Restless Ink

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Sweet.” Dimitri shook his head. “Thanks for that. You know guys hate that word.”

  “Some guys do, but you don’t because you’re not a misogynist prick like some men who won’t be named. Anyway, ‘night, Dimitri.”

  He gave her a look, but she waved like a lunatic and grabbed the first two pints of ice cream she saw once she opened the door. Thankfully, both had chocolate in them, so she was good. She left him standing there and felt a little bad about it, but things were awkward between them now thanks to Molly, and Thea was already feeling weird as hell with the whole dress, bra, and shoe thing.

  As she limped to the self-checkout—since she’d be damned if she let some night clerk get a good look at her outfit—she prayed that no one else she knew walked into the store. It was enough that she apparently looked as if she’d been assaulted. Though it was nice to know there were good people out there like Dimitri, who actually cared enough to ask if she was okay.

  That had to count for something.

  By the time she had her ice cream in a bag, and she was limping out the sliding glass doors, her body hurt from walking in a broken heel, and she just wanted to get home. But, apparently, the fates had heard her thoughts earlier, because when she got to her car, she let out a watery curse.

  “Fuck this,” she whispered. “Fuck all of this.”

  The front driver’s side tire was completely flat, and since she didn’t see any obvious slashes or holes, that meant it had to be a slow leak. She was exhausted, her ice cream was melting even though it was fucking cold outside, and all she wanted to do was go home. But, apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.

  She had two options: change it herself since she knew how to do it and had before, or call her brother-in-law, Carter to come and help. He was a mechanic, and since he’d married her sister, Roxie, he had basically put himself on call for any Montgomery vehicle needs. She really didn’t want to bother him, though, since he and Roxie were working so many hours these days, so that meant, broken heel and all, she was going to have to change her damn tire herself.

  This fucking night.

  With a sigh, she opened her car door, tossed her purse and ice cream onto the passenger seat, and went to the trunk to open the back so she could get the spare and everything she’d need to change the tire. It wasn’t going to be easy in her dress, but she’d get it done.

  “Tonight is just not your night, is it?”

  She whirled around, tire iron in hand, then let out a shaky breath when she realized it was Dimitri standing behind her. She hadn’t even realized he was parked two spaces away since she hadn’t been looking for his car.

  “You scared the crap out of me.” She put her hand to her chest and slowly lowered the tire iron.

  “Shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. But I’m glad you were ready to hit me if I wasn’t me since you’re alone out here at this time of night.”

  She sighed. “It’s not that late, and I can take care of myself.” Of course, now that she was thinking about it, she’d left the front door of the vehicle unlocked and had her purse visible, so she wasn’t making the wisest choices.

  “Let me help,” Dimitri said quickly. “I’ll put these bags in my car and help you with your tire. It’s not going to be easy with a broken shoe and in a dress.”

  She shook her head. “You have perishables. I can handle it.”

  “I’m sure you can, but you can also let me help. It’s supposed to snow tonight so getting home would be a good thing.”

  She sighed. “I haven’t checked the weather since this morning. Snow again?”

  “It’s Colorado Springs, of course there’s a chance of snow at random times even if they didn’t mention it twelve hours ago. Seriously, Thea. Let me help, and then you can get home safely and out of that dress.”

  He cleared his throat after he said that, and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes. It was either that or pant at the thought of taking off her dress in front of him.

  Whoa, Nelly.

  Where the hell had those thoughts come from? She didn’t need to think of Dimitri like that. He was her friend. Kind of. But, seriously, just friends.

  “I’d appreciate the help,” she said after a moment because, honestly, it was silly to do it all herself when she was wearing what she was, and there was someone who could assist. “But don’t make me wait to the side or something. I’ll actually help.”

  “You got it.”

  He rushed off to his car, practically threw his bags into the back of the SUV, then headed back toward her in less time than it took for her to move things out of the way to reach for the tire.

  “Let’s see what we can do.” He helped her get the spare out of the back, then the two of them got to work. Dimitri did most of the heavy lifting since it wasn’t easy in her dress and, frankly, he was stronger than she was. Thea didn’t want to stand in his way and make things take more time as the temperature dropped either.

  When he bent over, her gaze dropped to his very sexy butt, and she pulled her eyes away. Jesus, what was wrong with her? This was her best friend’s ex. There were rules.

  Rules that kept her away from a very sexy butt and an impressive set of forearms.

  No, she was not looking at his forearms. Or his ink. Or the way he held that long piece of metal. Nope.

  Why is that tire iron so sexy? Why did she think it phallic?

  She’d just seen a penis. It wasn't a nice one, but she’d seen it. She knew what one looked like.

  Why was she thinking of Dimitri's penis?

  Oh, God, she should have just baked a cake. Or cookies. Or anything that would have kept her out of the damn store.

  “All done.”

  And then he turned and winked, and she knew she was going to hell. A special hell, with only gluten-free products, spoiled eggs, and no yeast.

  “Thank you so much,” she said, hoping her voice wasn’t hoarse because her mind was in a weird place. Namely, the gutter.

