Page 38 of Sugar & Ink

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Didn’t know if I wanted to.

But I knew one thing, I wasn’t going to stop crossing Main Street.

Chapter Nine

Josie

I stared at my wrist for the tenth time since I’d gotten home. Maybe the twentieth. Definitely more than was normal.

The little ice cream cone sat on the inside of my wrist, wrapped in clear film that caught the light every time I moved. Three scoops stacked neatly on top of a waffle cone with tiny sparkles around it. It was small. Simple. And somehow it felt enormous.

I held my arm out in front of me and smiled. Then immediately frowned. Then smiled again.

I had a tattoo. A real tattoo.

At thirty-six years old, after years of thinking about it. After years of letting someone else’s opinion matter more than my own.

I had done it.

The thought should’ve been the only thing on my mind.

Instead... I flopped backward onto my couch and groaned into the ceiling, because apparently I was incapable of focusing on the important part.

Nope.

My brain wanted to replay the entire evening.

Starting with me standing outside Bad Habit like an idiot.

Then teasing me.

Then letting me into his world.

And finally... The kiss.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Nope.” The word echoed around my apartment.

I opened my eyes again and the ceiling looked exactly the same.

Unfortunately.

Because I was still here.

Still thinking about it.

Still remembering exactly how it felt when Rome touched my wrist and asked if I trusted him.

I rolled onto my side and pressed my face into the couch cushion. This was ridiculous. It was a kiss. One kiss. People kissed all the time.

Entire reality television shows existed around kissing strangers. This wasn’t special.

Probably.

My stomach twisted. I sat up again and glared at my wrist. The tattoo looked innocent. Cute even. Not at all responsible for the emotional spiral I was currently experiencing.

“You started this,” I told it. The tattoo remained silent.

I pushed off the couch and headed for the bathroom. The light over the vanity flicked on, and I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself.