“Nice to know my family appreciates me,” Marcus calls out before stepping through the front door.

“He’s gonna meet us there.” Holly smiles after her brother.

After she gave me her kidney, I worried that Holly might come to resent giving up the chance to help her brother find one. I should’ve known better. Just because she couldn’t offer her organ up in exchange didn’t mean she would stop looking. In fact, using some creative methods, Holly was able to locate a donor for her brother not too long after our surgery.

That anonymous donation saved Marcus’s life and relieved Holly and me of our guilt.

Thank the universe for generous people.

I check on Ridley to see that she’s finishing an eagle in the classic American style—thick black lines, bright and vivid colors.

“Nice work. Holly and I are headed out. You good to close up?”

“No problem. See you tomorrow.”

Holly shuts down the front desk’s computer, and we’re set to go. Before stepping outside, I twine my fingers through hers, making sure to take her right hand, so I don’t jostle her tattoo.

The night air is cool, and I’m glad I wore my jacket. Holly shivers, so I let go of her hand to wrap my arm around her shoulders. With her gripping my waist, she tugs me to a stop and turns us, so we’re facing the front window of our shop.

The name is displayed in simple flowing script—Colorful Scars Tattoo Studio.

“Let’s see.” She stretches out her hand and holds up a finger for each item as she starts to make one of her lists. “One, we got you healthy. Two, we earned our degrees. Three, we worked our butts off to save up for this place. Four, we opened up the coolest tattoo shop in Philly. Five, we continue to be insanely in love with one another.”

“Don’t forget that we tattooed ourselves on each other.” I smirk down at her as she grins up at me.

“Is that weird?”

I shrug. “Who cares? I love being weird with you.”

Holly sticks her tongue out at me, and I follow it to her mouth, giving her a scathing kiss. When we surface, she’s wearing a triumphant smile, probably because she knows I can’t resist her. As she stares up at me, her shining eyes turn just a shade serious.

“Look at us, living our dreams,” she whispers, as if someone might try to snatch them away if she talks too loud. “Anything else you want to add to the list?”

Suddenly craving the warmth of her body, I pull her fully into my embrace. As I cup the back of her head in my palm, her lips part slightly in anticipation of the kiss she knows is about to come.

“Anything else?” Our breaths mingle as I lean in close. “No. All I want is more of you.”

<<<<>>>>

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to read this book. This means a great deal to me, especially because it is my first published novel. I hope that you fell in love with Holly and Ben in the same way I did!