Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

“Oh yeah?” she said with a small laugh.

“I take this support gig very seriously,” he said as she rolled her eyes.

“And I’m chopped liver?”

Snake wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I wouldn’t say that. You play a mean game of darts and pool.”

She shoved him away playfully. “Sore loser. Let’s go in so I can continue to dominate you.”

“Oh, is that the way you like to do things?” he asked.

She gasped. “What? No.” Her cheeks turned pink.

He liked the look. Despite everything she’d been through a pureness remained.

“Don’t worry, Es, your secret is safe with me. I already paid for your ticket by the way.” He gave her a wink as they walked inside.

“Thanks.” She paused once she entered and a huge smile spread across her lips. “I would’ve lived here when I was a teen.”

“Right?” he agreed. “Did you see the giant gumball machine in the corner? I can’t remember the last time I saw anything like that.”

Es grinned. “Ha, the mall in the eighties.”

“Since I invited you here, the first game is your pick.”

“Pac-Man,” she said without hesitation.

“Game on, then,” he replied.

Thirty minutes later with scores too tight to declare anyone the winner, they broke for a refreshment break.

“I’ll spring for the eats, since you bought the ticket.”

“Look at you being so sweet to me on Valentine’s Day,” Snake teased.

She laughed. The sound was a form of therapy.

“You know me, big spender who loves to lavish,” she said, grabbing a pack of Twizzlers and adding it to their stash. “I needed that more than I realized.”

“You said you had a rough day?” he asked cautiously.

She nodded. “Yeah, had a come to Jesus meeting not of my own making. He and I have been on the outs since this whole thing happened.”

“I can imagine,” he said.

“I went to the park where we used to run a lot. I was proud of myself. I’ve been avoiding that place for two years now.”

“You should be. That’s a huge deal,” he said.

“Hmm.” She smiled at the cashier as she paid for their things and they took a seat in the tables and chairs set up. He studied her face; her lips were turned down at the corners, and her eyes had lost a bit of their sparkle. “I was doing fine until I saw her. She couldn’t have been more than three or four with giant blonde spiral curls and rosy cheeks. She was everything my daughter might’ve been. But I was holding it together. Then I heard her name… Emma.” She shook her head and focused all of her attention on opening the yellow packet of chocolate covered peanut goodness.

“Was that your baby’s name?” he questioned.

She nodded. “I lost it after that.”

“I think it was warranted. Ghosts have a way of creeping up on us and knocking us on our ass.”

“You too?” she asked.