12. Marko

Chapter 12

Marko

M y tattoo gun buzzes as I work on my client and I’m unusually detached from the process. I’m confident they could tell me there’s an alien in the office, and I wouldn’t even hear them. I’ve never been this unabsorbed from my work, ever.

My mind is with the man with a sunshine smile and a tendency to ramble during conversations. The man who has a pet peacock and baked me almond crescents before taking me on my first horseback ride.

I thought something changed between us that day. Like we were finally going to take this to the next level. But when we returned from our ride, instead of inviting me up to his place, he ran in and returned with another bag of cookies for me. After an extremely awkward goodbye, I went home alone.

But at least I had amazing cookies to take the disappointment away.

Heath hasn’t brought Jeff to the coffee shop all week either. I’ve not seen him for four days and his last text was very short. No random questions like have I ever peed on an electric fence or if an orange wasn’t called an orange, do I still think we’d have the colour orange? No late-night texts asking if I’m painting. Not a single word .

And I’m crushed.

Swivelling on my stool, I grab more gauze from the counter. I’m almost done with the shading on this tattoo and all I need to do is finish some colour on the duck feathers. Who tattoos a duck on their body, anyway?

Heath would, I bet. Ducks aren’t far from peacocks.

“Do I have time to take a piss? That large Slurpee is on its way out.”

People who love Slurpees. That would be the answer to who gets duck tattoos, then.

“Yeah, man. Just don’t touch the tat.”

He bolts off my chair and down the hall to the bathroom while I snap off my gloves to reach for my phone. This is so stupid. I like Heath and I should just tell him that. I’m positive there was a shift after that horseback ride. He baked me another Croatian treat—and I can’t forget all the other thoughtful things he’s done for me. There’s no way I’m imagining it all, and he can’t possibly be blind to his actions.

Can he?

“Hi.”

The soft voice I’d know anywhere has me fumble my phone, and it clunks on the counter as I spin around.

“Hi. I was…” I clear my throat as Heath steps into my room. "I was just thinking about you." My voice fades away as Heath steps closer.

“Do you have a client? I was hoping we could talk.”

His long lashes frame his eyes, and his smile is just a twitch of his lips. Fuck . Why does he have to be so damn cute all the time?

“I’m just—”

“Sorry, I went fast, but do you mind if we finish this another day? Is it a good place to stop?” My duck tattoo guy nods to Heath. “Hey, man. You here for a tat? Marko is amazing.”

Heath’s eyes never leave mine. “He’s pretty amazing, all right.”

My throat goes dry, and I motion for the guy to get into the chair. “Of course, we can stop for the day. I’ll extend the next appointment by thirty minutes, and you should be good to go.”

The man is thrilled, and I clean up the area on his skin before applying a bandage with the usual instructions. He says goodbye and bolts out the door.

Silence settles as I remove my gloves and wash my hands before giving Heath all my attention.

“I’m…” He screws up his face before he blurts, “ Oprosti. Did I say that right?”

“You’re sorry?”

His hands fiddle with the hem of his shirt as he bites at his lip. “I didn’t come for coffee because we were in the middle of hauling hay. It’s, well, you know how they say make hay while the sun shines? It’s true. We were doing it all day, every day until it was finished. And then I…” He pauses and huffs a breath. “I didn’t call or text you because I—”

His mouth moves and there’s no sound, but his eyes are a little misty and my gut clenches, expecting him to have something bad to say.

“Don’t explain. Life happens.”

He shakes his head with renewed purpose and the curls poking from under his hat bounce.

“Yes, life happens. It happened, I mean, and okay, here’s the thing.” He inhales a huge breath. “Have we been dating? ”

My knees wobble, and I reach for the counter.

“You don’t think we've been?”

This is worse than I thought if he hasn’t even clued in that we’ve been on dates. New friends don’t do the things we’ve done. At least not mine. I don’t go on intimate picnic dates with friends or let them hug me on my motorcycle. Not that I have many friends, but I sure as shit wouldn’t be doing those things.

Heath rubs his face and mutters something I can’t hear. Then he meets my gaze.

