Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Okay, Mommy,” Chloe quipped before bounding into the living room, her hair bouncing as she went.
I released a slow breath as I leaned my back against the kitchen counter, taking a moment to close my eyes and rest. My life was so go-go-go, and I was constantly doing things. For once, it would be nice to step back and let someone else do some of the work.
I didn’t get to rest for too long because my phone started ringing. I glanced over at the screen to see my best friend Aisling’s smiling face, and I could only imagine what she was calling me about. She had been texting me all day.
“I know what you’re going to ask, and it’s still a no. I’m not getting a tattoo,” I said once I answered the call.
“Aw, come on! You haven’t even heard me out yet,” Aisling said, and I could picture her pouting over the phone.
I cracked a smile and shook my head.
“The hundreds of texts you’ve sent me today isn’t you trying to convince me?” I asked her.
“Exaggerator. Just think about it. A tattoo can be something special!” Aisling told me.
“What are you getting again?” I teased her. “A pretty flower or a butterfly?”
“You can’t shame me, Madison Carney!” Aisling defended herself before laughing. “I’m actually getting a dagger with vines and roses around the handle.”
My eyebrows lifted out of interest. I honestly didn’t expect something like that. She was the type to cringe at gore or tense up from violence, so a dagger was certainly a surprising element for her to choose.
“Really?” I asked.
Aisling laughed a little before launching into her explanation.
“So, you know how my favorite romance book is Love Kills? Well, the main male lead, Jax, uses this awesome obsidian dagger to protect June, the main female lead. The roses are to symbolize their steamy hot romance,” Aisling told me with pure excitement lacing her voice.
Aisling lived and breathed romance books, even attending a weekly book club to discuss whatever they were reading that month. It did sound fun, but I barely had time to even nap, much less read a whole book.
“Okay, that actually sounds really cool. I just don’t really have an obsession or something to get a tattoo of,” I replied. I couldn’t think of anything to get. Plus, the thought of getting something permanent on my body was pretty daunting.
And the needle. Maybe I was being a baby at twenty-five, but that was what held me back from committing to Aisling’s request to get tattoos together.
“It doesn’t have to be an obsession. It can be something that means a lot to you. Or someone,” Aisling pointed out.
Someone.
Now, that caught my interest. There were only a handful of people in my life that I was close to, but the one I was closest to was Chloe. My daughter was my world, and if I was going to commemorate any relationship with a tattoo, it would be my love for Chloe.
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll think about it,” I replied, not wanting to fully commit to anything yet until I was a hundred percent sure about what I wanted to get. It would be on my body forever after all.
“Well, while you’re thinking about it, I’m going to call and book a time slot for us. You’re free to show up or you can ditch your best friend,” Aisling quipped with a light, playful laugh.
I smirked and shook my head. That was Aisling. She could be persistent, but she was the best friend that I had besides Leah. Throughout the tough years with my ex, Aisling had been there for me, letting me cry into her shoulder or watching Chloe so that I could take a late-night drive to clear my head and get away for a second.
“Hm, that’s a tough choice,” I joked with her.
“Uh huh. I’ll text you the time slot and tattoo shop in case you do change your mind,” Aisling told me.
“Alright,” I agreed, figuring I could at least consider it a little more before making a final decision. I only had one life, so maybe doing something new for a change would be good for me. I could think of it like a mini adventure. “Love you.”
“Love you,” Aisling said before the call ended.
I sighed and checked the time on the stove, seeing that there was still quite a few minutes left until the cake was done. Then, we had to frost it and decorate it however Chloe wanted, and I already knew that she would want to do something wild. Just the thought of all those steps, even if they were fun, created a weight on my shoulders that made me want to lie down.
The days were so long and busy, and I fought to get through each one of them, trying desperately not to fall into the hole of poverty that I grew up in. I wanted Chloe to have a different childhood and to be able to experience more than I did at her age, but it would take a miracle for me to break out of this rut. I couldn’t snap my fingers and have a better job or a nicer house.