Jenna flicked a glance at the tarped-over hole in her wall. “Hopefully today. Apparently, the weather held us up.”
Lynnette snorted. “Right, because it’s totally cool to leave you with a hole in your home large enough for a grown-ass man to climb through.”
“At least I’ve had a grown-ass man with me to keep me safe at night,” Jenna returned, smirking despite the red that built on her face.
“As someone who loves you,” Lynnette said, smiling, “I can appreciate that.” She raised her mug as if they were toasting,then took another sip. Jenna always had the best taste in indulgent things, and her hot chocolate was no exception.
“Speaking of people who love each other….”
Lynnette nearly choked on her drink. “Uh-uh, don’t even start with me.”
“Why not?”
Heat rushed to her face and Lynnette turned to the side, clutching the mug with both hands. Lance’s ID tags burned through the fabric of her shirt where they hung over her chest. And, suddenly, she had the most inane urge. She gulped down too much of the still-hot drink, coughed against the discomfort, and faced Jenna again. “I want to get a tattoo. How do you feel about coming with? You don’t have to be here for the window thing, right?”
Jenna blinked at her. “I … I mean, no, I don’t.” She arched a brow and leaned closer. “Not that I have anything against tattoos, but why do you suddenly want one?”
“I just do. Honestly, it’s weird that I’ve never gotten one before.” Lynnette tossed back the rest of her delicious cocoa and moved to put the mug in her friend’s sink. “If you’re up for coming along, I’ll do the driving. You can keep a little pressure off your ankle, at least.”
“Sweet Jesus, this is not how I saw today going,” Jenna muttered as she hopped down and moved to scoop up her phone. Then she giggled. “I can tell you about the surprise I ordered for Jon while we’re out. I might have done something crazy.”
She had. She had done something crazy, but to Lynnette’s ears the story only confirmed that her friend was finally happy. And it made the tattoo Lynnette decided on feel a little small in comparison, because some colored ink on skin that would be covered up more times than not was much less of a statementthan taking the leap of ordering actual business signage that would stand out for the world to see.
On the other hand, Jenna had been included in brainstorming the business name and apparently even offered a little input when Jon had told her his vision for the company brand. It was his, but they were a team. Jen was clearly excited to help her fiancé achieve his goal.
And if it succeeded, they’d have roots in the area.Lancewould have roots in the area.
They hadn’t had much opportunity yet to talk about goals and future desires. If he stayed local, they might get that time. The idea was as thrilling as it was terrifying, because it meant Lynnette needed to figure hers out again. She wasn’t particularly interested in stepping back into the hospital circuit in Klamath County as a whole. Nor did she love the idea of downshifting herself to some small clinic that probably couldn’t afford to match her prior salary. Although at least her hours would be better.
She ran through a lot of thoughts while she laid on the reclined chair in Misty Glades’ only tattoo shop. Everything from the surreality of her best friend being engaged—to a man they’d believed dead not long ago—to what her own father might think if the next time she paid him a visit, she had a diamond on her finger. A diamond that came from a military man, who wasn’t Navy. Yeah, that would be a fun introduction, regardless.
It also turned out she had severely underestimated how long it took to complete tattoos. But she was stubborn. The guys were gone, probably would be for another day at least, and she wanted the hard part done so she could get started on the healing end before their return. Not that she was really thinking about showing it off to any of them except one.
They grabbed food to go from LeeLee’s after and opted to ultimately retire at Lynnette’s, where all the doors and windowswere secure Lynnette actually had a sleeper-sofa. It was a thrift-store find, but it served its purpose. And Lynnette hadn’t ever used the bed other than to occasionally air it out.
“I still can’t believe you did this,” Jenna said, for at least the third time, as she helped carefully apply the ointment to Lynnette’s tattoo.
Lynnette crossed her arms on the back of her dining chair and bit back a laugh. Sleeping had been difficult, and though she suspected the tattoo was only half the reason, she had chosen to blame it entirely. It was ridiculous to think she’d been so bothered without Lance wrapped around her, when they’d only spent one night together.
Right, and what tattoo did you get yesterday?She snorted at herself.
“Paging Nurse Garver,” Jenna said, raising her voice and pitching it with authoritative urgency. “Come back to the moment, Nurse Garver. We’re losing you!”
“Oh my God,” Lynnette said, letting the laugh out that time. “You’re such a dork.”
“Well, you started making weird noises, and all I did was state the obvious.” Jenna screwed the cap back onto the jar and set it onto the table. “‘Property of MGySgt Lance Blackburn’ is a hell of a statement for a woman who’s avoided romance as hard as you have.” She scrunched up her nose. “Is that really the acronym for his rank? It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.”
Lynnette chuckled despite the way her face had definitely flamed at Jenna’s on-point accusation. “Not acronym, no. It’s the shorthand. Like how ‘Captain’ is abbreviated C-P-T. Same thing.”
Jenna blinked, rolled her eyes, and smacked her face with her palm. “Please never tell Jon I asked that.”
Lynnette stood and slipped her robe back on, but she made sure to tie the knot loosely. “You could persuade me to keepyour secret. If I can persuade you to steal my kitchen for literallyanythingsweet and chocolatey. Brownies, cupcakes, cookies, chocolate-cream pastries, I don’t care, rifle through my drawers and use whatever you need. I went shopping on … Saturday, I think? I should have things.”
It was Jenna who laughed next. “Is baking approved with my ankle situation?” She pointed at her re-wrapped ankle.
“How’s the pain?” The question was past Lynnette’s lips before she could even think about her response.
Jenna’s eyes danced with amusement. “Like a three, maybe. And I haven’t even taken anything for it today.”
