“Why?”
I wasn’t sure if he were asking why I said it or why I dreamed it, so I went with the latter. “I’ve always had vivid dreams, but it was the first time they weren’t about me.”
He didn’t speak, and I waited. I didn’t know what difference it made, but I’d determined to be completely honest with him going forward if I ever got the chance again.
“Okay.” A note of finality was in his voice. “Take care of yourself.”
My hand flew to my mouth, and I clutched my lips, fighting for control. Taking a quick swallow, I blinked and more tears fell. Even I could hear the tremble in my response this time. “You too.”
The line went dead.
Chapter 15: Fire in the Desert
Mariska
Kenny sat beside me in the White Lotus tattoo parlor. She worked quickly on the sketch pad in front of her, covering it with carbon and quickly tracing out the S-shaped pattern of little stars.
“You want this to start at your hip and curl up your ribs?” Her dark brows pulled together.
“Yes.”
She picked up the sponge and dampened my skin before applying the stencil to my side. Once it was in place, she took the tattoo gun and screwed the black ink into the base.
“It shouldn’t hurt too much,” she said. “I try to have a light touch.”
“I trust you.” It was the first time I’d ever gotten a tattoo, and all I could think of was the night we’d sat under the stars and talked. The night Stuart told me his dreams, and I hinted at mine.
The first touch was a stinging pain, but not unbearable. Kenny’s blue eyes flickered to my face, gauging my response. I blinked back at her and smiled.
“It’s okay.”
She continued working. “It won’t take long since you don’t want color.” She was already on the second little star. “What made you choose stars?”
“A few reasons.” My chin rested on my hand as I leaned forward. “Yaya is with the stars, and I feel close to her when I look at them.”
She didn’t answer right away, and when she did, her voice told me she was concentrating. “Want me to fill in a few of these? To make it more of a design?”
“You’re the artist.”
“You’re an artist, too.” She winked. “You should paint. It’ll take your mind off things.”
“I’ve been planning something.” My voice was quiet.
The stinging grew worse as she filled in a few black stars. “Any other reason you chose this?”
Stuart’s face in the firelight, the way he held me against his chest. Wishing on that star. “A dream. It’s far away now, but maybe this will make it feel closer.”
We didn’t talk as she finished, and before long she was straightening up. “You’re all set. Want to see?”
I walked with her to the full-length mirror in the back and examined the small constellation curving up my side. Only the slightest pink tinge was around the edges, making it stand out more. “It’s perfect!”
Kenny laughed. “Another satisfied customer.”
I traced my fingers lightly over the scattering of stars. They were so confident, almost magical. “I don’t know why, but it gives me hope.”
My friend wrapped her arms over my shoulders and leaned her head against mine. “I know it’s going to work out,” she whispered. “It has to.”
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