Page 42 of Escape

“I love you so much, Jasmine. With everything. Forever.”

Chapter 33

Jasmine

The wind tousled my curls as I leaned against the open truck window. The same truck that cut me off in the coffee line on my way back home. I couldn’t believe she’d really followed me the whole way.

Miles of open field stretched out all around us. My legs rested over Kel’s lap. She massaged my foot with one hand while the other wrapped around the steering wheel. We’d been on the road for two days and I still felt like I was floating in a dream.

After our night at Maple Meadow, Kel called whatever connections she had to clean up, took me to gather my things from the hotel, which I found out she’d upgraded, and we went on our way. I wasn’t sure where we were going or what life was going to look like, but I’d go anywhere with her.

As I studied her built, sturdy form, I realized that there was still so much to catch up on. So much of her that I didn’t know anymore.

“What do you do?” I asked.

She smirked, eyes still on the road. “What do I look like I do? Guess.”

I lifted my leg, hooking my foot under her jaw and turned her face to look at me. She leaned down to kiss my toes as I stared.

“Hmmm, I don’t know. I’d pay you just to stand there and look sexy.”

Her laugh bellowed over the sound of the wind whipping through the windows. Her smile was enough to melt me into the leather seats. Shaking her head, she pulled out her phone and tossed it on my lap. We got rid of mine, along with my car, before we left and she promised to get me all new things.

“Look me up, Myka Marks.”

I cocked a brow, “Is that you?”

She nodded. I had no idea she was going by a different name these days, not that I was very connected to the outside world anyway.

“What happened to just Kel?”

“That’s just for my girl.” Her voice was teasing as she winked in my direction. “No, but really, it’s like…a business name. Just look.”

I pulled up the internet on her phone and typed the name in the search engine. Tons of professional pictures and articles popped up. Fashion shows, photo shoots, film sets, conventions. I clicked into a few and found models and some familiar celebrities with intricate, bold tattoos covering their bodies. Some permanent and some appearing to be painted. All the articles praised her unique work.

“Oh,” I gasped. “You’re like…a big fucking deal.”

“Maybe a lil bit…” She shrugged, resuming my foot massage. “I started tattooing pretty early after high school. One of my clients and her wife are filmmakers and photographers. I partnered with her, painting tattoos on models for different shoots and even some of their films. It all just kind of grew from there. Now I travel the world helping with all kinds of shows, conventions, movies, events.”

“And stalk your high school girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?” She smirked. “Finally admitting that’s what we were?”

I kicked her chest lightly, refusing to respond. Part of me still ached at the thought of what I did to Kel, hiding her away like a secret. I shifted my gaze out the window as guilt swept over me. Kel squeezed my calf, bringing my attention back to her.

“But, yes. I did do that. Stalk you…I guess. I told you, I never left you. I was always there. I don’t know…I’m a little fucked up, Jasmine, but I’d never hurt you. Hurt for you…now that's another thing.”

My stomach twisted. I knew she meant it and I was speechless.

“Well, that’s amazing, Kel. I’m really so proud of you for what you’ve built. Is that what inspired all of your…” I twisted my fingers in her direction.

“Body modifications,” she clarified. I nodded. “Yeah, I mean, it started as a way to keep people out. Make them hesitant to approach me. A shield to protect myself from getting hurt.”

A pang of jealousy stabbed in my gut, thinking of all the women in the past who tried to catch her attention.

“But on the other hand, I’ve always wanted to…customize myself, ya know? Life is too short not to express yourself in the way you want to. It does keep a lot of people away, but it makes me happy.”

“So you must think I look boring as hell, then, huh?” I partially joked. Next to Kel, I must’ve looked like a grandma in my plain clothing and mostly unmarked skin.