The fun started out as more G-rated, with a picnic dinner in the park. Pietro and two more of the guards had gone ahead of us and set everything up, picking up food from Aggie’s and then spreading out sheets on the ground on the small hillside overlooking the pond.
Nova’s extended family had celebrated with her the night before with a big cookout dinner in their backyard. All the MC brothers and their families had been in attendance. The festivities had lasted until well after midnight, with everyone wanting to spend a little time with the graduate. I’d sat back patiently and watched, knowing it was the last time I ever had to share her attention with so many people at once.
Today was more for Samara than anything, so that she could have a little fun while celebrating with Nova as well. Nova had requested it so that my little sister would feel included, and I’d let the twins plan it out—with a few suggestions of my own thrown in.
After the meal, we went bowling, which was a recent addition to Creswell Springs. The alley was close to the university and within walking distance of Lyric Thornton’s Ink Shoppe. Nova, Ciana, and Samara kicked our asses—twice—and then we played a round of laser tag. It was childish fun, but none of us cared. Nova’s giggles were nonstop the entire evening, and that was all I needed to have a good time.
It was twilight when we stepped out of the bowling alley, but when Nova started to walk toward the limo, I captured her hand and lifted it to my lips. “This is about to get more PG-13, my heart.”
Her brows lifted toward the heavens. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll see.” Keeping her hand in mine, I turned us toward the Ink Shoppe.
The twins, Ciana, and Samara fell into step behind us, their excited chatter growing louder the closer we got.
“Who is getting ink?” Nova asked when Pietro opened the front door.
Rock music was playing quietly in the background. Lyric’s masterpieces hung on the walls, along with a few pictures of the work his brother-in-law had done over the years. Lyric ran this location, while his father-in-law was over at the other across town, leaving Maverick to go between the two shops as needed. Nova had confided in me that Spider Masterson was talking about retiring in the near future, however, which meant his only son would take over his original shop.
All three tattoo artists were exceptionally talented, but it was Lyric who had drawn in more and more clients. Not only was he the son of a famous drummer, but his work was ranked some of the best in the country. And I only trusted the best to put ink on not only my body, but especially on Nova’s.
Mila came out of the back when the chime over the door alerted her to our presence. Seeing our small party, she grinned and rushed over to embrace Nova. “I’m so happy we get to be the ones to take your ink virginity!”
“I’m getting the ink?” my angel asked in shock. “I honestly thought it was going to be the twins.”
“Nope, you and Ryan have been on my books for weeks now. And don’t worry. I had Uncle Jet and Aunt Flick sign all the paperwork already since you are still technically underage,” her honorary cousin informed her. “Ryan and I have been emailing back and forth what he wants you two to get.”
“Matching ink?” she whispered, her green eyes lifting to me.
I lifted my hand, fingering the necklace around her graceful neck. She never took it off, not even to shower, but it wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to mark her more permanently.
“I thought we would both start small,” I told her, suddenly worried she might not want to do this after all. She’d always told me she wanted a tattoo one day. When we were younger, the idea of her marking her skin had always made me uneasy. But I knew it was something she truly wanted. And knowing my name was going to be on her body had eased any lingering doubts about allowing it to happen.
“Lyric is setting everything up right now,” Mila said. “Ryan, if you just want to go back and approve the design, he can print them both off and start on yours first.”
“I want to see them too,” Nova muttered, grabbing my hand when I took a step in the direction Mila indicated.
I lifted her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles before following the sound of Lyric humming along to the background music. When we reached the door to his workstation, I knocked with my free hand. The big man’s head lifted, a smile breaking across his face when he spotted us. “Just in time.”
Standing, he waved us over. “This was probably the easiest piece I’ve ever done, seeing as I only had to trace Nova’s signature.”
Nova’s signature was just as beautiful as she was, the tiny letters in perfect cursive from a note she’d left hidden under my pillow after she’d stayed with me the night of New Year’s Eve. I’d scanned and cropped the note, emailing only her name to Mila for Lyric to turn into my first tattoo. It was going around the ring finger on my left hand, marking me as Nova’s for eternity.
“Nova, I was waiting to measure your finger so I could get the letter size right for yours,” Lyric told her as he pulled out a thin tape measure.
“My finger?” she murmured, sounding dazed. “But…what if I want it bigger?”
“Ryan said ring fingers,” he said. “But this is your skin, honey. You tell me what you want and where.?
??
“I want his name here.” She held out her left wrist. “My fingers are too small to do the ink justice. No one will see it. And I know Ryan. He’s going to want everyone to see it.”
She wasn’t wrong, but I hadn’t wanted to push her into something larger. Having never gotten ink before, I wasn’t sure how uncomfortable it would be, and I didn’t want her to be in pain even if it was to brand my name onto her body. But if that was what she wanted, she would get it.
I hugged her from behind, kissing her neck. “Whatever you want, my heart, it is yours.”
“It’s your signature?” she asked, glancing up at me over her shoulder.