Yeah, my girl talked a big talk outside, but now she’s clinging onto me while we both endure this pain.
“You still don’t hate me?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.
I let out a laugh through the pain, focusing on my beautiful girlfriend. “I love you.”
She winces, a pained whimper escaping her. “How the hell can you laugh at a time like this?” she says, gripping my hand tightly as the tattoo artist works on her arm.
I shrug, unable to tear my eyes away from her. Partly because I can’t get enough of looking at her, and partly because if I glance down and see the needle in my own arm, I might pass out. “Because I’m with you,” I reply.
The buzzing of the needle stops, and I raise my head to see my tattoo artist step back. “All done.”
“You too,” the girl tattooing Gabi says, wiping a towel on her arm.
I glance at Gabi, and she lets out a deep breath. “You ready to see it?”
I tighten my grip on her hand and bring it towards me, pressing my lips against her knuckles. “I’ll love whatever you chose,” I reassure her.
She sighs and smiles, looking down at her tattoo on the inside of her arm. I follow her gaze and look down at mine, in the same spot.
My brows furrow as I take in the thin strokes of black ink. There’s a small clef surrounded by delicate lines resembling stars. I gulp at the sight, feeling my eyes start to tear up.
“Music has always been a huge part of us,” Gabi says, prompting me to lift my head to look at her. “And...the stars say we’re meant to be.”
Fuck.
I rise from the chair, my heart racing as I reach for her face, cradling it in my hands before I lean in, and press my lips against hers, because I’ll die if I don’t. Her lips part on a gasp and I groan, savoring her taste. Savoring the softness of her mouth against mine as our tongues brush together in a kiss that shows her how much I love her.
“Does that mean you like it?” she manages to ask between breaths.
I shake my head slightly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes, then grasp her arm, pressing my lips against her new tattoo, just above her scars. “I love it.”
Her eyes widen with hope, a beautiful smile spreading across her face. “Really?”
“So fucking much.”
Her face brightens with another smile, and she lets out a sigh. “It was the best goodbye present I could think of.”
My smile fades into a frown. “This isn’t goodbye, Gabi,” I insist. It just can’t be. I won’t allow it.
She sighs again, nodding. “I know.”
I’m not buying it. Not at all. I cradle her face in my hands, locking eyes with her deep blue gaze. “I mean it, Gabi. I’ll be back,” I promise. “We can visit each other. This isn’t goodbye,” I say firmly, feeling my heart ache at the thought.
She nods, tears pooling in her eyes, which breaks my heart all over again. “It’s just one year,” she says, her voice quivering.
“Exactly.” I wipe the tears from her cheeks. “I waited ten years for you,” I remind her with a soft smile. “I can handle one more. I’d wait forever if I needed to.”
She lets out a deep breath, her tears drying up. “I just don’t want to let you go after I finally got you.”
Jesus. Her words break me. I shake my head, pressing my forehead against hers. “Please don’t let me go,” I whisper, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I don’t want you to ever let me go.”
“I can’t,” she murmurs, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I couldn’t even if I tried. You’re a part of me, Chris. Always have been.”
I wipe under her eyes with the pads of my thumbs, and smile at her. “Now more than ever,” I say, holding up my arm with our matching tattoo.
She breathes out a laugh. “I love you.”
I’ll never get tired of hearing her say that. I waited so long to hear her say those words. Every time she says them, it feels like a dream come true.
