Page 6 of Bound By Ink

“Why the hell do you smell like Killian. And, damn, if that’s what he smells like, can you give him my number?”

“Eww gross.” I turn and face her with a look of disdain etched across my face.

“Don’t, don’t make out like it’s gross, cos’ he’s family and all that bullshit. You know damn well you’ve had a boner for him since you were little.”

“Eww, no, I didn’t.” My nose wrinkles at the thought.

“Liar,” she barks out, half laughing, half gasping.

“Shut up, Becky.” I punch her in the arm.

She chuckles. “You know it’s true.” Giving me the look only a best friend could get away with, the one that says she knows all my secrets and isn’t afraid to use them against me to prove her point.

“Tis not. He’s like my brother, and the thought of my brother is actually gross.”

“Your brother would get it, too, but Killian, he’s so dreamy.” She rests her chin in her hand and flutters her eyelashes as she stares up at the ceiling.

“Ugh, please don’t talk like that about my family. It’s weird and inappropriate.”

“Sure, it is.” She rolls her eyes at me.

I bite my lip, contemplating whether to say anything or not, but end up just blurting it out. “I’ve got a date.” I rush out.

“Wait, what? You’re shitting me. Who the hell with? Don’t say your hand, because eww!” She stares at me, mock gagging and clutching at her throat.

“Dramatic much? But nope, you know the hot guy from the sandwich shop?”

She leans in closer. “You mean the one with the face tattoo?”

Nodding, I stab a chip off my plate and slide it into my mouth, chewing before answering, “He asked me for my number last week and texted me last night.”

“Holy shit, you sure about that? He seems…” She trails off.

“Hot?” I wink.

“I was gonna say sketchy. Watch yourself with him, he gives off a just got out of prison on a double murder charge, and I’m on multiple registers vibe.”

I nudge her. “Don’t be so judgmental, Becky. He seemed nice when I spoke to him.”

“People said that about Bundy,” she mutters before adding, “Well, if you wake up in a shallow grave on the first date, with a kidney missing, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I bark out a laugh before coughing and choking on my chips. Becky slams her hand onto my back, trying to help dislodge it before I cough it up and it flies across the table. I gasp and take a drink as tears run down my face. She grins at me.

“Just be careful, yeah. I don’t want to see a news story about him trying to wear your skin as a dress.” I shake my head and smile, because that’s creepy as hell. I hope he’s a nice guy.

When I head back home, my brother is still on the sofa, gaming.

“Steven,” no answer. “Steven,” I shout louder. He slides one side of the headphones onto the side of his face, staring at me. “Have you eaten?”

“No.”

“Are you working?”

“Not this week.” He pulls the headset into place, signalling the end of the conversation. Steven works with Killian at the tattoo shop. I’m not sure if they just work there or manage it, but they both apprenticed straight out of school with the guy who was there. He left a few years ago, and my brother stopped going in as often.

The shop was rebranded. It’s now called Killer Ink. It’s all dark wood and leather, with chrome and glass accents. If you took the tattoo equipment out, it would look like a high-end wine bar. Steven probably does a few days a month, at best, spending most of his time gaming or fucking his long-term whatever she is. They’re not a couple. She comes here when he texts her. They fuck, and she leaves. Abbie, Amy, Angie, something like that. And he callsmea loser.

I head into the kitchen and grab the ingredients for spaghetti bolognese from the fridge. If I make enough, it will last us a couple of days. I’m grating the cheese when the front door crashes open. I don’t bother looking, knowing exactly who it is. Killian is anything but subtle. I carry on, but startle when a hand reaches over myshoulder. His body pins mine to the worktop as he grabs a handful of cheese and lifts it to his mouth, dropping some on me as he goes over my head.