When Two Becomes One Page 8

  “Well, I am.”

  “Just chill,” I said. “I got this, man.”

  “I hope so,” he said with a sigh.

  ***

  After work, I headed to my dad’s shop. He was still there, sitting behind the counter and playing with his phone. He wore a black t-shirt that had a hole near the shoulder. Dad never bought new clothes. He refused to do it, and he still had the same wardrobe since he was in high school. It drove Mom crazy, but I thought it made my dad cooler. He had money but materialistic things meant nothing to him.

  “Hey, Dad.” I rested my arms on the counter.

  He looked up from his phone. “Hey, kiddo. What brings you here?”

  “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Of course you do,” he said with a chuckle. “What’s up?”

  “It’s a groomsmen request.”

  “You can’t use that as an excuse for everything.”

  “I can until I get married.”

  He put his phone in his pocket. “What do you need?”

  “Some ink.”

  He rolled his eyes. “That has nothing to do with the wedding.”

  “Actually, it does.” I came around the desk then lifted up my shirt. I didn’t have a lot of real estate left in the virgin skin department but I did have some left. I was saving it for a special occasion. I pointed to the blank space over my ribs. “I want you to ink me here.”

  Dad examined it. “And what am I doing?”

  I pulled a paper out of my pocket and handed it to him.

  He opened it and examined it. It was a sketch of Trinity. Her blonde hair flowed in the wind and her blue eyes were bright. She wore a champagne pink dress. I remembered the day she wore it, and it made me fall in love with her all over again. I wanted to remember the way she looked for as long as I lived. And what better way to do that than mark it on my skin.

  Dad looked up at me, a slight grin on his face. “This is an amazing sketch.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You want me to do this?”

  “Yep. You’re the best. I wouldn’t go to someone else.”

  He stared at the picture for a moment longer. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I’ve been saving this slab of skin for something important. And what’s more important than my wife.”

  He nodded. “That’s very…touching.”

  “You think she’ll like it?”

  “I’m pretty sure it’ll bring her to tears, Slade.” He stood up then folded the paper. “We should get to work now. You don’t have much time left.”

  “Good idea.”

  “You don’t have much skin available,” he said. “Are you sure you want to use the skin?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Chapter Nine

  Trinity

  The last few days before the wedding were more stressful than the previous months. Pulling everything together was difficult. The wedding was planned on short notice so throwing it together was nothing short of a miracle.

  When I asked Slade to stay with Cayson for the week before the wedding I didn’t realize how difficult it would be. I missed him like crazy, and I could barely get any sleep. I missed his touch and his smell. Now I wanted to get married even more just so we could be together again. I guess my plan was working.

  I got everything done, with the help of Skye and Silke, and it was the first time I could stop and breathe. In addition to planning for the wedding, I had to run my office. That was a nightmare in itself.

  But there was one thing left.

  “You want to get a tattoo?” Skye asked incredulously.

  “Yeah.” I knew I sounded crazy.

  “Like a real one?” She cocked an eyebrow.

  Silke watched me with the same amount of surprise in her eyes.

  “Yes, a real one.” What the hell did she think I meant?

  “You know those don’t come off, right?” Skye asked.

  I glared at her. “I know I’m blonde but how stupid do you think I am?”

  “It’s just…” She tried to find something else to say. “It doesn’t sound like something you would do.”

  “It’s not,” I said. “But I want one.”

  “What kind of tattoo do you want and where?” Silke asked.

  “Below my hip,” I said. “And I want it to say Slade’s name.”

  Skye’s eyes were wide.

  Silke smiled. “My brother would like that—a lot.”

  “That’s why I was thinking about doing it,” I said.

  “He would never leave you,” Skye blurted.

  “And that’s always a plus,” I said.

  “But you should really think about it,” Skye said. “You don’t need to mark up your body to prove you love him.”

  “That isn’t why I’m doing it,” I said. “I’ve thought about it long enough. And I need to do it soon so it has time to heal.”

  “Are you going to do it in black?” Silke asked.

  “Yeah,” I answered. “Maybe cursive.”

  “Well, if you’re sure it’s what you want to do,” Skye said tentatively.

  “I’m sure,” I said. “When he takes off my dress on our wedding night his eyes are going to fall out of his head.”

  “Literally,” Silke said.

  We headed to Ryan’s shop and walked inside. It was just after lunchtime and more customers were filing in. Ryan was sitting behind the counter, dressed like a bum in his usual work clothes.

  “Hey, Ryan,” I said when I reached the counter.

  He had a stoic expression on his face, like usual, but when he saw me his smile widened and his eyes brightened. “Hey, kiddo. What brings you here? Slade’s shop is a few blocks over.”

  “I don’t want to see him.” Well, I do. I miss him like crazy. “He’s not coming by anytime soon, right?”

  “Not that I know of,” he said. “Why?”

  “I was hoping you’d give me some ink.” I watched his face, waiting for his reaction.

  “You want to get a tattoo?” Amusement was in his voice.

  “Yep.” I smiled.

