashing she’s going to give you. You’re going to have to take it no matter what. I know why you did what you did, Ty, but… She’s no longer sad. She’s pissed.”
“Good.” I nod, standing up out of bed and pulling on the first clean shirt I can find and a black baseball cap to cover my unruly hair. “I can handle a pissed off Roxie, but I think if she was heartbroken, I might fracture more.”
“You know I’m going to call you on this self-sacrificing bullshit you’re pulling right?” Asher rolls his eyes, turning and pushing the door open instead of shutting it as he leaves. “We’re leaving in twenty! Get your ass in gear!” he yells over his shoulder, disappearing into the dark hallway.
“Annoying fucker,” I mumble, but do what he says and get myself together.
A shower and food is in order before I do anything else. I have a feeling that how I handle today will determine Roxie’s and my future. And that… That’s not something I’m willing to mess up in the slightest.
CHAPTER 36
Ty’s coming back today.
Ty.
The big, burly fucker who’s the love of my life and the source of these recent head–and heart–aches.
He’s coming back to work at the shop today. My guy is coming back today.
No–stop that. He’s notyoursanymore, Roxie. Get it together.I take a deep breath and resist the urge to check my hair or makeup for the tenth time.
Asher let me open the shop today and I nearly cried when he gave me a key. Although he did threaten me within an inch of my life to keep his baby safe and sound. As if I was a child and going to throw a rager at my place of employment.
Well, wait a minute, a good party sounds like something that would heal my soul.
Especially making out with a hot stranger.
That might fix my broken heart.
I walk past the mirror and stop.
“You motherfucker, just do what I want,” I snap, working to fix the one space bun that just won’t lay fucking right, and realize that no amount of one night stands or flirting or whatever is going to fix the Ty-sized hole in my heart.
But damn, he made his choice and I have to live with it.
I know he still lives with Asher, but that big goof of a brother I’ve adopted had to be all “respectful” and “protective” and only gave me bare-bones information. The only thing that the usual loud mouth told me other than about Ty’s moms brother was that he was finally home after six weeks.
And that today was going to be his first day back. So he’s scheduled for the walk-ins while I finish up my last few trials of the apprenticeship under Asher’s stewardship. Today I’m tattooing Asher’s arm, just a small little thing on the back of his bicep, but still, it’s a big step.
Mentally checking off each bit of the morning opening shift list that Asher left on the counter to make sure it’s done perfectly, I grab my sketchbook and open up to the portrait of Athena I want to get done with my first big paycheck. It’s very well done, and if it was for a client, I’d say okay and move on. But, for me, I can’t help feeling like there’s something missing.
I redraw some of the lines, adjust the shading on some things, but I just… I can’t figure out what’s wrong.
The door opens, the now familiarringof the bell hanging over head drawing my attention to the front.
My breath catches in my throat and I swear, my heart stops beating.
Asher quickly walks through the door, but behind him…behind him is Ty.Daddy, my mind whispers in a small brokentone that makes me cringe even though I didn’t say anything out loud.
I’ve thought about this moment for weeks.
I’ve… debated exactly what I should do. What I should say.
But it all hinges on what he says first.
Will he apologize and fall to his knees, asking me to forgive him?
Will he shrug and ignore me, acting cold and aloof?
