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"Maggie has been"

I’ at the tattoo when I hear a noise behind th of my body

Colt

~CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN~

Colt

"What the fuck is that?" It’s a stupid question, but it’s what co tattoo, but what I don’t understand is why it’s on Mom’s wrist and why Cheyenne is here with her

Here

With my mom

Without me

"Colton! Watch your language!" Mo time I like it because it almost sounds normal Like she’s okay, but one look at her reain and I take a few steps forward before I freeze My name on her wrist She putBecause she’s dying and she wanted to take me with her And I wouldn’t do it for her Wouldn’t help her I spent the night in fucking jail while Cheyenne did so for her that I couldn’t

"Surprise!" Chey tries to sound happy I’ it in her to pretend things are okay unlikefor Mom that I should have done, but didn’t And when she wanted it, I wouldn’t have been able to do it for her anyway

"What are you doing here?" I throw at Cheyenne She flinches and I feel like a fucking prick, but I can’t make myself take it back either

"I would think that’s pretty obvious," Chey says I can tell she wants to say a whole lot oing to act like that, Colton, you can turn around and walk right back out of here This isn’t Cheyenne’s fault I wanted a tattoo and I called her Frankly it’s none of your damn business"

Mom’s words are like a slap because I want Chey to be my business and Mom always has been

I step up to therab Mom’s wrist and look at the swirl of letters

Colton

It’s si It rests on her pulse point Christ, it had to hurt for her to get a tattoo there

But she did it For otten sick or anything could have happened "This was stupid, Moo?"

"Nowhere," Chey answers for her "I wouldn’t do that I brought someone here"

I can’t er asshole than I already was I’ the saie with a little hile she was taking care of my mom

I shouldn’t be pissed at her for that

"You shouldn’t have done this," I tell Mom "I…" don’t want her to die This so die

"I needed to, Colt I think it’s beautiful I wanted to do more, but I decided si her speak She never calls me Colt Never But she is now And she needed my name in her skin

"Well, it’s my name It has to look badass" The words don’t feel nearly as real as I make them sound

"That’s more like it," she says I lean down and kiss her forehead She feels clao It looks beautiful, Bev" Chey walks across the room

My eyes dash to Cheyenne, back to Moie was about to help o with Cheyenne?" Mo weak

"Yeah Okay" I look at the tattoo again It’s red and irritated, but does look good My naer and pain collide inside ht here

"I’ll see you later"

I don’t say a word to Cheyenne as we head outside Her car is tn from mine I can’t believe I didn’t notice it

"Colt I didn’t knohat to do She called and I couldn’t get a hold of you But I’ll tell you right now, I don’t regret it"

Is it crazy that I’ up to me at the same time that I’ her, she won’t go Maybe I don’t want her to I don’t wait around to find out though I get in the car and drive off

The second I pull up I hearneed tonight

Chey pulls up behinda prick, Colt It’s just a tattoo You have a rown ass woman if you didn’t notice"

"And she’s my mom, Chey Mine You should have talked to et a hold of you!" she screarass "I called you a hundred times and you didn’t answer I didn’t--I was--don’t be pissed atphone!" She throws her hands in the air as though she’s done with me