  “Of what?” he asked.

  “Slade’s name—on my hip.”

  He released a laugh.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he said quickly.

  “Then why are you laughing?” I demanded.

  “It’s just…” He shook his head. “Nevermind.”

  “I want you to do it because Slade always says you’re the best.”

  “Well, I am the best,” he said in the same tone Slade used when he was being arrogant.

  “So, you’ll do it?” I asked.

  He cringed slightly. “Your dad is my best friend, Trin. If he knew I inked you, he wouldn’t be happy about it.”

  “For one, I’m an adult and I can do whatever I want. And two, he’ll never see it.”

  “You’ll wear a swimsuit in front of him eventually.”

  “But you won’t be able to see it,” I said. “I want it lower then my hip bone.”

  He considered my request for a moment. “Maybe you should have one of my guys do it. Razor is pretty talented.”

  “No,” I said. “Slade would be pissed if I let some guy see any of my skin. You know how he gets.”

  Ryan sighed. “You aren’t leaving me much choice…”

  I squealed in excitement.

  “But it’s going to hurt. You’ve been warned.”

  “I can handle it,” I said. “I got my girls to hold my hands.”

  Skye and Silke nodded in agreement.

  Ryan looked at both of them. “Do not tell Mike I did this. He’d have me by the throat.”

  “My lips are sealed.” Skye trailed her fingers across her mouth.

  “I got your back, Dad,” Silke said.

  “Okay,” Ryan said. “Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Ten

  Mike

  It was six in the evening and everyone left the building. I stayed in my office and looked at the floo
r-to-ceiling window behind me, staring at the city below my feet. I’d stared out this window so many times throughout the years. Where had the time gone?

  I remembered taking Trinity to work with me when she was just a baby. I’d set her car seat on my desk while I worked on my computer. I would turn and glance at her, seeing her play with a toy or sleep peacefully. There were times when I got no work done because all I did was stare at her.

  And now she was an adult.

  As she grew older, her personality shined through. Even when she was young I knew she was smart, ambitious, and driven. She was different than the other girls in her class. She had a good head on her shoulders.

  And now she had successfully opened her own company. She did it all on her own and I didn’t need to help her. She excelled in all her classes through school, and she even graduated from Harvard with honors.

  I was so proud of her.

  Now she was a woman, and she was giving herself to someone else. Slade would be the one to take care of her, to share every experience with. He would be the number one man in her life. It would no longer be me.

  I was happy for her. She deserved the joy that had been plastered on her face for the past two weeks. But that didn’t mean this was easy for me. I knew it was time for me to let her go.

  I poured another scotch and drank it in silence, hoping the burn would diminish the feeling of loss. The wedding was tomorrow and I didn’t want to face that reality. Cassandra was making the final preparations at home and I didn’t want to plaster a fake smile on my face and pretend everything was okay.

  The door to my office opened and my brother stepped inside. “Why are you still here? It’s getting late.” He stood in front of my desk with his hands in his pockets.

  I kept my back to him. “Just finishing up a few things…”

  Sean remained in his spot. “Work can wait until Monday. Go home to your family.”

  I held the glass in my hand but didn’t take a drink.

  Sean came around the desk and stood beside me, looking out the window. “I know it’s hard right now but it’ll get easier.”

  My brother usually knew what was bothering me even if I didn’t say it out loud. “It was just yesterday when she was crawling around on my office floor. I had a playpen set up for her, and every time someone came into my office they would stare at her and say how beautiful she was.”

  “Yeah, I remember,” he said quietly.

  “And now…she’s an adult. She doesn’t need me anymore.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “She’ll always need her father.”

  “No, she won’t,” I said darkly. “Now Slade will take care of her.”

  “I’m sure he will take care of her,” Sean said. “But that doesn’t mean this is the end, Mike. You aren’t losing a daughter. You’re gaining a son.”

  For the first time that night, I felt a little better. “I guess you’re right.”

  He clapped my shoulder. “This is a fun time. Be happy.”

  “Skye will be getting married soon. You think you won’t feel this way?”

  His face fell in sadness. “I already feel that way. The second Cayson asked…everything changed. It’s hard to let her go. But I’ve been slowly doing it so it doesn’t hurt so much the day it happens.”

  I took a sip of my drink. “Before I had Trinity, I was so scared to be a dad. I didn’t know how to be a parent or how to raise a kid. But when Trinity got here I immediately knew what to do. She was so easy to take care of. She’s the best kid in the world. And within a blink of an eye, she became an adult. How did that happen?”

  “I know, man. It’s hard to believe sometimes.”

  “Why can’t she just live with me forever? Why does she have to fall in love and live with some guy?” I would keep her forever if I could. I missed having her at the house.

  “Because it’s the way of life,” he said. “But remember, she’s not moving away. She’s right in town. You’ll still see her all the time. Slade’s family is our family. It’s not like she’s leaving.”

  I nodded.

  “Now let me take you home.” He snatched the glass I was holding and placed it on my desk.

