Dedicated Ink

by Rose, Ranae

  There was the briefest of awkward pauses. “How was your day?”

  He had no desire to burden her with a candid answer. “Could’ve been worse. How’s your nephew – he make out okay at the clinic?”

  “It was an ear infection. He’s had several so far, and he’s only a year old, poor kid. He’s already feeling better though, now that it’s being treated.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry I had to leave in the middle of our date, I—”

  “There was nothing else you could’ve done. Your family is more important than apple cobbler, although I’ve gotta tell you, you really missed out.”

  “I figured. The rest of the food there was so good, I bet dessert was amazing.”

  “Don’t worry; we can order something sweet next time. How’s Sunday for you? I’m off that day.”

  “Sunday would be great. I’ll be available that evening.”

  When she claimed not to care where they ate next time, he promised to surprise her. She even agreed to let him pick her up, though he’d expected her to turn him down again. So when she lowered her voice and spoke his name in a much different tone than the one she’d used to answer the phone, the sudden change tripped some sort of internal sensor of his.

  “Sam, I have to tell you something when I see you on Sunday. I’m mentioning it now because I meant to tell you last time, but I didn’t.”

  “You don’t have to wait until Sunday if it’s something you think I should know now. I have time to talk.” He wasn’t going to do anything besides go for a run, then maybe zone out in front of the TV for a while before crashing, anyway. Abby was a better distraction than primetime programming, although the tone of her voice told him something was wrong.

  “I’d rather tell you in person. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t give myself the chance to not bring it up again.”

  “All right. Whatever you’d prefer.”

  She made a sound that might’ve been a sigh. “Thanks. I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “See you then.”

  As he pulled running clothes from a dresser drawer, he tried not to think of the strange look she’d given him as she’d left last time – the one he knew he hadn’t been intended to see. Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. The look and what she’d said over the phone haunted him, tempting him to dwell on the endless possibilities her words suggested.

  Maybe she was already in a relationship, or maybe he was bad at reading her – maybe she just didn’t want to see him again. The thought soured his stomach in a way even work hadn’t.

  Stepping outside and breathing in a lungful of chilly air, he made a split-second decision to hit the gym after his run instead of indulging in an early evening in. He wouldn’t let himself sit around and wonder. He’d just have to deal with the facts when the time came, like he did at work.

  * * * * *

  “So, are you happy with how this piece turned out?”

  “I love it.” Jasmine grinned. She’d practically smiled all the way through the entire last session of her new half-sleeve. She was enthusiastic like that, and a regular client of Abby’s. “I knew I’d love it from the beginning. It turned out just like I imagined.”

  “Glad you like it.” Abby smiled too as she cleaned and bandaged the new tattoo. “You know how to take care of this by now, I’m sure, but Mina will give you an aftercare sheet that you can keep on hand, just in case.”

  “Sure.” Jasmine nodded.

  “Any questions?”

  Jasmine shook her head slowly, then winked. “Not this time. But you’ll be hearing from me again before too long.”

  “Ready for more already?” Jasmine had a lot of ink – a lot of beautiful ink, much of it from Hot Ink – and showed no signs of slowing down.

  “Not quite yet, but my boyfriend hinted that he’s going to finance my next tattoo, as a birthday gift, and I already know I’ll be coming to see you then.”

  “When’s your birthday?”

  “April 17th.”

  Abby’s heart sank like an anchor, all the way to her toes, as the date set off an alarm bell inside her head. Jasmine’s birthday was only four days before her due date. She might be in the hospital or at home with a couple of newborns by then. “Feel free to get in touch a couple months in advance, and we can talk.” She felt guilty saying it – at some point, she’d have to let her clients know about her pregnancy.

  “Great.” Jasmine smiled again, and was gone, chatting with Mina at the front desk.

  Abby remained in her half-booth and sank back down into her chair. What was she going to do when her due date neared, and after the babies were born? How was she going to work? She hadn’t looked into the price of day care yet, but judging by what she’d heard from her sister and other moms, it wasn’t cheap. Add to that the fact that she was having twins and…

  “Hey, Abby.” Tyler leaned on the wall of her half-booth. “I was thinking of trying to get everyone together for a drink after the shop closes tonight. You up for it?”

  “Sorry, I can’t. Not tonight.” Not long ago, she would’ve been the first to agree – getting together with the rest of the Hot Ink staff outside of the studio was always fun. Fun, however, had been conspicuously absent from her life ever since she’d come home from the grocery store with milk, avocados and a home pregnancy test.

  Everything had changed. Soon, she’d have to let the others know.

  Tyler’s expression fell, but he nodded. “Maybe some other time.”

  Not for a long, long time. Alcohol was out of the question, and in just a few months, she’d basically be saying goodbye to socializing altogether. That was the least of her concerns, compared to pressing matters like how in the world she was going to work to support the new babies. A dull ache flared between her eyes as she contemplated the problem, and as she pressed a hand to her forehead, a small voice in the back of her head warned her that she’d better get used to it.

