Draw Me In (32 page)

I sat on her bed and watched as she packed up some clothes, listening as she told me about the stuff that I hadn’t heard on the news. College officials had cooperated with authorities and promised that she’d be “taken care of,” whatever that meant. Hailey stuffed a pair of shorts in the top of her bag. “I’m hoping that means I’ll pass my psych class without actually having to take the exam.”

I nodded, about to ask another question, when she bent over in front of the dresser. Her shirt rode up a little in the back, and something caught my eye. A completely different thought possessed my mind, and I had to ask. “Hailey? What’s on your hip?”

She shot upright as if she’d been shocked, and I had to laugh at the way the blush climbed from her neckline to sit high on her cheeks when she turned to face me.

“It was going to be a surprise,” she said, crossing the room. “But I guess I can show you.”

She turned, lifting the hem of her shirt. My heart stopped and then thudded in triple time. There on her back was the flower I’d given her—a magnolia blossom in full bloom, done in dramatic black and gray. It was obviously pretty fresh, only a week or so old.

“It’s my drawing, but it’s the flower you gave me.” Hailey looked over her shoulder at me. “Karl did it for me the day you were off.”

Stunned didn’t begin to cover what I was feeling. I just looked at the tattoo, then back up at her face. “I didn’t know.”

She turned and put her hands on my shoulders. “I got this because I loved what it meant to me. It’s hope. It’s a future when everything seemed like it was ending. It’s to remind me of what I’ve learned over these past couple months. It’s kind of my version of when God closes a door, you break through the damn window.”

I laughed aloud at that, and she continued.

“I loved it because you gave it to me, but it means much more than that. Now I know who I want to be when I grow up.” She bent down, her mouth close to mine. “And I hope that you’re there with me.”

“I’m there, Hailey. As long as you’ll let me be.”

And I kissed her then, hoping she’d let me be a part of her life for a long time to come.

If not forever.

Epilogue

Hailey

The gun buzzed in the small room, the sound vibrating through my hand. I re-inked the machine and bent to my client again.

“This is the white highlighting, so it’s going to hurt a little more, okay? But keep still for me.” Touching the needles to my client’s skin, I added the highlights to the small tattoo.

“Ouch! That really hurts!”

“Roger,” I said calmly, wiping away the excess ink and small traces of blood. “You’ve had what, forty tattoos? Fifty? More? Come on. Don’t be such a baby.”

“But it hurts,” he whined, twitching his foot. “Why do you think I haven’t done my feet? I know they fucking hurt!”

“Not much longer,” I soothed, patting his leg. “Come on. Man up for me and keep still, or this is going to look like shit.”

He grunted, staring longingly at the flesh-colored patch on his arm. “Of all the months for me to give up smoking.”

“You did that for Luce, and don’t you dare let this tiny cartoon make you fall off the wagon.” I added a touch more highlight to the eyes, wiped, then sat back to admire my work. “I think we’re done. Neill?”

At my call, my artist popped his head through the door. “All done?”

I nodded, wiping the whole tattoo down with cleansing solution. “Think so. Check it out for me, though.”

Neill bent down over the chair, examining Roger’s foot. I smiled down at the machine in my hand. My machine, my inks, my work. This was my twelfth tattoo on a real human and my first on a foot. But seeing my art on real skin? I didn’t think I’d ever get used to how cool that was.

“Great job, Hailey.” Neill smiled broadly. “That’s just about perfect. Right depth, good shading, line work is stellar.” He clapped Roger on the back. “I think you’ve got yourself a nice tattoo there.”

Roger sighed. “Yeah, looks good. But I wish I hadn’t let Luce pick it.”

“Why?” I laughed as I smeared the tattoo with a thin layer of ointment. “I think Goombas are cute. They’re my favorite Mario villains.”

Roger rubbed at his shaved head. “I think she’s trying to make a statement about my height.”

“That’s between you and her. I’m just your artist.” I winked as I wrapped the fresh ink. “Let me go over your aftercare instructions.”

Roger rolled his eyes. “I think I’ve got it at this point.”

“Let her, she needs the practice,” Neill said. “That’s an order.”

As I rattled off the speech I’d been practicing, a cellphone rang. I glanced over my shoulder, but Neill had already taken the call and moved out of the room. When I’d finished with Roger and he’d limped off to his own studio, I started cleaning up my supplies, storing them in the corner that Neill had given me for my stuff.