  “I can drive,” I said. “I’m not drunk.”

  “I’d rather play it safe. Come on.”

  I wanted to tell him off but I knew I couldn’t. He had every right not to trust me when I was drinking. I almost killed myself and hurt my family. My word wasn’t good enough in this category. “Okay. And thanks for talking me off the ledge…”

  He smiled. “I know you’ll do it for me when my time arrives.”

  ***

  “Where are we going?” I asked when Sean went the opposite direction of the road out of the city.

  “You’ll see.” He pulled over and parked his car. Trinity’s building was beside us.

  I stared at it and wondered what was going on.

  “Come on.” Sean got out of the car.

  I followed him as we entered the building. There was no other place we might be going other than Trinity’s apartment. And that confused me. “Why are we going to Trinity’s place?”

  “Why do you have to ask so many questions?” Sean said it in an irritated way but there was an amused smirk on his lips.

  I glared at my brother because I hated being in the dark.

  We arrived at Trinity’s door and Sean knocked.

  “She’s probably getting ready for the wedding,” I said. “We shouldn’t just drop in on her.”

  Sean put his hands in his pockets and ignored me.

  Trinity opened the door wearing a purple dress with heels. Her hair was done in a fancy way, with slight curls at the end. Diamond earrings I got her for her sixteenth birthday were in her ears. She looked beautiful like always. I thanked my wife for giving me beautiful children on a daily basis. “Ready for dinner?”

  Dinner? I turned to Sean in confusion.

  “You two have fun.” He walked away with his hands still in his pockets. He turned around the corner and disappeared from sight.

  I turned back to Trinity. “Uh, dinner?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “It’s my last night as a free woman. I wanted to spend it with you.” She smiled after she spoke.

  I wasn’t an emotional guy. It took a lot to move me or upset me. I was like a slab of stone. Nothing could shake me or make me crack. But her words immediately made a dent in my exterior. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep the emotion hidden away. “I…I would like that.”

  If Trinity noticed my emotion, she didn’t act like it. “Dinner?”

  “Yeah, sounds good.”

  She locked the door behind her then walked by my side. Even in heels she was a foot shorter than me. But her height was irrelevant to her elegance and power. She held herself like a woman who owned the world. I knew she got her posture and confidence from me. But she got her humbleness from her mother. “What are you in the mood for?”

  “How about that French place you like?”

  “Sure.”

  We headed to the restaurant, and since it was a Friday night there was a long wait. But I approached the host with a wad of hundreds. “Let me know if a table opens up.”

  His eyes widened slightly when he saw the amount I just dropped into his hand. “Actually, a table just opened up now.”

  “How convenient.”

  He led us to a table near the window, and I pulled out the chair for my daughter like always. She set her clutch on the table then straightened her dress.

  I took the opportunity to look at her, unable to believe she was really my daughter. For some reason I saw her in a different way. I’d always seen her as my daughter, a young girl who didn’t know her place in the world. But now she was a woman, an equal. It didn’t matter if Slade was the man who would take care of her from now on. She clearly could take care of herself.

  She opened her menu and browsed through the selections. “Getting the escargot?” There was a teasing note to
her voice.

  I smiled. “No. Not in the mood for snails.”

  “Me neither.”

  I ordered us a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. “Everything ready for the wedding?”

  “I think so. If not, whatever.”

  I chuckled. “Burnt out, huh?”

  “My brain is about to melt. As long as Slade is at the end of the aisle, then I don’t care about anything else.”

  “He’ll be there,” I said. “If not, he knows I’ll find him and chop his head off.”

  “You would.” The teasing tone was still there.

  I took a sip of my wine while I looked at her. “So, getting cold feet?”

  “No.” She put her menu down. “Honestly, I just want this day to be over with.”

  I laughed. “Money well spent.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly. “It’s just…it’s so much pressure and I’m trying to please everyone and it’s a headache. I’m sure the actual day will be great but all the work beforehand is a chore.”

  “I’m sure it will be worth it.” I put my glass down as the waiter approached. Trinity and I ordered then handed our menus over. There was a low-burning candle on the surface of the table, and people spoke quietly at different tables. “I can’t believe my little girl is all grown up.”

  She turned her eyes to me. “You just realized that? Dad, I’ve been a grown up for a long time.”

  “But getting married is different…”

  “Not really,” she said. “It won’t be different than what it is now.”

  She would never understand. She wasn’t a father and would never be a father. “I’m used to taking care of you and it’s hard to watch someone else take over.”

  Her eyes softened. “Slade will be taking care of me, Dad. But he can never replace you.”

  “Yeah?” Hope was in my heart.

  “Yeah. Slade isn’t nearly as controlling, psychotic, or crazy.” She gave me a smile that told me she was joking.

  I chuckled. “Well, he is a little crazy. You have to give him that.”

  “He is crazy,” she said with a laugh. “But I love him that way.”

  “So, there’s no turning back,” I said. “Slade is the one?” I already knew what her answer would be.

  “Yep. He’s the one and only one.”