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He smiles, moving heaven and earth inside of me, as my memory clings to the curve of his dimples. “You want a tat?”
“Yeah, and I want you to do it. Right here.” I point atop my middle finger.
“Consider it done, babe.” He kisses me in the middle of my brows.
“Your skills are unreal,” I mutter, wrapping his face between my hands. As much as I want to roam through his sketchbook some more, I don’t want to impose on his art. I want him to willingly show me. “You shouldn’t let them go to waste.”
His jaw hardens, and I know I might’ve stuck my foot in my mouth.
“It’s not that simple . . .”
I drop my hands, hoping he’ll freely give out more details.
“My parents did everything for us... so what if I do what makes my dad happy?” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but the pensive look he’s carrying tells me he might have his doubts. He’s been working full-time all summer with his dad’s construction business and working nights and weekends at the tattoo parlor.
“You shouldn’t settle, Harv. Not at the cost of your own happiness.”
When he turns to face me again, he caresses my collarbone with one finger. “What if it’s all part of being an adult, hmm? Settling? What if we all do it once we finally let go of our stupid dreams?”
I shake my head, taking his hand in mine. “All I want you to know is that I support your dreams.” I smile.
“Well, sweetheart. My dream is to have you naked underneath these covers.” His chuckle settles around us.
You make me happy, Harvey.
I’m dreading going back home to face Harvey.
The rest of the weekend flew by and now that we’re well into Sunday evening, I have no choice but to go home and get ready for the week. I can’t spend all my time with Damon, and I don’t want to overstay my welcome at Gia’s.
Yesterday, I ended up falling asleep in Damon’s arms, and I spent the entire day today at Gia’s, baking cookies and watching a Disney movie with Athena, though she barely focused on it for more than five minutes at a time.
Gia tried to get the scoop, but after our last conversation, I decided to keep my time with Damon to myself. At least for now.
My little secret.
I want it tainted by nothing and no one, which tells me how wrong it is.
I quickly speak to Layla on my drive home from my sister’s, and she tells me she’s extending her trip with her fiancé.
When I finally turn off the ignition, I mentally give myself a pep talk.
He’s probably in his room. You might not even see him. It’s not like he knows.
Claire called me today, and I ignored it. I know I’ll have to deal with her eventually for Harvey’s sake, but I need to think things through first.
I don’t know what’s next at this point. What will happen once I face Harv again? Will he want to talk about it, or will he ignore me?
My mind, my heart, my entire body feels as if it’s shaking with anxiety—wondering how to proceed, wondering if Harvey and I can even move forward from both betrayals, wondering if I evenwantto try to fix things with him.
I grab my purse and make it inside the house, turning on a few lights before checking on him. His room is empty, and the sight fills my stomach with a void I can’t explain.
It’s not like I told him I was coming back home, but still, the curiosity is killing me: has he left with Claire?
I sit on his lowered bed and reach for my phone inside my back jeans pocket, texting him about his whereabouts. He answers right away.
Harvey:With Henrik.
I’m relieved and sad at the same time. Relieved not to have to deal with it and sad because I need to see what else he’ll say. If he’ll apologize. If we cantalk. But then Damon’s kiss-me lips and chocolate eyes pop in my mind, and everything else pales in comparison.
