I shut the door to my room and cracked all my knuckles. I looked at the drawing—my drawing—of the wolf and the butterfly tacked to the wall. It was a copy of the sketch, and someone kept hanging it up in my room. That someone was Tate, and since it was his business and building, there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

He insisted I get it tattooed on me.

My mind was elsewhere.

I sat down and cleaned everything up. I was picky about my room and where I tattooed people. It needed to look a certain way for me to do my job.

Once the room was cleaned up, I returned a call Tilly left for me.

He texted me that he had a plane ticket ready for me.

As though I had made my final decision already.

“There you are,” Tilly said. “I can only assume you calling me this late after I called you first means you’ve been packing your shit.”

“Tilly,” I said. “I don’t have a thing packed.”

“Leaving it all behind? I like that. Starting over-”

“Tilly. You’re fucking crazy.”

“Yes, I am. Your point?”

“You bought a plane ticket.”

“That I did.”

“You know I haven’t decided anything.”

“You want to be here. Something is holding you back, Z. You never get held back. So, what is it? If it’s money, name your price.”

“It’s not… there’s a few pieces here I’m trying to finish up.”

Great. Now I’m lying to Tilly.

“Right,” he said. “You tell me when you’re ready.”

“Listen, man, I appreciate this. I’m glad I’m in high demand.”

“Hey now, I’m not going to spread my legs for you, Z.”

I laughed. “Good to know. I don’t want you to waste your time if you’re looking for someone.”

“Fuck no,” Tilly said. “I don’t look for people. I find someone and I get them. Normally I’d prefer a slit between your legs, but you know how to tattoo, so I’ll give you a pass. I just want you to know I’m serious. Anything you need to get over here, tell me.”

“I appreciate it. I’m just trying to think this through.”

“When do you ever think things through? You just up and go. The only time you ever thought…oh fuck, are you back with Steph again?”

I laughed louder. “No. She’s married now. I’m nowhere near her.”

“Good. She was a bitch. I mean, crazy hot and all, but a bitch.”

“Agreed.”

“Well I’m glad it’s not a woman tying you down. Sorry about the call and the text. I just wanted your attention.”

“Yeah, you got my attention. Give me a little more time. I can’t just bail on Tate. He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, Tate is fucking awesome. You know what else is? I’m standing outside my shop and looking at a dozen women in bikinis that are not bikinis at all…”

I sighed. “Goodbye, Tilly.”

I ended the call and threw my phone to the desk.

What the fuck was I supposed to do? I had no real ties to Miami. It was always just a fantasy for me. Somewhere forever warm, partying, living life, being somewhere completely new. The distance from everything I knew. The ultimate chance to start over. Shit, I knew if I went to Miami, I’d tear it up with Tilly. I’d clean up so much cash I wouldn’t need to worry about my own shop.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

I didn’t want to say the wrong thing to Bella and make her think we were just having an extended fling. At least, that’s not what this was to me. I wasn’t sure what it was to her, either. I was kind of hoping to see what she wanted to do with Parker and then have a serious conversation about each other. And what everything meant to us. No matter what, I didn’t want to lose her. She meant too much to me…

There was a knock on the door and it flew open with Tate standing there. He looked at the copy of the sketch on the wall and smiled.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Save it.”

“I didn’t say a thing.”

“Good.”

“You done today?”

“I’m done today.”

“For good or just today?”

“What?” I asked.

Tate stepped into the room and shut the door. “It’s been a while, Z. I figure we’re at the point of ‘shit or get off the pot.’”

“Is that so?”

“All I’m saying is, if you decide anything different, don’t bail. Talk to me. Let me know how I can help. And if you do leave St. Skin, know that you’re still family here. Anytime you’re in town, stop by.”

“Right. I appreciate that. I’m in a weird spot right now, Tate.”

“Sure you are. You went to that wedding. With another woman. And I bet you’re crazy enough to fall for that other woman.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I just know things,” Tate said. “She’s really settled in here, huh? Working at the cafe with Donna, typing on that new laptop. It’s like she fits right in.”

“Well, that’s good for her,” I said as I stood up. “I guess she needed the change of scenery. It could do a person good.”

“Just like Miami, I bet,” Tate said.

I looked at him. “What do I say to that?”

“You say Thanks, Tate. And anytime you’re in Miami, I’ll hook you up…”

“Okay then. That. What you said.”

Tate laughed. “Have a good one, Z.”

“You too.”

Tate was gone. I was alone. I looked at the sketch on the wall. The wolf and the butterfly. Me and Bella. Funny part was, I suddenly felt like the butterfly. I felt like I was changing. Like I was looking to take off and fly into the moonlight. And Bella was the wolf. Strong, fierce, standing on the edge of a cliff, not afraid of falling.

I grabbed the sketch off the wall and let it fall to the floor.

My phone beeped with a text message. From Bella.

Hey. We’re leaving in an hour. Parker and Abby are at the apartment. Hope you’re ready for this.

I grinned.

I thought about Bella’s broken heart.

I was ready.

Oh, I was fucking ready.

Starting then, I tried to convince myself of all the reasons I shouldn’t beat the hell out of Parker for what he did to Bella…and there wasn’t a single good reason why I shouldn’t.