Page 20 of Mountain Beast

I collapse onto another rolling stool and grab her clammy hand.

“Hey, hey, hey… All jokes aside, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, okay?” I stroke the back of her hand where her white knuckles stand out against her skin.

“I know. I-I want to do this. It’s one tiny tattoo. How bad can it be?” Her lips tremble around the words. Her slightly panicked gaze bores into mine.

“That’s the spirit, baby.” I pet her hand and arm before landing on the back of her neck and gently squeezing. “Where did you decide to put the tattoo?”

She motions to the exposed skin behind her ear. So, that’s why she put her hair up in a ponytail.

“Sutton suggested it. Said it shouldn’t hurt too badly, and that a lot of people find the vibration soothing there.”

“But we don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” Sutton reiterates as she starts cleaning the spot.

“I want to. I promise. Even if I’m acting like a baby.”

“You’re nervous. It’s a needle jabbing into your skin; it’s a natural reaction,” I say.

“Okay, let’s not use the word jabbing when referring to needles near my head.”

“Oh, so you’re okay to joke still. Gotcha…” I grin and move my hand out of the way for Sutton to adjust Autumn’s head. Her eyes never leave mine.

Like I’m worthy of her trust.

Worthy of being the one she turns to for comfort.

Fuck. I rub a fist over my sternum and the ache forming below. This isn’t good.

But the unsettling feeling doesn’t stop me from letting Autumn crush my fingers with hers at the first touch of the needle to her skin.

Or halt the quiet rumble of comforting praises spilling from my lips every time she tenses or releases the smallest whimper.

The tattoo doesn’t take very long, yet by the time Sutton is finished, my muscles are sore as if I ran a marathon, and Autumn looks just as exhausted.

“You did good, baby.” I help her sit up and can’t resist swiping away the hint of a tear at the corner of her eye.

“Did I?” Autumn closes her eyes and shudders. “I feel like a wimp who barely held it together. If it weren’t for you…”

“Shh… You were brave. You overcame a fear. That’s badass,” I promise. Sutton agrees with a nod of her head.

“Badass.” Autumn mutters the word under her breath a few times as if testing its weight. As if my opinion matters.

And the damn ache in my chest grows stronger.

CHAPTER TEN

AUTUMN

AUTUMN: What’s your deal with Davie?

BRIGGS: Are you guys talking about me again? I thought this was supposed to be a fun girls’ night.

AUTUMN: It is. We’ve got the sangria and movie ready to go. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to gossip about what’s going on in our lives, so stop avoiding the question.

BRIGGS: Did Davie or you bring this up as ‘part of your lives’?

AUTUMN: Briggs…

BRIGGS: Autumn… Leave it. It’s not texting conversation.