“I’m screwing this all up. Marko…here’s the short version… I’m bisexual. I just figured this out.” He sucks in another breath. “I have a lot I want to talk to you about, if you’re even interested. And if you’re not and I’ve misread this whole thing, then I hope we can still be friends.” He’s rambling, and it’s adorable. “Because I think even if you don’t like me like that, we’re cool. I mean, you do tattoos and sketch and you teach me about your country and—”

“Heath.”

He blinks like he didn’t realize he’d been rambling and even if he was here to tell me he didn’t want to see me anymore, there’s no way I could just walk away from him. The fact he didn’t realize we were dating is just the tip of the iceberg here. There's so much we need to discuss.

And a discussion in my tattoo studio is not the right place for this.

“Do you have Jeff with you?”

“No.”

“Okay, first, thank you for coming by and I’d like to talk, but not here. Can we take a walk in about fifteen minutes? ”

His shoulders finally drop as he nods. “I’d like that. I’ll wait in reception for you.”

The moment he leaves the room, I’m working as fast as I can to clean and sterilize my workstation. I take a little longer than fifteen minutes, but he’s still waiting when I walk to the front and find him staring out the shop window at the coffee shop across the street.

After flipping the closed sign around on the door and texting Curtis that I’m out for the day, I set the shop alarm and turn to Heath.

“Are you under any time constraints?”

“No. I had Dante cover my evening chores, and I secured Jeff for the night.”

“The night, huh?”

His lips tilt in a small smile. “If I wasn’t talking to you, I figured I’d spend the night at some karaoke bar singing sad country songs.”

I bark a laugh as the tension finally eases, and we walk towards the town’s waterfront. “That’s awfully specific, Heath.”

Our footsteps fall into sync as we walk down Main Street towards the trail that leads us to the waterfront of Dogwood Pond. It’s more than a pond from what I’ve read about it, but it’s a cute name and suits this town well.

Heath remains quiet, which is unusual, and rather than wait until we’re in some perfect place, I decide to rip the Band-Aid off and start talking.

“I want you to know that whatever the outcome of this conversation, I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with you.”

Heath peeks up from under his lashes and smiles. “Me too. I’ve never met anyone like you before, Marko. ”

The french fry truck at the trailhead smells heavenly, and Heath nudges my shoulder. “It’s no sugared almonds, but fresh-cut fries from a truck are like a delicacy around here. Want to split one?”

“Not with the gravy and cheese stuff, though.” Heath stops walking, mouth hanging open. “What?”

“You don’t like poutine? How?”

“I don’t mind it. It’s just…not my favourite.”

“Okay. I can work with that at least. Just fries. Please tell me you like them with vinegar and not smothered in ketchup, or I might have to reconsider this friendship.”

Heath smiles as he steps up to order, and I plunge my hands into my pockets.

“Vinegar is fine with me.”

With a bag of hot fries, forks, and enough vinegar to drown in, we walk the path until we find an open bench looking over the water.

Heath quietly tears the bag open and doctors the fries with salt and vinegar. Only after he eats a few does he begin to talk.

“I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. It was unintentional if I did. Believe me when I say I’m not one to pick up on obvious stuff.”

Shoving a fry in my mouth, I shake my head. “Not hurt, not really. But I was confused when I didn’t hear from you after we’d yet to go a day without contact. It felt like…I guess it felt like I was maybe imagining it all and you didn’t feel the same way. I thought I screwed something up.”

Heath drops his gaze to the ground at his feet and leans forward.

“It wasn’t imagined." His arms hang between his legs as he twists his fingers together. "But it took me one sleepless night to put all the pieces together and realize I like you as more than a friend. ”

My heart leaps at his words. I want to shout and punch the air in victory.

“What changed?”

Heath turns his face to me, and I’ll never tire of his gorgeous eyes with those lashes always kissing his cheeks. The way his hair always pokes out under his ball cap.

“Probably nothing, because I’ve always been drawn to you. When I think about being with someone, it’s always you. When I think of growing old, you’re there. If I think about a vacation, it’s with you. That’s probably far too much to say right now, but like I said, I’ve thought a lot since that horse ride.” He swallows and licks his lips. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

His gaze never wavers, and I have to swallow back the wave of emotion.

