River let out a bark of laughter.

“What?” we asked together.

“Gray’s in the chat.” He snickered.

“Are you three trying to outdo each other with ridiculous thirst traps?” I asked, grinning at their antics.

“Yup.” River sank back in his chair and kept his eyes on his phone. “Remember all those weird photoshoot things Nick made us do for club promo? We’re not running out of material anytime soon.”

“It’s gonna be interesting opening the chat when we’re done,” Noah said, bringing my attention back to him.

“Oh hell yeah,” River exclaimed.

“Is Quinn in there too?” I asked, flicking my gaze to my brother as he smirked at his screen. “You’ll never win against him.”

“I have a few goodies up my sleeve that I’ve been saving for a moment like this.” River chuckled at his phone. “Quinn’s already pulling out the big guns. He doesn’t come to play.”

“How much dick are we gonna see in the chat?” Noah asked, his voice shaking slightly from trying to hold back his laughter.

“Just Nick’s, wait, never mind. Gray’s dick has entered the chat. Guess it’s on like Donkey Kong. Oh my god.” He laughed. “I gotta get one of those. Did you know they have these dick sleeve things with animal ears on them? Quinn’s got one that looks like an elephant. Classic.”

River kept up a running commentary of the photos and chats they were exchanging, and by the time he was putting his phone away, Noah was turning off the tattoo gun.

I kept my attention on Noah’s face as he cleaned the area. “All done.”

I peered down. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the newly filled space on my arm. The void just under my elbow had sat empty for six years, and I’d just known that not only did I want a tat for Noah there, but I wanted it to be the first one he ever gave someone.

I loved knowing that I got to share this moment with him, that no one else would ever have that place in his life.

Noah had sketched out a small replica of the first painting he’d given me. The silhouetted tree was the same one that could be seen from our bedroom window in the first place we’d rented together. I’d always loved looking at that tree at night for some reason, and the painting of it still hung over our bed. He’d even added the pastel shading of a brilliant sunset to the tattoo, just like in the painting.

It was perfect.

“Do you like it?” Noah asked, his gaze both hopeful and wary.

“I love it.” I sat up and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Wait until I show you how much I love it,” I said, not nearly as quietly as I’d thought.

“Not on the floor of the shop,” Ben said from the desk. “Don’t think I don’t know what you two do when you ‘organize’ the storage room.”

“Who us?” I asked innocently.

“Couldn’t be.” Noah shook his head, his expression grave. “We’d never do something like that. Not in public.”

“Liar.” River coughed into his hand as he leaned over to look at my new ink. “Damn. That’s amazing.”

“You’re gonna make me get up and come look at that, aren’t you.” Ben closed his sketchbook.

“Absolutely.” I held up my arm.

Grumbling, Ben came over and bent over my arm to check it out.

I reclined in my seat, my eyes on my man, and half listened as Ben gave Noah his feedback.

Noah was everything I’d never realized I wanted. A lover, a partner. He completed me in ways I hadn’t known I needed, and he was the only person who ever made me not only want to love someone, but to show me that I was lovable, too.

Three years ago we’d both been a little lost and a lot broken. Now, we were a team, rock solid and committed in every way that mattered.

He was my everything, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that everything would be okay because I had my best friend and soulmate by my side as we figured out this crazy ride called life together.

* * *

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