  Another small voice wondered aloud whether sharing her pregnancy news with Sam on Sunday would mean fewer headaches … or more.

  * * * * *

  Abby wore another dress on Sunday, mostly because her pants were already a little tight around the waist. She wasn’t obviously pregnant yet, but she felt the difference, and besides … Sam had seemed to like the sight of her in a dress, last time.

  Maybe it was stupid that she was dressing to impress him, given that she was about to turn his world upside down with what would surely be unwelcome news. But the memory of the conversation they’d eased into just a couple days ago shimmered across the surface of her mind, reminding her of the way he’d watched her intently, his eyes occasionally dipping down to her cleavage, but mostly holding her gaze. She’d felt admired, wanted, and that was a feeling she couldn’t help craving more of, because the truth was that she wanted and admired him too.

  Her hopes for any sort of romantic relationship were likely to be crushed within the hour – she’d been reminding herself of that fact all day. And if that happened, she’d take it in stride. Hell, it wasn’t like she could expect him to fall down on one knee and propose to her in a fit of guilt. But she did hope, very seriously, that he’d agree to be a part of the twins’ lives.

  That would just have to be enough. She’d be a mother in a few months – it was time to face the music and start putting her desires second. After all, she’d gotten herself into this situation.

  Seeing the ultrasound images of the twins she was carrying had had a strange effect; it was as if a string had been run between her heart and the barely-noticeable swell of her belly. Whenever she thought about them, she felt this tiny tightening in her chest, and she knew she’d do anything to make sure they didn’t suffer the effects of her lapse in judgment if she could help it… It wasn’t their fault she’d been irresponsible.

  A knock sounded at her apartment door, perfectly on time.

  She answered promptly, inviting Sam to step inside. This was why she’d agreed to l
et him pick her up – it would be better to break the news in the privacy of her apartment rather than at a restaurant. He might not be interested in going out after he heard what she had to say, and she had leftovers in the fridge, just in case.

  “You look nice,” she offered as she pulled the door shut. She didn’t sound like herself, not even to her own ears.

  “So do you.” He didn’t smile, but his gaze swept over her from head to toe, lingering on every curve, and her body temperature seemed to rise by a few degrees.

  The heat was tantalizing, but it hurt to see a combination of desire and wariness displayed so obviously on his face. She must’ve put him on edge with what she’d said when they’d spoken on the phone. Did he have any idea what she was about to confess?

  “You said you had something to tell me.” He still stood close to the door.

  She nodded and gestured toward the small dining table in the nearby kitchenette. “You might want to sit down.”

  His expression didn’t change as he took a seat, settling straight-backed into one of the chairs while she lowered herself into the one opposite of him. “That night we spent together this past summer… I got pregnant.”

  Her heart rate rocketed in the wake of her confession, and she could actually hear her pulse, an ominous pounding that rang in her ears. Sitting there with her hands clasped together so they wouldn’t shake, she felt just like she had when she’d been waiting for the results of her pregnancy test – so nervous it was utterly exhausting just to sit there, waiting for an answer.

  The change in his face reminded her of that life-altering occasion, too – his expression darkened, as if a storm cloud had gathered above his head.

  “Are you still pregnant?”

  His question took her by surprise. “Yes. That’s what I needed to tell you. I’m two and a half months along.” She raised one unsteady fist and uncurled her fingers, revealing the strip of ultrasound photos she’d brought home from her appointment. The paper was faintly damp, thanks to her sweaty palm.

  He barely paused before reaching out, his fingertips brushing hers and sending unavoidable heat racing through her as he took the images.

  He studied them for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only one long minute. “You’re sure it happened when we were together?”

  “My due date is April 21st – my doctor confirmed that. It lines up with when we were together, and I hadn’t been with anyone for more than a month before then. Since then, I haven’t been with anyone else at all.”

  He looked down at the photos again. “I’m no expert, but this looks like…”

  “Twins.”

  He met her eyes, his gaze unwavering and so intense that she had to resist the urge to lean forward, just to be closer to him, to know what was going on inside his head.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you last time. I meant to, but—”

  He shook his head. “I know now. At least we have privacy here.”

  “Sam,” she said when his eyes dipped toward the photos again, “you have to tell me what you’re thinking.” A part of her sensed she was in real danger of passing out if he kept her in suspense any longer.

  “I think my life is going to be changed completely, come April.”

  “So you’re planning to … you know, be a dad?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “What’d you think, that I’d run out of here as soon as you told me?”

  “No. I don’t know. I didn’t know what your reaction would be. I was nervous, to say the least. I still am.”

  “That makes two of us, but I’m not gonna leave you to take care of these babies on your own.” He raised the ultrasound pictures. “They’re as much mine as they are yours.”

  Her heart fluttered, then began some semblance of a steady rhythm as she breathed a sigh. “Thank God. I don’t know how I’d raise one kid on my own, let alone two.”

  Several moments of silence ensued, and her heart rate slowed, fading to a steady beat she could feel but not hear.

