Chapter thirty-four

Poppy

“Are you sure about this?”

Theo asked.

I nodded but refused to look at him.

“I got the trashcan right here if you need it,”

Max said and winked at me. He sat across from Theo, ready to hold me down if necessary. Though I’d prefer to stare at Theo for the next hour or so, I figured it was best I didn’t look.

“I’m a fainter, not a puker,”

I said and took a deep breath.

Max shrugged. “Either one ain’t a problem. I’ve seen it all.”

“Please don’t puke,”

Aiden said, gripping my left leg. “I have a sensitive stomach.”

“I can handle both her feet if she does,”

Rowan said from my right leg.

“Or I can just sit on her like I offered,”

Chris said, where he sulked in the corner with Mom, handing her tissues, while Wilson patted her shoulder.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,”

Mom sniffed.

“Bet you don’t hear that every day,”

I said to Max.

Max shrugged again. “You’d be surprised. Most people aren’t trying to get over a fear of needles like you, but we often do tattoos to commemorate achievements or overcoming obstacles. I’ve heard plenty of parents say they’re proud.”

“You really don’t have to do this,”

Theo said, his voice tense.

“Stop stalling,”

I said, taking another deep breath.

He flipped on the machine and the room filled with a buzzing sound. I let out a little yip when he pressed the needle to my skin, and he pulled it away. “I’m not sure I can do this. Maybe Max should take over.”

“Theo Markis,”

I snapped turning my head so I could see him. He had the tattoo needle poised right above my arm where he’d placed a stencil of the drawing he’d made of our statue. He’d simplified it to the two central figures to allow space for the intricate shading that characterized his work. “You are the only person on earth I trust to do this.”

The anxiety in his eyes faded, and he flashed me a smile.

“Aren’t they adorable?”

Wilson said to no one in particular.

“You want to watch?”

Theo asked me.

“Heck no. But you can’t stop every time I make a little noise.”

“You’ll tell me if it’s hurting too much?”

I nodded. Of course, it was going to hurt. He was burying a needle in my skin. I didn’t expect it to feel pleasant.

I turned to face Max again, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Just let me know if you need a break, and I’ll tell him I need one.”

He winked at me again and lifted his head to watch Theo work.

After the first few minutes, I grew accustomed to the sting and the changing pitch of the needle when it connected with my arm. Sometimes the pain sparked through my overstimulated system, but I did the best I could to keep my winces to a minimum.

Max patted my shoulder. “You’re holding up better than most.”

“Yeah, I don’t think we need to hold your boots down anymore,”

Rowan said.

“You’re supporting your sister,”

Mom snapped.

“I can do it without holding her germy shoes.”

“I’ll take over, Ann,”

Chris said, stepping away from Mom.

“Son of biscuit,”

I yelled, when the needle hit a particularly tender part. “Why don’t y’all go bother Lauren and bring us back some coffee.”

They all seemed to like the idea, especially Aiden, and filtered out of the shop, which was thankfully closed to everyone but us. “Back in a bit,”

Rowan shouted before the door closed.

As soon as they were gone, I let the tears flow freely. Max kept his expression stoic, and Theo worked several more minutes before he noticed my face was wet.

“Fuck, Poppy,”

he said, switching off the needle and brushing a tear from under my eye. “Max why didn’t you say anything?”

“If she’d wanted you to stop, she’d have told you. You picked a tough one, son. Sometimes women just need to cry. Ain’t that right, Poppy?”

“Yep,”

I said, with a shaky voice. It hurt like a mother, but I wanted to get over my fear, and as cave woman as it sounded, I wanted Theo to mark me.

“Let’s take a break,”

Theo said, rubbing his gloved finger across my cheek. “Do you want to see what I’ve done so far?”

I shook my head. “It won’t be as much as I’ve imagined.”

“I’ve just about got the outline down.”

“Really?”

I asked glancing at my arm.

Big mistake. Little drops of blood rose from the black lines Theo had etched in my skin. My vision swam, but I took a steadying breath through my nose and out my mouth and looked again. He really had finished most of the outline.

“That’s incredible,”

I said, admiring his work. When I focused on the details instead of the blood, I could look at the tattoo without feeling dizzy. “I can’t wait to see what you do with the shading.”

Max gripped my shoulder. “Pretty soon you’ll be begging Theo to let you tattoo him.”

I laughed so hard I snorted. “The only place he has left is a small space on his chest, and I’m not putting a needle anywhere near his heart.”

“Nah, that’s taken now,”

Max said. “All you’ve got is his ring finger or places I’d rather not think about.”

Theo turned an adorable shade of pink.

“What’s he talking about?” I asked.

“Well, I was going to show you after I finished yours, but since Max can’t contain his excitement, might as well show you now.”

Theo pulled his shirt over his head. A bandage covered his chest just above his heart. He peeled it back slowly to reveal a bright red poppy.

My eyes filled with tears again. “It’s beautiful,”

I said, reaching forward to touch it. Max placed his hand gently on my mine. “Thank you. It’s some of my better work. But let it heal a bit.”

I turned to Max and gave him a watery smile. “It’s perfect.”

“It was Theo’s design,”

Max said, but I could tell he was pleased with the work he’d done. “I just traced and colored.”

Theo chuckled as he applied a fresh bandage to his chest and slipped his shirt back on.

“His ass would probably be easier for a tattooing debut, but I don’t want to mess with perfection,”

I said, which made Theo laugh and Max look a little uncomfortable.

I couldn’t stop myself from looking at Theo’s left hand while he prepared the colored ink for the rest of our session.

“Ring finger it is then,”

Max whispered when the front door burst open. As everyone sipped their coffees and chatted, I found my eyes drawn again to Theo’s left hand. I could see the design so clearly in my mind. Theo might have to handle the actual needle to skin part, but I knew exactly what I wanted. Thinking about wedding rings this early in a relationship should scare the crap out of me. But with Theo, it was easy to imagine. Something simple and uncomplicated because, despite how complicated we both are, the love I felt for Theo was effortless. I only hoped he felt the same.

I caught Max’s eye, and he smiled at me as the needle buzzed to life.

“Ready, Poppy?”

Theo asked.

“Absolutely.”