She studies the label on her beer a long moment before a slow grin takes over her face. She doesn’t look at me though; instead her gaze lifts to Austin. “Never have I ever gotten a tattoo.”
Everyone takes a drink except her and I.
“Not even one?” Austin flirts and I swear my chest burns with a flame of jealous anger.
She giggles, twirling the green glass bottle in her long pale fingers. “Maybe you should have to finish since you have the most.”
“Like he needs an excuse to drink more.” Trent laughs.
Opal’s stare is stuck to his arms and the ink that covers his skin. “Did you have the same artist do them all? How did you decide?” Her gaze lifts to his and she blushes. “Sorry, I’m asking too many questions.”
“No. It’s cool.” He scoots closer to her in the bench seat, and I swear he’s flexing. “I’ve collected them from all over. But most of this sleeve was done in Phoenix.”
“That’s where y’all grew up?” she says and then turns to Trent and Sean.
Austin nods. “Yeah.”
“Do you want a tattoo?” I ask Opal to gain her attention, and without looking I can feel Austin’s glare. Too bad, sucker. She’s not off-limits and I’ll talk to her if I want.
She blushes and glances up from beneath her lashes. “Maybe. Yes? I was always told I couldn’t have one. My body is a temple and all that.”
“Not to argue, because your body is positively a temple,” Austin says. “But why would that keep you from getting ink?”
“My grandparents were really strict. Religious.”
I can understand strict, but why would her grandparents’ beliefs dictate what she couldn’t do. “And your parents’ felt the same?”
“Oh, um. Yeah, something like that.” Opal drops her gaze and pushes her drink to the center of the table. Eyes downcast, she scoots out of the seat. “Excuse me. I need to use the ladies’ room.”
The second she’s gone, all three guys glare at me.
“Her parents are dead, moron.” Austin blows out a harsh breath.
“What?”Shit.“I didn’t know.”
“Well, now you do.” Trent’s stare is somber. “So, maybe layoff the parent talk.”
“Yeah. Totally. Sorry.” I glance down the hall. “Is she okay?”
Austin scoffs. “I’m sure she loved being reminded of her orphan status. Yeah, she’s probably totally cool.”
“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, you don’t know her.” Austin rolls his eyes, his disgust at my ignorance evident.
“Sorry,” I say again but I still feel like an asshole.Shit.Here I was trying to get to know her and instead shove my foot in my mouth. She probably thinks I’m the biggest jerk in the world.
Austin’s phone rings and he flips it over before anyone can catch a glimpse at the ID on the screen. “Gotta grab this. Trent, I’m using your room,” he calls out, but he’s down the hall and slamming the door before Trent can answer.
“Sure. Yeah. Go ahead. Thanks for asking first.” Trent rolls his eyes, but doesn’t glance up from his phone. He’s been texting Lexi on and off for most of the game anyway.
“I guess game time is over. ’Night.” Sean pushes to his feet, his body swaying with the roll of the bus as he shuffles over to his bunk and climbs inside.
Seconds turn to minutes and still Opal doesn’t come back. I clean up the beer cans, needing to do something while I wait. She probably wants space. She sure as hell doesn’t need me. But shit, do I feel like shit. The woman who I thought was sweet and untouched by anything but good holds a great amount of pain behind those gorgeous green eyes.
With the kitchen clean and the table wiped down, I feel more like a jerk than ever. She still hasn’t come out of the bathroom. I can’t stand it anymore. The need to check on her overpowers any sense of propriety as I make my way down the hall. I knock on the door softly.
“Just a minute.” She falters through what sounds like a sniffle.Fuck. I made her cry. I didn’t know about her parents, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. She cracks open the door and the redness of her nose only confirms the hurt I’ve triggered. Her gaze drops to the floor. “Excuse me.”
