“I can go first,” Nova offered.

“No,” I argued. “I’ll go first, to show you it doesn’t hurt.”

She shook her head at me, a smile teasing at her lips. “Okay, you go first.” But the smile dropped, and she glared at me. “This doesn’t mean you get out of wearing a ring when we get married, mister. I expect you to wear a band and never take it off.”

“What did I just say, Nova?” I touched my lips to her forehead. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

34

Nova

Whoever said the sting of getting a tattoo was the worst part was a lying jerkface. I’d barely felt the needle as Lyric had inked Ryan’s name across my wrist. It was the itching that was the worst part of the whole experience. The need to scratch, but knowing I couldn’t because it would ruin the beautiful artwork on my skin.

It was worse than chicken pox, something that had been pure agony for both Garret and me when we’d had them at the same time. I was thinking of gnawing off my wrist just to get relief. My favorite part of the day was each time I slathered lotion over the area, adding a few extra layers just so I could rub it a little longer. It was a near-orgasmic experience, soothing an itch that literally couldn’t be scratched.

If Ryan was having the same experience, I wouldn’t know. Since we’d gotten to New York, I hadn’t seen him once. It had been nine days, and other than a few texts to let me know he was still breathing and missed me, I’d seen no other signs of him. Something work related had caused Garret to leave Creswell Springs early, but I hadn’t seen my brother either, so I couldn’t exactly ask any questions.

I understood that work could make Ryan busy, but this not seeing each other was not going to fly with me.

Since returning to New York, I’d been staying at the mansion in my old room. Meanwhile, Ryan was at his apartment with my brother. If I lived with them, then I knew I would see my boyfriend for at least a few minutes of the day, and that was all I really wanted. Maybe a kiss before he left for work, to cuddle before falling asleep.

Something, damn it.

Grumbling unhappily to myself, I grabbed my purse and stomped downstairs. As I passed Anya, her eyes widened at the sour look on my face. “I see it’s a duck and cover kind of day,” she murmured with a teasing smile. “Shall I get the tarp ready in case you need to move a body?”

“I doubt you would help me move your son’s body,” I told her as I continued toward the front door.

“You would be right. But I’ll still get the tarp out. I won’t help, but I can make it more convenient for you to get the supplies you need, l’vitsa.” She gave me a little finger wave when I glared at her over my shoulder. “Send Ryan my love.”