“What if we’re not compatible with…you know, sex? We’ve never even kissed yet, and you just learned you're… not straight. While I’m relieved you want to be with me, Heath, there’s still a lot about me you don’t know. Not to mention this is a huge thing to learn about yourself. There’s so much for you to learn and explore and…I’m not a guy who likes to fuck around.”

Heath’s cheeks flame the cutest pink as he ducks his head.

“Even if it’s with me?”

He chews his lip and his knee bounces so fast I wonder if he’ll fly off the bench.

“Especially with you.”

“Oh. It’s okay. I hope we can still be friends.” He forces a smile on his normally sunny face, and I replay what I just said.

“Shit.” I huff a small laugh. “Seems like we’re both horrible at this.” Grabbing the pile of fries, I set them on my other side and slide closer to him. His brown eyes track my movements as I slide a palm over his cheek. “When I say fuck around, I mean, not be serious. Casual. I don’t do that. If we do this, if you want this, I’m kind of all in from the first kiss. I don’t know how to do it any other way.” My thumb caresses his cheek and his eyelids flutter. So fucking pretty. “My artist’s heart never let me be casual. It was never my scene. Like two paintings at once, I can’t do it.”

His eyes widen as he finally understands.

“You actually want to be with me?”

“More than you probably know.”

“I’ve never been with a man,” he whispers as he licks his lips and inches closer. “I…I’ve never done casual either. I just know you make me feel like I’m covered in tiny bubbles whenever you smile at me like that.”

I smile with a soft laugh. It’s so Heath to describe something so meaningful by referring to how it actually feels. This man is always making me smile. But right now, he makes me yearn for so much more.

He makes me fucking hope I can have it all.

“Can I kiss you?” Heath’s thigh now presses against mine and he bites at his lower lip.

“I wish you would.”

Heath leans forward, and his ball cap bumps me on the forehead. He snorts and turns it around. “I swear I’m not always this clumsy.”

Our noses brush and his rapid breath fans across my lips.

“Just kiss me, Heath,” I breathe.

His lips press to mine, soft and chaste at first, and then it’s on. In a blink, he’s gone from shy and tentative, to almost climbing into my lap as he bites at my lower lip. One hand grips my neck and the other one digs into my thigh. He presses himself so close it’s like he wants to mould into my body, and I have to tap on his thigh to back up so I can breathe.

“Sorry, I got a little carried away there.”

“Don’t be sorry.” God, I sound so wrecked and it was only a kiss.

“Okay, I’m not. But I want to do it again. Do it more.” He closes his eyes and drops his forehead to my shoulder. “I’ve never wanted anything more than the way I want you right now. Well, the time I bought the donkey comes close, but you still win. Even those french fries aren’t holding my attention.”

My body shakes with a laugh and my arms automatically circle around him.

“Come home with me,” I whisper in a shaky breath next to his ear.

Heath lifts his head and his throat bobs with a swallow. “Yes. Right now? Because we can go right now.”

“Yep. Right now.”

He bolts off the bench and grabs my hand, then drops it. He scoops the barely eaten bag of fries off the bench and sprints over to a garbage can before jogging back.

Swollen lips, pink cheeks, and slightly out of breath… Heath is stunning. He’s something I should sketch. There’s no hidden meaning here. No miscommunication. He’s one hundred percent into this, and I almost feel like I’m caught in a dream.

But I ask just to be sure he understands what I’m proposing. He didn’t think we’d been on dates after all.

“Um, just to confirm we’re on the same page here, I want you to come over to get you naked and keep doing what we started. ”

His laughter scares the seagull that was creeping towards the garbage can. The gull squawks and flaps its wings before lunging at the fry on the ground and running off.

“Thank fuck, because that’s exactly what I was hoping.”

Before taking off down the path back to the shop, I pull him flush to me and he snaps against my chest with a gasp.

“You’re sure? I don’t want us to be a regret for you, Heath. I like you too much for this to be something you wish never happened.”

He searches my face and takes my cheeks in both hands before pushing on his toes to kiss me. This time slower, but I feel his unspoken words.

“The only thing I wish never happened is my cluelessness to not see my attraction for what it is. Because I wasted time kissing you by being such a fool.”

With a shy smile, he slips his hand into mine and we walk back to the shop as fast as we can without tripping over our feet.