Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"I have everyone in the crew's numbers."

"Call me first. Even if you think I'll be pissed. Your safety always comes first."

"I'll be—"

"Promise and we'll be done with this conversation." His expression gets stern, paternal.

"Okay, I promise."

"Good." He takes his last bite of breakfast then shifts his plate away. "I'm going to change and shower. We'll hit the mall in thirty."

"Is that a question or a statement?"

He smiles. "Don't be late."

Mal and I spend the entire afternoon doing nothing of consequence. We get coffee, we buy new clothes, we get lunch, we watch an action movie at the theater down the street.

Come dinner time, Ethan meets us at home with bags of Vietnamese takeout. I know he's mocking my tendency to order pho at every possible opportunity, but I don't care.

The three of us share a great meal. We talk, we gossip, we make plans for biweekly calls and daily texts during the first leg of the tour.

Around ten, we say our goodbyes and my brothers head to their rooms. They have to leave for Vegas at the crack of dawn.

I hang out on the couch in our massive living room, debating what TV show I should binge watch. I watch a lot of TV, too much probably. Already, I can feel loneliness creeping into the big, quiet room. When I wake up, my brothers will be gone, and I'll be alone. For a solid two months straight, I'll be alone. I'll be the one doing all the shopping and cleaning. I'll be the one taking care of everything—dentist appointments, oil changes, calling repairmen when the dishwasher breaks down.

I want to stand on my own two feet, but it's hard and it's tiring.

Mostly, it's lonely.

The TV is my best company but it's not the same. Not at all.

I settle on Gilmore Girls and I get my phone out to text my friend Rory about Rory Gilmore's exploits. My Rory claims she has no interest in the youngest Gilmore girl, but she always texts back asking for more details.

Fuck talking to Rory.

I have a text from Kit. This is a hell of a lot more interesting then relaying any TV show.

Kit: I'm proving it.

Piper: What?

Kit: That I want to text you.

Piper: So you are. But maybe you're only texting to prove it. This doesn't mean you want to. Or that you'll do it again tomorrow.

Kit: You a lawyer in training?

Piper: No.

Kit: You sure?

Piper: I'm only a college freshman, but I'm pretty sure I won't end up in law school.

Kit: Why not?

Piper: Why?

Kit: Fair enough. Do you know?