  “Let me help you clean up.” He went to do as he said before she could even answer, so she bent over and picked up a few random things to help out.

  When he was done, he gave her a look, then hugged her close before laying a soft kiss on her temple. They both froze.

  She couldn’t think.

  Couldn’t breathe.

  She took an awkward step back, and he cleared his throat.

  “Uh, thanks for your help.” She didn’t know what else to say. What else was there to say?

  He let out a breath. “It was good to see you.” He paused. “I've missed you, you know. I know Molly said we could still be friends, you and me. But we didn't do that. I showed up a few times to hang out with you, but you always kept me at arm’s-length. I thought we were friends and could be in the same room. I didn’t—still don't—think there was anything wrong with us being friends. You were my friend before, and I'd like to try that again. So, why don't we?”

  She was quiet for so long, she was afraid he’d just leave without waiting for an answer.

  “Dimitri…”

  He held up his hand. “No, don’t say anything. Just think about it. I’ll be in touch. Because, Thea? I miss you.”

  And with that, he walked away, but also kept an eye on her as she got into her car. She knew he was keeping her safe, and she was grateful for that, even as it confused her.

  Why didn’t they try?

  The memory of the brush of his lips along her skin filled her mind, and she swallowed hard.

  Oh, yeah, that's why.

  Chapter 2

  Dimitri Carr tugged on his sleeve for the fortieth time that day and held back a sigh. He loved his job, he really did, but ever since he’d moved to this new school district, he’d needed to change a few things about himself that he didn’t particularly want to change.

  In the two other school districts he’d worked for over the course of his career as a high school math teacher, he’d been able to show his ink while on school grounds. However, with hi
s new superintendent and this new school, he had to hide his tattoos during the day. Most of his ink was under his clothes anyway but hiding a full lower arm piece wasn’t easy. And, sure, it was winter now, and he’d be wearing long sleeves at any rate, but the inside of Colorado’s schools only had two temperatures.

  Blazing hot thanks to the heaters during the winter and part of the early spring.

  And freezing cold during the summer and early fall thanks to the air conditioners.

  That meant Dimitri sweated during the day since he couldn’t roll up his sleeves, but he’d learned to deal, mostly by grumbling to himself when no one was listening.

  “Bye, Mr. Carr,” one of his senior students called out from the doorway as she waved, passing him on her way to the student parking lot.

  “Have a good day, Karin.” He waved back and returned to packing up for the day. He had papers to grade at home, but since it was Friday, he had the whole weekend to get it done. He’d probably finish it up tonight, though, honestly, so he could go on a hike and then head to his brother’s house for the game. The idea that he was going to spend a Friday night grading instead of out with friends or having some kind of social life was just sad.

  As he was packing up the last of his things, his phone buzzed, and he bent to read the screen. Since it was after school hours, he was allowed to have his phone out. One school he’d been at had forced them to constantly be on their phones for a group chat about their teams and other status reports. It had been extreme to the point of ridiculousness, and he was glad to be rid of it.

  Though now that he caught the name on his screen, he kind of wished he didn’t have to answer. But he reminded himself that he’d made a promise to try and be civil and not ignore her, no matter how many times he wanted to just hit end on the phone and forget that part of his past existed.

  But there was a major part of his life still at his old house, so he couldn’t do that no matter what he wanted.

  He held back his sigh and answered the phone. “Hey, Molly.”

  Molly. His ex-wife. The woman he’d thought he would one day grow old with. Only, he’d been wrong. They weren’t meant for each other. He’d thought they loved each other the right way, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. He hadn’t been enough for her, and she hadn’t been what he needed.

  He’d failed at marriage, failed at trying, and every time she called, it was a reminder that he hadn’t been able to hack it being the husband she needed.

  But he still had to answer the phone every time. Not because of her, but because of who she still had.

  “Dimitri, I’m glad you answered. Can you come home?”

  It wasn’t his home anymore. She’d gotten the house, the home they’d made together, in the divorce, and he’d been left living in a two-bedroom apartment with too-high rent thanks to the housing boom in Colorado Springs. He’d been lucky to even find the place he had, since renting anything these days in this city was a feat of endurance and luck.

  Since he’d apparently been silent for too long, Molly continued.

  “It’s Captain. He’s been whining for a walk, but when I go to put him on his lead, he gets all swirly. Can you come and walk him? I have a meeting to prepare for anyway, and it would be better if you just do it. Please? He loves you and misses his Fury.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Oh, thank you. I could use some help with the bathroom faucet, too. I think it needs a new ring thingy, and I’ve never been good at any of that. I can learn, but since you already know...”

  “I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix it tonight without the parts, but I’ll take a look and make a list.”

  “Thanks, Dimitri.”

  She hung up, and Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose before gathering his belongings and heading out of the classroom and toward the exit and faculty parking lot. It had always been a joke that he was Director Fury to his golden retriever, Captain. Dimitri had been—and still was—a huge fan of that team and would always be Team Captain, no matter the world the current comic and movie franchise inhabited. The fact that Molly had been okay with the name and had even encouraged it when they first got married and adopted the golden retriever had made him feel as if the two of them had connected. But she’d never watched the movies and never wanted to read a comic with him. He hadn’t minded since it was okay that they never shared that particular interest, but it made him wonder why she was calling him Fury now.

