Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

“And the location?” I tap a vein.

“I thought it would be nice to have something strong to look at during my next round of chemo.” Caleb’s response causes my vision to blur.

He shoots me a wobbly smile. “Don’t cry over me, love. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”

“Hey, don’t steal my nickname for her.” Jax wraps an arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his side.

Jax’s simple possessiveness has my heart working overtime to keep up.

“I’m guessing that’s all.” Alan begins to pack up his supplies.

“Wait,” I blurt out. “I want a tattoo.”

“You want a tattoo? You?” Jax’s head jerks back.

“Is it that hard to believe?”

“To be honest, yes,” Caleb chimes in.

I scoff before turning toward Alan. “I want a small one.”

Jax raises a brow at me. “You sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Jax shrugs before taking a seat with Caleb across the room. I’m grateful he doesn’t ask me any more questions because I’m afraid I’ll lose my nerve.

I show Alan the design I want and where I want it. It may seem childish and stupid to anyone else, but to me it symbolizes everything I want to become while embracing the broken parts of myself.

Alan cocks a brow at me. He pulls out his iPad and sketches the design, making it identical to the photo I showed him.

“Perfect.”

“And to double-check, you want it here?” He taps the side of my middle finger where a jagged scar remains from many years ago.

“That’s right.” I offer Alan my hand and he gets to work with the transfer paper.

He prepares the skin. The buzzing sound echoes off the walls. I flinch when the needle touches my skin, hissing at the unexpected pain.

Alan frowns. “Sorry. It’s going to hurt.”

“Caleb didn’t even wince. How’s that possible?” My eyes bounce between all the men in the room.

“I get stabbed all the time with needles.” Caleb shrugs.

Jax squeezes Caleb’s shoulder in the sweetest gesture. The way Jax looks at Caleb has me forgetting the pain for a second. “That’s what makes you the toughest guy I’ve met.”

Caleb laughs as if Jax said the funniest thing ever. When Jax doesn’t laugh in return, Caleb’s eyebrows pinch together. “Oh, you’re serious?” His voice echoes his confusion.

“Of course. Any person who has dealt with the shit you have and still wears a smile every day is a badass in my book.” Jax lets go of Caleb’s shoulder.

“Whoa. You’re giving me all the feels.” Caleb readjusts his glasses.

Jax shakes his head. “I’m serious. In some ways, I look up to you.”

My heart threatens to explode from my chest. I didn’t expect Caleb’s visit to impact Jax as much as it has, but I’m grateful Jax connected with someone who battles his own struggles day after day. Caleb carries himself with strength and positivity, and it’s something I think Jax can learn from with time.

“Well, uhm, thanks.” Caleb’s cheeks flush as he looks down at his new tattoo.