Page 60 of The Boyfriend Experience

“You’re gonna stay?” Law asks, pulling me out of my building panic. “Or go do something? She says it’ll take a few hours, at least. So don’t feel obligated to hold my hand.” Then he winks at me. “I can take it.”

I wheel an extra doctor’s stool up to the chair where he’s sitting. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m with you.”

Vivi returns and gets down to business. Going through all the motions of prepping his arm, then getting all her needles ready, loading one into her machine. She lines up all her inks and then puts on her headgear that directs a bright light down onto her canvas and begins.

Buzzing fills my ears. Lawton jokes, wincing as the needle carves out his design, but watching too. Fascinated with the changes he’s making to his body.

For me.

Jesus Christ, Oaklee. You’re so wrapped up in yourself. It takes some kind of ego to think this guy would endure pain, mark up his body, and pay a thousand dollars for a tattoo if he didn’t want it.

At least I tell myself that. The whole time Vivi is working her magic.

Because that’s all I can tell myself.

Because if I’m the only reason Lawton Ayers made this decision I won’t be able to live with myself.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - LAWTON

Oaklee eventually leaves the rolling doctor’s stool and makes herself comfortable in an overstuffed chair in the corner. But she never takes her eyes off me. Her expression is a mixture of sadness and fear. But every time she sees me staring at her—it’s hard not to stare at her—she smiles at me. Like she’s putting on a brave face.

I know she’s worried about this Hanna situation. And she has every right to be because this shit is way more serious than either of us first realized.

I could write it off as some kind of egotistical paranoid delusion—the whole Hanna wants to be me thing. But that’s not what Hanna is doing. I think that’s pretty clear. She’s targeting Oaklee. For whatever reason, she wants to either steal her life or take her down.

Why though? I wish I knew.

Vivi doesn’t talk much. She’s one hundred percent focused on her design. I watch for the first hour. Carefully. Making sure she’s doing what I envisioned. And it hurts pretty bad. Feels like a knife carving through my skin.

But eventually my arm grows numb and my trust is complete. Oaklee was right. If you’re going to get a tattoo, this is definitely the best place to be.

My phone chimes a text—Eduardo, who tells me he’s upgraded her security panel and ordered a metal accordion door to block the entrance to her apartment. I’m about to text him back and tell him thanks when I remember my idea from earlier. So I text back another request too.

“Got somewhere to be?” Vivi asks, not taking her eyes off her work.

“Nope,” I say, looking over at Oaklee. She looks drowsy and still a little bit sad. “I’m present.”

“Good,” Vivi says. “Because I’m gonna need about three more hours before I’m ready to let you go today.”

Oaklee stands up and walks over to us, peering down at the work-in-progress. Then she smiles at me, but again, it looks forced. “Are you hungry? I can go grab us some burgers from the bar.”

“No beer,” Vivi says.

“No beer,” Oaklee repeats. “I know. Lawton? Food?”

“Nah,” I say. “I’ve got plans for us later. Better save our appetites.” And then I wink. Which makes her smile again, and this time I think it’s real. And I so much want her to feel better about things, I decide to make more of an effort to include her.

“So… this upcoming beer festival,” I say. “What day is it?”

“Next Sunday.”

“What are you entering this year?” Vivi asks, joining in.

“A secret beer,” Oaklee says. “Something I’ve been working on for a while now, but no one knows about.”

“To keep Hanna Harlow from stealing it?” Vivi asks.

“What?” Oaklee says. “How did you—”