  Shaking that thought off, he drove toward the house he’d made into a home for ten years before being forced to walk away. The thing was, he was glad Molly had gotten the house since he wouldn’t want to live in it now, not with the lasting memories of what they’d shared. He hadn’t understood why Molly wanted to stay, and since she had a considerable trust fund he hadn’t touched in the divorce or even during their marriage, she could have moved anywhere she wanted. But she’d stayed, and he assumed she had her reasons. It wasn’t his job to try and figure those out anymore, and while that made him sad, he knew that he would still try to be civil. Maybe not her friend like she seemed to sometimes want, but friendly could work.

  Of course, that just made him think of Thea and the fact that he missed her. The three of them had been friends before he and Molly got married, so it was weird that when he was no longer in Molly’s life, he was also no longer in Thea’s. And because he couldn’t stop thinking about how to change that, he knew he would have to figure that out. Maybe he’d go visit Thea tonight at the bakery since he remembered that she worked most Friday evenings so the other workers could have a good start to their weekends.

  He still couldn’t get the thought of her in that dress and the way she’d appeared at the grocery store the other night out of his head. He’d sworn she looked as if she’d been hurt, and it had taken everything within him not to throw his jacket over hers and carry her out of the store to somewhere safe. Then he’d been embarrassed as hell when he realized exactly why she looked the way she did, and then a little weirded out that he’d been…happy that she hadn’t had a good time.

  There was something there, something different about his reaction to her, and he knew he’d have to think about it more in-depth later—just not when he was pulling into Molly’s driveway. He rolled his shoulders after he’d turned off the engine and prepared himself. It wasn’t that Molly was mean or that she ever did anything wrong. In fact, as far as most divorces went, he figured theirs was pretty amicable. It wasn’t as if they hated each other. They just didn’t love each other anymore. And every time he saw Molly, it reminded him that he’d failed, and that wasn’t something he particularly wanted to remember day in and day out.

  But he wanted to see his dog and spend time with him, and if his ex-wife needed help around the house, he’d do that, too. It had been his job to take care of the maintenance of the house when they were together. She’d done other things so he didn’t have to. They’d had a partnership, each having their own list of chores and upkeep to take care of. And though Molly was learning a lot of what she needed to do now, sometimes, it was just easier for him to do it.

  He knew it might not be the healthiest choice, but hell, it was hard to stop ten years of routine when it came to their house. No, her house. He needed to remember that.

  And though Dimitri had a key, he still rang the doorbell. It wasn’t his place anymore, and Molly needed her space, just like he did at his apartment.

  She opened the door with a soft smile, but before she could say anything, Captain bounded through the door and right into Dimitri’s crotch.

  He winced, and Molly laughed as he went to his knees, hugging his dog and petting him like he hadn’t seen him in weeks rather than the few days it had been. He didn’t care that it was cold outside or that the snow from the prior night had already melted so now everything was wet, he just wanted to be near his dog.

  “Hey, buddy. You’re looking mighty fine today.” And that was true. Captain was ten years old and completely white in the face, he napped
more than he used to, and had some aches in his joints, but he was still a really healthy dog. And if Dimitri had been able to find a damn apartment that allowed pets, he’d have taken his golden with him in a heartbeat. In fact, Dimitri was still looking for another place because as soon as he did, and could have Captain, he’d have his dog back. Molly knew the deal when it came to that, and she had agreed, even though Captain had been her dog, as well. It was just that Captain was more Dimitri’s dog.

  The kid they’d never had.

  Not that they’d ever really wanted children together. He was just glad that they hadn’t had to deal with that part of the divorce, but Captain was still his.

  “Well, he seems glad to see you,” Molly said with a laugh. “Let me get his lead since, apparently, he’s ready for his walk now.”

  At the word walk, Captain pranced in circles a few times before sitting carefully on the porch step and raising his paw for a shake. They’d done two rounds of obedience classes over the years, and Dimitri’s brothers and sister had helped along the way also, making sure Captain was as trained as a golden could get. Captain was lovable, adorable, and just plain loyal.

  And Dimitri hated the fact that the big lug couldn’t sleep next to him every night like they had for the past ten years. If Captain were smaller, Dimitri might have been able to sneak the dog into the complex, but there was just no way with the size of his dog.

  “Thanks, Molly,” he said when she handed him the lead. “I’ll be back soon.”

  She waved him off. “Take your time. I know you hate not seeing him every day. When you get back, I’ll have coffee for you if you want. We should talk anyway.” There was something in her tone he couldn’t quite catch, but he was too tired to deal with it.

  He thought of his plans to go to the bakery later and shook his head. “Maybe another time. I’m just going on a quick walk since it’s cold out here, but I’ll be back this weekend to take him hiking.” He’d just pulled that out of thin air, but now that he thought about it, he knew that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Captain circled Dimitri’s legs, and he started down the walkway so they could get going.