Page 78 of Midnight Ink

“Anna, please, I had no idea—” I plead with her as she heads out the door. “Let me make sweet love to you on this rotting linoleum floor.” She rips her hand away the moment I catch it.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I am.” I laugh harder, pulling her into my arms, and she concedes, wrapping her arms around my waist and hugging me. “You’re still my favorite person, Grems.”

“And you’re still the biggest pain in my ass.” She lifts her head. “Now, call Ian and let him see this shithole. Call me if he doesn’t end your life.”

“Maddox. What the fuck.”

Ian does this thing when he’s panicking. His fingers dive into his hair and he squeezes the strands. Then his eyes get real big like he’s trying to murder the problem with them. “I know, but⁠—”

I watch his jaw pop. “Are you fucking joking? You’re joking. This is a joke. This can’t—this is too much.”

“Ian—”

“I don’t know the first thing about running a fucking business! Before you, I didn’t even know how to tattoo.”

“Ian—”

“What if we fail? What if this doesn’t work, and then what? Where would that leave us?”

“Ian—”

“What if you leave me—” I scoff. “It’s not funny! I’m fucking serious. Where would that leave us? What if we fight more because of the stress or you get tired of me and we break up and then we⁠—”

“Ian!” I startle at my own voice. A nervous hand runs through my hair. His bluish eyes land on me. Scathing. I remember him at that diner years ago, head down, worry etched on his face. I wanted to make him smile then, and now he has my heart forever. “I love you.”

The panic melts off his face, replaced with confusion. “Oh, good. My fears are all gone. Just like that. Great job, Maddy.”

I shove my hands into my pockets and take a step toward him. I lean in, pressing my lips against his. “Absolute fireflies.”

He rolls his eyes. “It’s butterflies.”

I shake my head. “Butterflies don’t glow, and you make me glow.”

His eyes narrow. “Ew. That was a horrible line.”

“You’re a little erect right now.” I wink. “Admit it.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“But I’m your idiot.” I kiss him again and feel him soften in real time, then I put on my serious suit and cup his face. “I love you and you will never be alone. Do you hear me? Never. Once you’re mine that’s it, Ian. You’re in here forever.” I bring his hand to my chest. My man just needs a little coaxing. A little nudge to get the ball rolling. He’s stubborn and afraid, but also brilliant when he lets go.

“You don’t know that.” He shakes his head, tension contorting his features.

“I do know, because it’s going to have to take a force unlike anything I’ve ever experienced to take me away from you.” I grab his hands in mine, rubbing the backs with my thumbs. “This is it for me.” I try to pull his attention back to me and not the crumbling shop around us. “You are it for me. You hear me? I’ve never felt like this in my life and I never will again.”

“You’re twenty-two.” He blinks at me flatly.

“Twenty-two, forty-two, sixty-two. I don’t give a fuck. You’re mine, so fucking mine, and unfortunately for you, I’m yours too. I’m a fuckup, but you’ll never have to do anything alone. Not while I’m here. I plan to make dumbass decisions just like this for the rest of my life.”

“Which will be a lot shorter if you keep buying buildings without asking me.”

I kiss his jaw, laughing as he remains as stoic as possible. “I love you so much.”

He swallows. “I’m trying to be angry with you, asshole.”

I grab him to me, kissing him again. “This is going to be a lot of work, I’m not saying it’s not, but this is our dream, right? His lips purse and he nods. “You don’t have to worry one pretty hair on your pretty head.” I smile at his eye roll. “All you have to do is tattoo and be gorgeous.”