Read Online Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) by Ranae Rose - Free Book Online
Authors: Ranae Rose
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like she had for lunch. “Mom, this is probably the first time you’ve eaten anything all day, isn’t it? You know you need to take better care of yourself than this.” Knowing she’d hurt her mother’s already damaged feelings, she tried to talk her into joining her in the kitchen and helping her try out a new recipe.
It didn’t work. As Mallory retreated to the kitchen alone, her mother remained in the living room, looking sad. Mallory felt the heartbreak her father’s call had incited like a physical presence. It filled the room like a heavy fog and made everything seem darker.
* * * * *
“A party? Nice.”
Tyler turned slowly to face Dustin, who’d been lounging around the apartment watching TV when Tyler had arrived home from Hot Ink an hour ago. “Yeah. What are you gonna do while I’m gone – visit mom and dad?”
Dustin’s face contorted in an expression of betrayal. “No! Figured I’d hit up the party with you.”
“It’s not that kind of party – it’s a work thing.”
“Yeah, but you work at a tattoo studio. I bet the parties are badass.”
Tyler contemplated showing Dustin the glittery gingerbread man invitation Karen had given him. “It’s not what you’re imagining – trust me.” Jed’s parties were low key compared to the frat boy debaucheries Dustin lived for – events that were more likely than not to end in someone having their stomach pumped and / or getting knocked-up.
Thank God. Tyler was too old for that shit. At 29, he was seven years Dustin’s senior, but the age gap felt even wider. Jed’s get-togethers were laid-back, just the Hot Ink staff and a few plus ones. There were drinks and they all had fun, but nobody got crazy. “Anyway, you’re not coming.”
“Ah, come on. It’s a party and you can’t bring someone?”
“I am taking someone – someone else.”
“Dude, you’re breaking the code. The person you’re taking had better be a chick, at least.”
“What code?”
“You know… The code .” He raised his eyebrows like he couldn’t believe he had to spell it out. “The bro code.”
“Go home and spend some time with mom, Dustin. And don’t ever speak the words ‘bro code’ where I can hear you again.”
Dustin was undeterred. “Is it a chick?”
“My date is a woman – you’ll discover those when you’re older. If you’re lucky. Now piss off. You’re breathing on me and I don’t want to smell like a frat boy’s rank pizza burp.”
Dustin took half a step backward, simultaneously pumping a fist in the air. “If you get lucky—”
“Don’t.” Tyler gave Dustin a light shove, stopping him midsentence. “Don’t talk about it. I don’t wanna think about whatever you have to say when the time comes. But if you really want to help my chances, why don’t you go stay the night at mom and dad’s?”
He didn’t actually expect Mallory to come home with him after the party. Not after the disaster last night had turned into. He’d be happy if they just made it through the party and she had a good time. But Dustin didn’t know that and any excuse to get rid of him for a night was a good excuse.
“Dude, I’m staying here because there’s no room for me at mom and dad’s. Remember?” Dustin sounded triumphant.
“If that lame-ass excuse isn’t breaking your stupid code, I don’t know what is.”
Tyler’s phone went off, saving him from having to discuss “the code” further with Dustin. Glancing at the screen, he stepped into his room and shut the door firmly before answering.
“Mallory. Hey.”
“Hey, Tyler.”
Two words, and he could already tell something was wrong. Shit, he’d messed things up the night before, hadn’t he? He’d suspected as much. Her boss had been in the wrong, but he was still Mallory’s boss, and she’d have to deal with the repercussions when she went back to work.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” she said.
“Yeah?” He braced himself.
“Yeah. I won’t be
It didn’t work. As Mallory retreated to the kitchen alone, her mother remained in the living room, looking sad. Mallory felt the heartbreak her father’s call had incited like a physical presence. It filled the room like a heavy fog and made everything seem darker.
* * * * *
“A party? Nice.”
Tyler turned slowly to face Dustin, who’d been lounging around the apartment watching TV when Tyler had arrived home from Hot Ink an hour ago. “Yeah. What are you gonna do while I’m gone – visit mom and dad?”
Dustin’s face contorted in an expression of betrayal. “No! Figured I’d hit up the party with you.”
“It’s not that kind of party – it’s a work thing.”
“Yeah, but you work at a tattoo studio. I bet the parties are badass.”
Tyler contemplated showing Dustin the glittery gingerbread man invitation Karen had given him. “It’s not what you’re imagining – trust me.” Jed’s parties were low key compared to the frat boy debaucheries Dustin lived for – events that were more likely than not to end in someone having their stomach pumped and / or getting knocked-up.
Thank God. Tyler was too old for that shit. At 29, he was seven years Dustin’s senior, but the age gap felt even wider. Jed’s get-togethers were laid-back, just the Hot Ink staff and a few plus ones. There were drinks and they all had fun, but nobody got crazy. “Anyway, you’re not coming.”
“Ah, come on. It’s a party and you can’t bring someone?”
“I am taking someone – someone else.”
“Dude, you’re breaking the code. The person you’re taking had better be a chick, at least.”
“What code?”
“You know… The code .” He raised his eyebrows like he couldn’t believe he had to spell it out. “The bro code.”
“Go home and spend some time with mom, Dustin. And don’t ever speak the words ‘bro code’ where I can hear you again.”
Dustin was undeterred. “Is it a chick?”
“My date is a woman – you’ll discover those when you’re older. If you’re lucky. Now piss off. You’re breathing on me and I don’t want to smell like a frat boy’s rank pizza burp.”
Dustin took half a step backward, simultaneously pumping a fist in the air. “If you get lucky—”
“Don’t.” Tyler gave Dustin a light shove, stopping him midsentence. “Don’t talk about it. I don’t wanna think about whatever you have to say when the time comes. But if you really want to help my chances, why don’t you go stay the night at mom and dad’s?”
He didn’t actually expect Mallory to come home with him after the party. Not after the disaster last night had turned into. He’d be happy if they just made it through the party and she had a good time. But Dustin didn’t know that and any excuse to get rid of him for a night was a good excuse.
“Dude, I’m staying here because there’s no room for me at mom and dad’s. Remember?” Dustin sounded triumphant.
“If that lame-ass excuse isn’t breaking your stupid code, I don’t know what is.”
Tyler’s phone went off, saving him from having to discuss “the code” further with Dustin. Glancing at the screen, he stepped into his room and shut the door firmly before answering.
“Mallory. Hey.”
“Hey, Tyler.”
Two words, and he could already tell something was wrong. Shit, he’d messed things up the night before, hadn’t he? He’d suspected as much. Her boss had been in the wrong, but he was still Mallory’s boss, and she’d have to deal with the repercussions when she went back to work.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” she said.
“Yeah?” He braced himself.
“Yeah. I won’t be
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