The Boy and His Ribbon (The Ribbon Duet 1)

I backed up, hearing the truth beneath her shaky promises.

This was all my fault.

“I’m sorry, Della.” I wanted to use her nickname, to prove to her that things hadn’t changed so much that I could no longer say it. But my skin felt foreign, my heart a stranger, and I needed to fix myself before it was too late.

Stalking to the front door, I grabbed my keys and my phone.

Tonight, I’d reached my limit.

I needed companionship that would hopefully clear my head. I needed to be away from Della in order to do that.

Not looking back, I said, “Don’t…don’t wait up for me.”

I slammed the door before I could fall before her and beg her to forgive me.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

DELLA

* * * * * *

Present Day

THAT WAS THE beginning of the end.

If I could, I’d rewind time and never get that ridiculous tattoo. I couldn’t explain what came over me as the artist bent over my foot and dug his needles into my virgin skin. Ren had paced the front of the shop, studying blown-up pieces on the wall, flicking through books with tattoo designs.

I’d thought I would be happy with the simple design, but the longer the tattooist dragged his needles, the more it felt like only half of the puzzle. The ribbon had been a part of my life since the day I could remember…just like Ren.

It wouldn’t be right to draw myself without him there to weave into the tale, too.

With Ren’s back to us, I’d whispered to the tattooist to flow the ribbon into a capital R. He’d given me a strange look, glanced at Ren who’d signed the paperwork with his matching last name to mine, and shrugged as if it wasn’t his business.

He’d finished the piece quickly, and my heart swelled as the formation of the first letter of the word I loved most in the world came into being on my foot.

Only, I hadn’t thought ahead.

I didn’t guess how rattled Ren would be or understand how much he was cracking beneath the constant mixed messages I sent him.

He was right to doubt me.

I promised myself I kept my secrets about loving him hidden. I lay in bed congratulating myself on being able to lie to his face and laugh about something silly when all I wanted to do was climb into his lap and pull his lips to mine.

But…I wasn’t as good an actress as I believed.

I couldn’t have been because if I had, Ren would never have suspected any other meaning than sweet connection thanks to the freshly finished tattoo.

It was my fault he demanded to know what I meant.

It was my fault I couldn’t answer him truthfully.

It was my fault he went out that night.

And it was my fault he stayed out until dawn and when he came back, lipstick stained his t-shirt and his hair was mused from another’s fingers.

I didn’t know if he’d slept with someone, but he’d definitely made out, and it ripped me apart.

I’d been hiding for years and I’d finally reached my limit.

I stayed away from him the next day and the day after that.

I made sure to wear socks long enough to cover my new artwork and even wondered if there would be a way to laser it off so I could pretend I’d never been so stupid.

For a week, our conversations consisted of stiff hellos, goodbyes, and how were your days, but it all came to a head on a Friday evening when his phone chirped on the coffee table.

He was in the shower after a long shift at the milk farm.

Normally, a Friday meant pizza or takeaway and a chilled evening in front of the TV, recharging after a long week.

Not this Friday.

This Friday, I picked up his phone and brought up the notification.

Ren Wild, the boy from the forest and avoider of company, had joined a hook-up site.

He’d been matched with three women in the area and had obviously messaged one because her reply was a simple: I’m interested for no strings. I don’t want commitment, either. I’ll meet you at Paddington’s at ten p.m. Bring a condom.

* * * * *

Can you understand why I did what I did next?

Can you put aside your judgment just for a little while and give me some slack for being a bratty, stupid teenager who didn’t grow up fast enough? Who chased away the one person she’d ever loved? Who ruined everything when it had all been so good?

If you can’t, then I don’t want you reading anymore—not that you will as I’m burning this in a few short days, anyway.

But if you can, then keep torturing yourself because it only gets messy from here.

Super messy.

End of the world, Ren leaving me, kind of messy.

Let’s see…first there was Tom.

Then there was Larry.

After that…some boy I didn’t get his name but tasted like blueberries from the lollipop he’d been sucking on.