Page 100 of Unraveled

“She’s going out with the girls tonight?” Brandon inquired.

“Yeah. She and Patty have a tattoo night planned.” She’d wanted to get the little pink ribbon tattooed on her wrist. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she realized she wasn’t the only one.

“Must’ve ended early.” There was a smirk on Brandon’s face as he pointed his thumb toward the front door.

I turned to see a vision. Layla walking toward me, reminding me of the very first night we’d met. Her hair was much shorter, but if any woman could rock a pixie cut, it was my fiancée. She was stunning in a long black dress which hugged every curve. Adding to her sexiness was the fact she only had eyes for me.

My grin was the goofy, sappy kind, I’m sure. But I didn’t care. Her returning confidence was a sight to behold. She made a beeline for me and sat on my lap the same way she had a year ago.

“Hi, handsome.”

My face nuzzled her neck, and I breathed in her scent. I’d never get enough of this woman. “Hello, gorgeous. This is quite the surprise.”

“I thought a reenactment of our first night might be in order.”

She pulled back, waggling her brows.

I realized she had more in mind than just the surprise bar visit. “Guess we won’t be staying at your brother’s house, then.”

“Thank goodness,” Russ chuckled. “No offense.”

She smirked, holding up a key card for the hotel next door. “None taken.” She leaned over to give her brother a hug. “Hi, Russell.” She looked across the table. “How’s it going, Brandon?”

“Good, thanks.”

I didn’t miss the way she scanned the rest of the place.

“She’s not here,” I whispered in her ear and watched as she relaxed.

“Merely making sure nobody else had anniversary plans.” She planted her lips on mine.

The same zing ran through my body as the first time. Only now I got to tell her exactly how I felt. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Oh, you wanna see?” She lifted up her right wrist to show the bandage and peeled it off slowly to reveal the tiny pink ribbon tattoo.

“I love it.” And because I couldn’t exactly hide it for very long, I held up mine, peeling back the bandage. “Not a bad match.”

Her eyes rounded and then teared up when Russell held up his, too.

Layla

I would not cry. I would not cry in a bar in front of a bunch of guys doing a fantasy football draft just because my fiancé and brother had done the most incredibly sweet thing. “Quick, say something funny.”

“Your brother screamed like a girl when the tattoo artist put the alcohol pad on his arm.”

Russ objected. “Dude, what happened to that staying between us guys? In my defense, it was cold. It took me off guard.”

It did the trick. I burst out laughing. “I can’t believe you both did this.”

Kellan stroked my cheek. “That little ribbon isn’t only about being a survivor; it’s also about supporting one. All of us were in this fight with you. We all wanted to do this.”

“Wait. My mom and dad?”

Russ sighed, clearly reluctant to let the cat out of the bag. “Act surprised tomorrow at the family dinner. They wanted to show their love, too.”

I was unbelievably moved. It was about support, love, and a whole lot more. Now that I’d made the transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor, I finally got it. The symbol was about hope. Even when I’d felt as though I was unraveling, hope had held together in that perfect little ribbon. And when I hadn’t had enough hope to get me through, those who loved me had provided enough to make up the slack.

“Dance with me later?”