  “Are you feeling up to dinner?” Sam asked, finally laying down the photos and meeting her eyes.

  “You still want to go out?” That was more than she’d been counting on.

  “I promised you a date, didn’t I?” His lips quirked up the tiniest bit at the corners.

  “Then let’s go.” As she pushed back her chair and stood, she felt so light that she had to look down at her toes to make sure they were still touching the floor.

  “One other thing,” he said, laying a hand on her shoulder as she stepped toward the door.

  His touch was light, but it stopped her in her tracks and forced the air out of her lungs.

  “Do you have a pair of scissors?”

  “Yes.” She moved toward the kitchen, her head spinning and nerves tingling.

  When she returned, he took the scissors from her hand and picked up the strip of ultrasound images from the table.

  As he held both objects aloft, he met her gaze, and the look in his eyes seemed to ask, “This okay with you?”

  She nodded.

  He cut the last image from the bottom of the strip, took out his wallet and tucked it inside.

  As they walked out the door together, Abby’s heart raced again. The soft snip of scissor blades had changed everything – there would be no reining in her hopes for something more than sharing parenting responsibilities.

  CHAPTER 4

  Dessert wasn’t interrupted, this time. They took their time finishing the apple pie a la mode and when they were done, a sense of possibility hung in the air, just like the sweet-tart flavor of apples, cinnamon and vanilla lingered on Sam’s tongue.

  “When’s your next doctor appointment?” The question seemed safe; when he focused on her pregnancy, it was easier to keep his head on straight, to keep from dwelling on memories of the night that had led to it.

  And in that dress she was wearing, the memories were inspired by her every movement. He couldn’t stop thinking about her naked and in his arms, even though she’d just altered his life completely with a single confession. Was there something wrong with him?

  “Almost four weeks from now. My appointments are monthly, until I’m farther along.”

  “Do you want me to be there?”

  Her eyes widened a little. “If you want to be.”

  “I do.” A sliver of memory sliced through the center of his chest, as sharp and unexpected as a knife blade plunging between ribs. He shoved sudden thoughts of the past away, but couldn’t avoid the way they intensified his present feelings. Of course he wanted to be there.

  “Okay.” She pulled out her phone, brought up the calendar and gave him the date and time so he could program it into his. “Do you have work that day?”

  “I’ll be on night shifts – making it there during the day won’t be a problem.”

  “It’s kind of early in the morning. You’ll only have slept a couple hours by then if you’re working nights.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Do you want me to pick you up? I’ll be driving there anyway, so don’t think that it’ll be any extra trouble.”

  “Well, when you put it that way…” She smiled a little smile that reminded him of a look she’d given him that night at the bar. “Sure.”

  It was good to see that she could still smile like that, that she didn’t hate him for getting her pregnant. She hadn’t said so, but it was obvious the pregnancy had her stressed – no surprise there. When she’d told him about it, her hands had been shaking.

  He’d been shaken too, on the inside. Still, he’d longed to reach out and take her hands, to offer comfort as they’d sat at opposite sides of the table in her apartment.

  Caution bred in the fertile grounds of familiar insecurities had choked his ambition, had made him wonder if touching her at such a tense moment would be going too far. Had his reserve been as ridiculous as it seemed when he thought about it now?

  After all, she was carrying his babies. He’d gotten her pregnant. They wer
e close, even if circumstance had been what had forced them together.

  “I’ll pick you up at a half hour ‘till.”

  “Thanks.”

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  “It’s more than I expected.”

  In a way, that was almost insulting. Still, he couldn’t blame her, given the way they’d met. There’d been nothing about their encounter to suggest that he’d be around if she was stuck holding a positive pregnancy test weeks later. “I meant it when I said one night stands aren’t my thing. I was never able to write what we did off as a one-time deal, even if I meant to in the first place.”

  “Are you saying that you want to keep seeing each other outside of doctor appointments and things like that?”

  Her pink, perfect lips were still, but her eyes revealed plenty as she waited for an answer. It hadn’t been a casual question.

  His feelings on the matter weren’t casual, either. “Yeah. I don’t want our babies to have just a mom and a dad; I want them to have a family.”

  * * * * *

  Abby answered the door when Sam knocked, making a deliberate effort not to catch sight of her reflection in a nearby decorative mirror. This was only the second time all day she’d gotten out of bed – earlier that morning she hadn’t even made it to her daily shower before she’d crawled back beneath the covers, knowing she’d be useless that day. Now, she greeted Sam in her pajama shorts and cami, sporting a case of bedhead she tried not to think about as she let her gaze sweep over his perfect body, all muscle beneath jeans and a flatteringly-snug t-shirt.

  “Isn’t this like the middle of the night to you?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

  Ironically, he looked ready for the day – perfect – while she was the one standing in her pajamas.

  “I have off tomorrow; I can afford to catch up on my sleep later.” He raised the plastic shopping bag he held in one hand. “Brought some things I thought might help you out.”