“I was gonna cross, but then realized that I needed to stop and say something to you.”

“Okay,” I blush.

“A girl as pretty as you shouldn’t be walking alone.”

I shake my head, feeling awkward. Other people at the crosswalk are now looking at me, and I’m feeling desperate to get away from so much attention.

“Can I walk with you?” he says.

“Oh, I was just heading back home.”

He puts his hands up in surrender. “I won’t follow you home or try to make any creepy moves. Just let me get to know you.”

After getting turned down by Logan and nearly convinced to hang out with Tyler, I’m feeling desperate for normal human interaction. So, I agree to let him walk with me. He is really good-looking and has a sincere smile.

“Are you going this way?” he asks, pointing toward the shops that lead to my apartment.

“Yes,” I nod.

Then without saying anything, he gestures for me to walk, and I let him stay next to me.

“Where are your friends?” he asks.

“Everyone I’ve met so far have been total jerks,” I say as I curl my hair behind my ears.

“No way. Jerks to you?”

“Yeah, long story.” I roll my eyes.

“I’m sorry. That’s terrible. Did you go to the bonfire last night?”

“Yes.”

He shakes his head. “Yeah, that was your mistake. Nothing but a bunch of drunk idiots there.”

“Tell me about it,” I laugh.

“And I assume your parents brought you to Wickett for spring break…” He looks at me with raised eyebrows.

“How did you guess?”

“I’m used to it.”

“Are you a local?” I ask.

“Yeah, why?”

I look at him, but it’s not registering. He doesn’t look like a local.

“No reason,” I say. I realize that we are coming up to the tattoo shop, and we’re going to walk right in front of the window. Logan might see us walking together, and I use the opportunity to make him jealous. So as we approach, I make sure to find whatever this new guy is saying very funny and even touch his arm as we pass. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone standing behind the counter, someone that’s definitely not the big, burly bearded man.

Logan

I don’t want to take any clients today, but at this point, I can’t afford not to. I haven’t heard from Hale since he was here banging on the door, but I’m expecting that he’ll be here for his money any minute.

After finishing up a couple easy black line tatts for a small group of college kids, I stand in the front of the shop waiting for the night rush. It’s still late afternoon, but it’ll get crazy after dinner time.

My brain is still replaying the terrible way I treated Sierra earlier today. The look she had on her face as she walked away, without my black jacket hanging off her bare shoulders, will stay etched in my memory forever. I wanted to run after her so fucking bad. Cover her with more than just my jacket.