Page 40 of Midnight Ink

Ian glances around the house and the dim lighting. “Can we rent a room?”

“Yes, of course, um.” She sits for a moment. “You see um, we are actually in the middle of renovating, and some of our rooms are inaccessible at the moment.”

“Some?”

“Uh, well, all. All of our rooms. Except one. We are um, yes, renovating.”

“Xia?” A White man walks into the entryway, looking between us and her. “Violet says we have guests.” He looks at us sympathetically. “I’m sorry, we’re kind of⁠—”

“We are in the middle of renovation.” She blinks at him. “Renovating, sweetheart.” His brows pinch. “We have one room available, but um . . .” She looks between us. “It has one bed in it.”

“It’s just for the night, or maybe two,” Ian says to me. “Can we please rent it? Let’s just say two nights to be safe.”

“Of course!” She fills out a book and looks at her husband who still looks confused. “It is eighty a night. So the total would be one sixty.” Ian moves me aside to pay her. “Now, if you need anything, just let me know. There’s a TV in that room and free Wi-Fi. The password is in the drawer with the remote. We have breakfast at nine in the morning, but if that’s too early, we can⁠—”

“Xia,” her husband says.

She waves him away. “We can always move it. Dinner is at five. If either of you have any allergies, just let me know. I can make whatever you like.”

“We don’t, but he doesn’t like fish,” Ian says.

“I just don’t like it, but I’ll eat whatever. It’s not that big a deal.” My mother raised me to eat whatever was put in front of me when I’m a guest in someone’s home, and if that room has a soft warm bed and Wi-Fi, I’ll eat whatever seafood this woman cooks.

She smiles warmly. “You got it. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. Your room has a private en suite, and you’re welcome to use the balcony if you’d like.”

“Thank you.” Ian smiles at her and takes the key.

I follow him up the stairs, and for the first time since the storm hit, I feel like everything may actually be okay.

MADDOX

BEFORE

I knock again and wait. It’s still early, but I’ve been up for hours and I can’t stop thinking about this. When I get an idea in my head I’ve just gotta see it through.

Unfortunately for Ian, that means being woken up at like eight in the morning. I know he worked last night. Real unfortunate for him because I need to see him.

I knock again.

I don’t think his mom is here. Her car is gone and Ian said she’s been spending less and less time at home. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. They have a weird relationship. Not that I have room to talk. I mean, my mom isn’t the worst. She loves me. I think. I know she doesn’t love that I like men, but that ain’t changing anytime soon.

I knock one more time. On the last knock the door swings open. “Oh, fuck yeah,” I groan, biting my fist.

Ian glares at me, shirtless, his pale skin smooth and flawless. I have some tattoo ideas for his body. I have a lot of ideas for him actually. One of them I want to see through today. “What the fuck, Maddox?”

“Sorry, I know you worked late last night but⁠—”

“No buts. Just bed. I’m going back to sleep.”

He turns back inside, shutting the door. “Wait, wait.” I hold it open and okay, yeah, my eyes do a slow crawl over his body. “Damn.” I reach out, smoothing my hand over his chest. “I’m thinking a galaxy right here.” Nearly blacked out with planets and stars. He needs to work himself up to it, though. He’s gotten a few tattoos now since we’ve been hanging out. Last time I tattooed a pelican on his leg. Ian loves animals. This piece will be rough, but I think he can do it.

We’ve hung out nonstop, pretty much. If I go more than a day or two without seeing him, I get itchy. I just like being around him. “What do you want?”

“I’m going on a day trip and I want you to come.” I want to take whatever this is to the next level. He hasn’t kissed me since that first day we met. I’ve wanted to, but I just freeze up with him. I’m nervous. I’m never nervous.

“What? Where?”

“I want to go to a beach.”