Page 23 of Ink

I watch in shock as he turns and leaves me in shock. I don't know what pisses me off more—the fact he's demanding I end things with a guy with whom I'm not actually in a relationship because it's just a front or the fact he seems to think I'm some sort of slut!

I take a deep breath.

I need to remember that he thinks I'm in a relationship, so I'll just have to tell him about Todd. Then everything will be good because I can see this guy consuming me like my father consumed my mother, and that's absolutely scary.

I sigh as I start my Jeep.

He thinks I'm a cheater.

Anyone can tell he doesn't trust me; he questions where I've been and with whom, and every time I try to bring Todd up, he shoots me down instantly, and it sucks. So, for weeks, I've been trying to tell him, but he won't hear of it. How he looks at me sometimes hurts, and to make the hurt worse, he hasn't told anyone we're an item.

I haven't met any of his family members, yet he's met my Momma. I'm falling for him deeply, but he thinks I'd cheat on him like I 'cheated' on Todd, whohas taken over his father's bank and has come out with Alex as his partner. His father has disowned him, but he doesn't care. Alex is his person, his heart, and the other half of his soul. He'll always put him first, as he should because that man has stood back for a few years to wait for Todd to take over the bank before coming clean about their relationship.

He deserves his full attention now, which is why he's not aware of my current situation.

I check my mirrors before leaving the practice, feeling tired. I promised Jackson I'd pop in on my way home, so I headed towards his shop, Fire's Ink, before heading home. I haven't been in yet; I've been working quite a bit, so it'll be good to see where he works.

I get there within minutes before walking into his shop.

Artwork painted his red walls, and I smile; they look amazing. I'm so lost in his work on the walls that I don't notice the she-bitch herself until she barks at me like a dog.

"This is not your kind of scene."

I turn to see Plastic Bitch herself, our high school mean girl and slut Phoebe sitting behind the reception desk wearing a tight red leather dress that's low cut. Her face is full of makeup, while her dark blue hair is up high on the top of her head in a ponytail.

I just raise a brow at her before I tilt my head.

Clearly, she is unaware of my relationship with Jackson. I don't know if I should feel pissed about that or not, especially when he looks at me with skepticism most of the time. Here he is, working with the woman who decided to sleep with my high school boyfriend behind the bleachers.

Pissed, yeah, that's how I should feel right now!

"Actually, I'm here to see Ink."

I use his road name on purpose; he'll come out and grab hold of me. In the past 4 weeks, every time he sees me, he grabs hold of me. The first week, he struggled because I was 'still' with Todd, but afterward, if I was near, his hands were on me.

She narrows her eyes before picking up the phone and telling someone, which I'm guessing is not Ink, but most likely Hawk, that I'm here for a consultation. I just shake my head. I met Hawk through Leah last year, and he was always nice to me. We became friends. When he heard about me and Jackson, which Leah had told him about, by the way, not Jackson, he justgrinned wide. He comes out the back and furrows his brows, his brown eyes narrowing at me, and I move my eyes pointedly towards Phoebe. He smirks, nodding, before knocking on what I'm guessing is Jackson's door as he walks past, coming my way.

He kisses my cheek as Jackson walks out of his room. "Hey, darling, how are you? You look tired."

I narrow my eyes at him, causing him to chuckle, placing his hands up in defense while Jackson shoves him out of the way before gripping my hips and lifting me. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck before my lips meet his. I smile into the kiss when I hear Hawk chuckle, and Phoebe gasps in shock while he rasps against my lips.

"Hey, Pixie."

I rub my nose against his.

"Hey, Ink."

He narrows his gray eyes at me, and I just raise a brow at him, making him frown in confusion.

I can't help it; I am pissed. He never told the woman who fucked my boyfriend behind the bleachers, who clearly wants him, that he was with me.

Shaking my head, I jump down before leaning on my tiptoes to kiss him again. "There, you've seen me; you've kissed me; now I've got to go; I'm tired. I'll call you later. Bye Hawk."

Hawk looks at me with raised brows while I wave to him and a scowling Phoebe before I leave the shop and a confused Jackson behind me, but I can't help it. We've gotten closer over the last few weeks; every time he's near, my heart jumps in my chest, but he doesn't trust me, and he doesn't let me explain either. My Momma told me to hold on to him tightly weeks ago, yet is this how it's supposed to feel like you are guilty every time he looks at you if you're standing too close to a male?

I sigh as I reach my Jeep before someone grabs my hand.

I know it's him instantly because my fingers tingle before he twists me around and pulls me into his chest, a frown etched on his face.