I hummed to myself as I moved around Neill’s space, cleaning and putting supplies away. I’d be starting the spring semester of my junior year soon, thanks to my job and the scholarship Leesville had given me as an apology for the traumatic events—their words—of last semester. Dr. Fields had been institutionalized, and if he ever got out, he’d be serving a prison sentence. Mrs. Grant had already been fired, and last I’d heard, she was serving some time of her own. I had moved in with Neill, was banking my earnings from the shop, and life couldn’t get much better.

“Hey, Hailey,” Neill said in the doorway, holding his cell to his chest. “Do you have a second?”

“Sure.” I moved closer, tossing my gloves in the trash. “What’s up?”

He handed me the phone, his eyes unreadable. “It’s for you.”

I tilted my head in question, but he didn’t answer, just held the phone out to me until I took it.

“Hello?”

“Hailey?”

“Oh my God,” I said as shock flooded me. “Mom? Is that you?”

“It’s me.” My mother’s voice, thinner than I remembered, but definitely her.

“Why are you calling Neill? How do you even know his number?”

“He found me. I said I couldn’t talk to you, but he insisted. He told me about what happened with that professor. I’m sorry, Hailey. When I found out what your father had been doing, I just lost it. I ran, and I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to have anything to do with him or anything else from home. And that included you.” Her voice faltered. “And that was so wrong of me. I just . . . I’m sorry.”

I had imagined what it’d be like if I ever found Mom. I’d pictured being overcome with joy, or anger, or maybe sadness. But now? There wasn’t much. Relief that the question was answered, maybe, but my feelings for her were different now.

I’d discovered that I didn’t need my parents anymore. When things had gotten tough for me, they’d had their own lives to deal with. And now? I had mine.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” I said simply. “Thanks for calling. I’m fine. I really am.”

“But Hailey,” Mom said, tears obvious in her voice, “I want to see you now. I mean, I’m sorry. I didn’t know how much I’d missed you until Neill contacted me. I want to know what you’ve been doing, how you are.”

I shook my head, a smile crossing my face. “I’m sorry, Mom, but you missed out on that privilege when you ran out on me. Dad deserved it, but I didn’t. I love you, but it’s going to be a long time before I can trust you again. I’ve got my own life to live now, and you do, too. So let’s take it slow, okay?”

Mom argued for a long time, but I held firm. When the conversation finally ended, I handed the cellphone back to Neill and looked up at him.

“I can’t just let her back in my life,” I said simply, shrugging. “It’s different now.”

“I never expected you to. But I knew you’d wonder about her till you heard something, so I tracked her down.”

I turned back to my inks and finished putting them away. After closing the cabinet door, I stood and stretched. Neill, never one to miss an opportunity, stepped close and wrapped his arms around my waist as I relaxed.

“You’re wonderful, you know,” I said, sighing against his chest. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“Be you, maybe?” He laughed as he pressed his lips to the top of my head. “You talk about undeserving—I’m the one who thanks his lucky stars that you’re not tired of me yet.”

I pulled back and looked up into his eyes. “I’ll never be tired of you.”

He put his hand against my cheek, cradling it softly. “I love you, Hailey. You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”

“I know,” I said with an impish grin, and I kissed him. I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the office. “Let’s go make some art.”

Acknowledgments

Writing this book was a challenging experience for me. A lot was shifting in my writing career during the process, and I owe a lot to the people who helped me complete it. So here’s to you guys. You’ve got all my gratitude!

To Scotty, my husband and superhero. I can’t make this whole writing thing work without you. Thank you.

To Denise, who talked me off the ledge a LOT during this book. You mean the world to me. Thank you.

To my parents, who keep bugging me to make sure I’m getting my words done. I love you. Thank you.

To Heather, who’s always willing to lend an ear or an idea. Thank you.

To Stephanie, who gave me lots of drug research help. Having a pharmacist in the family is so very awesome, and having a bestie like you is even more awesome. Thank you.

To my editor, Sue Grimshaw, who fell in love with Hailey and Neill and wouldn’t rest until they were published. Thank you so much for giving me this shot.

And finally, to my super agent, Nicole Resciniti. You gave me a chance despite the negatives. It’s amazing to have such a rock-star agent. I’m so grateful to you. Thank you.

About the Author

Regina Cole, lover of manly muscled arms, chest hair, and mini-marshmallows, has been reading romance since her early teens. When her reading needs outstripped her budget, she started writing her own. Contemporary, erotic, and new adult romance are her preferred genres.

When she’s not frantically pounding away at the keyboard, she can be found fishing at the Outer Banks with her family, playing with her two spoiled dogs, or snuggling with her superhero husband.

Regina also writes historical and time-travel romances as Gina Lamm. You can find her at www.reginacole.net.