Emory beamed. “I’m so happy for you guys. We need to have you both over for another cookout. Maybe it’ll be less tense this time?”
I laughed. “Uh, yeah, we were still reaching boiling point last time.”
Cyrus turned on the tattoo machine and placed the needle against my skin. I clenched my teeth as a stinging spread through my bicep.
“Fuck,” I gritted out. “I forgot what a bitch these were.”
Cyrus chuckled. “Just relax and wait for the endorphin rush.”
I closed my eyes, riding out the tingling pinpricks of the needle.
“So what kind of guy is Aiden?” Cyrus asked, probably to distract me from the pain. “Fine dining or outdoor picnic?”
“Uh, I don’t know,” I said. “We haven’t been on a date.”
“You’re getting inked for a guy and you haven’t even gone on a date?” Cyrus asked. “You might be doing this backwards.”
I laughed, and he tightened his free hand on my arm to keep me still.
“We did everything backwards,” I agreed. “That’s just how it is with us, I guess. But you’re right. I should, uh, start thinking about doing things the right way now.”
“There’s no right way,” Emory said before the door chimed. “Shoot, that’s my eleven a.m. Good luck. Holler if you need me for anything.”
He hurried to the front of the shop to greet an older woman who’d highlighted her short silvery hair with teal streaks. “Hey, Ava. Come on back.”
Cyrus worked quietly, letting me get lost in my thoughts as he continued inking over my older tattoo.
“How’s it going?” I asked after a while. “Is it working?”
“Yeah. The old ink was faded, so that helps. Not too difficult to cover as long as I shade right.”
I nodded and chewed my lip. “I want to take Aiden on a date, but I’ve never done that sort of thing before.”
“Ah.” Cyrus nodded. “Well, it’s not so hard. What does Aiden enjoy?”
“Well, he’s a kick-ass doctor. He loves taking care of people. He’s sweet, but he hates showing it. He’s always trying to be strong, even when he doesn’t have to be. But none of that says anything about what kind of date he’d like, does it?”
Cyrus chuckled. “Not really. But it tells me what kind of man he is. Knowing that is more important.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Aiden poured all his energy into his work. The only time he really let go was when we became intimate, and even then, he sometimes held back.
There was only one time I’d seen him totally free. I smiled to myself as an idea took shape in my mind.
As soon as these bruises healed, I was taking Aiden on a date. Maybe it should have come before the I love you. Some would say it should come before all the sex and intimacy. But the fact it was happening at all was a minor miracle.
Not because I’d survived my fight. I had higher odds of doing that than landing a guy like Aiden Donovan.
Dr. Donovan, at that.
I was the luckiest guy to have found him, and I intended to show Aiden just how much I appreciated that fact.
When I got home that night, Aiden was packing up Waffles’ belongings.
“Is he going home?” I asked, heart sinking.
Aiden gave me a sympathetic smile. “Sorry. I know you got a little attached while he was here.”