Page 114 of Midnight Ink

He whispers my name against my lips, and we need to stop before I figure out what positions are possible in a tattoo chair. “Let’s go through the rest. I’d like to get these switched over by Monday.”

Julian sits with me while we go through his things.

I find his old sketchbook and decide to keep that with me. Most of it is supplies. I find a little Tweety Bird figurine I decide to put by his mirror. He loved Looney Tunes. I still have his Bugs Bunny shirt upstairs, which I wear to bed sometimes. There’s also a book log in here with names and dates of clients he had, and his portfolio, which I plan to display somewhere in the shop.

All the while, Julian keeps me company as I explain everything I find. The little Matchbox Lamborghini, because Maddox was determined to be able to afford one, one day. The pencils he used, and refused to draw with anything else. I take him through the pictures on his mirror. We’re here for a while, under the mural.

Under their watch.

With nothing held back between us for the first time in so long, I finally feel free.

IAN

BEFORE

My head is fucking throbbing. The thump thump thump echo rattles my skull. What the fuck. I roll over and freeze. I peel my eyes open and see Maddox’s side empty. What the hell? I turn to our clock and see it’s six in the morning. What the hell?

Thump thump thump.

Not my skull. The door. “Madd? Who’s at the door?” I bury my face in the pillows, smoothing my hand across Maddox’s side.

It’s cold.

Where is he? I passed out as soon as I got home. I texted him to let him know I was going home with another friend so he didn’t have to come back and get me. He was probably with Jamie. I grab my phone and see what looks like hundreds of calls and messages.

Most from Anna. Some from Hunter. What? Some from . . . Lia? What the hell is Jamie’s mother calling me for? Why are⁠—

Thump thump thump.

“Alright.” Dammit. I get up and find my pants on the floor and slip them on. I scrub my face, my feet slapping against the hardwood floor as I make my way to the door. Everything feels eerie and still. Empty. A chill runs down my spine. This doesn’t feel right.

I stop in the center of our living room.

Wait a minute.

My brain finally comes back online when the pieces begin to snap into place. Another round of frantic bangs echo through our loft.

Missed calls. Empty bed.

I run to the door and swing it open, and I immediately want to close it again. Slam the door on reality. I shake my head. Anna. Her face puffy and red. “Ian.” She sobs, latching onto me. She’s shaking so hard I almost can’t hold her up in my confusion. My mind spins, and I tighten my arms around her, bringing her inside.

I don’t want to. She hasn’t said anything, but I already know what’s going on. I refuse to believe it. “No. Don’t.”

“I’m so sorry.” She’s shaking so hard, screaming so loud, I’m afraid she’s going to give herself a panic attack. Can people pass out from crying?

I wasn’t sure then, but I know now, maybe not.

Because as hard as I cry, I stay conscious through it all.

She tells me about everything. The accident. Maddox’s mom called her, not me. Her.

One person’s mistake changed everything in my life going forward. Every dream we had. Every plan we made. Every goal we wanted to achieve.

It’s all gone.

He’s gone.

Then I’m crying in her arms while we both melt to the floor, holding each other for what feels like an eternity. I don’t want to let her go, which is good because with the death grip she has on me, I don’t think I’ll be able to detach her.