Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"Yeah."

"Good in bed?"

"You have no idea."

"I have a lot of ideas, but sharing them would be weird." She laughs. "I'd hate you if I didn't love you."

"I'm starting to freak out." I take a deep breath, but that only helps so much. "I don't want to use the l-word but—"

"Violet, you're twenty-three."

"Yes."

"You can say you love a guy."

I clear my throat.

"Go talk to him."

"But—"

"Like you're about to finish grad school or something."

"But—"

She gets stern. "Not like you're about to finish high school."

"You know, one day, you're going to care about someone, and it's going to drive you crazy, and you're going to feel like an asshole for giving me this shit."

"Yeah, but you're so sweet, you'll console me anyway."

"I hate you." Mostly for being right.

"I hate you too. Now go talk to him. And at least text me in the morning so I know you're alive."

She's right.

After I agree to take her advice, we say our goodbyes, and I slide my phone back into my purse.

Talking to Ethan sounds reasonable and easy, but contemplating the matter is making my stomach twist.

I take a few deep breaths and march back to the bar.

Joel is back at the table, chatting with Mal and Ethan. They look friendly. Well, not exactly friendly. They're more like family. They fight, they make up, they fight some more.

Ethan spots me and smiles. Immediately, I feel warm all over. I'm not sure how I manage to get back to the table without melting, but I do.

I slide into the seat next to Ethan.

Mal turns to me. His expression gets parental. "We need to talk."

"In front of Violet?" Joel nods to me. "No offense, Valentine."

"What happened to the blond?" I ask.

"You think I'm about to abandon my heartbroken sister?" he asks, but from his tone of voice, it's clear he's worried about me.

Mal continues. "This involves all of us."