Page 16 of Inked Nights

If she showed up.

And he couldn’t think of anything else.

Damn it.

And even though he wanted to see her because he wanted her, he knew it was more than that. He wanted to know more about her, wanted to see if maybe he’d take that chance and see if she could be part of his life. She lived so damn close to him. At first, he’d thought maybe she lived out of town like he did, but now that he knew they lived close to one another and had a few of the same friends, he thought maybe that had to mean something.

He’d spent most of his life trying to help others through their issues, but now he had to work through his own. Because most of that time helping others meant helping his mom. She hadn’t been the same since his sister Stacey died. Hell, he hadn’t been the same and wasn’t sure any of them ever could be again. But his mom had broken completely.

And while he hadn’t been able to piece her back together, he’d tried his hardest, no matter the cost. Then, he’d helped his friends around the shop navigate their relationships as if he had any clue how to connect with another person that way. Before Olivia, he’d had short-lived relationships with women over time, but never anything concrete. He’d never let himself get to that point. He had to be there for his mom and, hell, if he were honest, he’d never wanted to open himself to someone where he might end up losing more of himself in the process. He’d done that before he was old enough to understand what love was, and he hadn’t planned to ever do it again.

But Olivia? Something about her called to him.

Hell, he’d been lying to himself for four years if he ever really thought that going to her one night a month was just because they were good in bed together. Something about her drew him in, and he wanted to know more about what that was. He’d stayed away from anything else that could hurt him for so long, he was afraid he’d missed out on something that was truly important.

He just hoped that she didn’t run away again like the last time.

Or that she showed up at all.

Yeah, he knew where she lived and could get her contact information quickly, but he wouldn’t. That wasn’t their agreement, and he’d already reneged on it once before by going to Austin’s house. He wasn’t going to turn into that creepy stalker that forced himself into her presence. If she wanted him, she’d ask, and he’d be there.

If not?

Well, then, that would fucking suck, and he’d have to figure out what to do about it.

He needed to get out of his head and back onto his work. His client was waiting for him out at his station, and Derek had been standing alone in the back office holding his sketch pad for like ten minutes. If he wasn’t careful, he would fuck up a tattoo, and that wasn’t something he did. Ever.

Hell, that wasn’t something that was allowed in Montgomery Ink.

Austin would beat the shit out of him.

Then Maya would fillet his skin right off.

Okay, so the two of them wouldn’t actually get violent, but getting yelled at, or worse, fired because he had his mind on Olivia and not his job wasn’t something he was keen on trying.

Even as he made his way out of the office, Austin was there with one brow raised and his mouth set in a firm line under that big-ass beard of his.

“You okay?” his boss asked, his arms folded over his chest as he leaned against the wall nearest the office. On the other side of the wall was where they had the private room for piercings and clients who wanted privacy. Maya was in there with a client getting a full thigh piece at the moment, so Derek was glad it was Austin who was in front of him and not her.

He, like any sane individual, was a little scared of Maya Montgomery-Gallagher.

“I’m fine. Just needed to clear my head. Jason still waiting on me?”

Austin nodded. “The guy has his book out and is zoning. You don’t usually take long breaks like some of us need to for our aging backs, so what’s really happening inside that head of yours?”

Derek shook his head. “Let me finish up on Jason first.”

“Then you’ll tell me exactly what’s wrong? Because we don’t like seeing you like this. I didn’t ask what happened when you went over to Olivia’s, and I’m still feeling a little like I crossed a line. She’s our friend, too, and from what I’ve seen, she doesn’t have a whole lot of those around her.”

Derek muttered a curse but nodded. “Yeah, I get that. And I don’t know what’s going on with us, but I’m hopefully seeing her tomorrow.”

Austin’s eyes narrowed. “It’s been a month, then?”

“I just hope to hell she shows up.”

Austin reached out and gripped Derek’s shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. “If it’s meant to be, she will. She’s quiet sometimes but has a great sense of humor and wit. Just like you. I can see the two of you together, so I hope it works out. Just don’t fucking hurt her, okay? Because it’s not going to be Maya or even me who kicks your ass if you do.”

Derek winced. “Sierra?”