Under Your Skin Read Free

image of Norah’s jiggling tits gave him some idea what he was missing. She was cute, but knocked up. He definitely didn’t need to think about her tits. His client, Marcus, waited on the battered leather couch having a conversation with Puck, another of Kai’s artists. Puck was chewing a Rice Krispies Treat.
    Kai raised his hand in greeting and then ducked into his office to grab the artwork. Marcus stood at the counter waiting.
    â€œHere’s the art.” Kai slid the sheet in front of him.
    â€œLooks great,” Marcus said, nodding.
    â€œGood. Pay Tommy here and I’ll go set up.” He handed Tommy the invoice and returned to his station. He made the thermal of the design—an eagle flying with the American flag—and set up his ink.
    In here, with the buzz of the machine and the color of the art, he didn’t have to think about anything else. He didn’t have to worry about his mom or fighting with his sister. The art was everything.
    * * *
    Norah stared at her laundry basket full of clothes. She had no space to call her own. When she’d come home, she more or less commandeered Jimmy’s room, which was almost a full apartment in the attic. Growing up, it had been the boys’ bedrooms, but Jimmy remodeled so he could have a living room, bedroom, and bath. Little had he known that Tommy and Sean would both move back home. They lived in the basement. Kevin was the only one who left and stayed gone.
    She’d been here for weeks, but it was still Jimmy’s room and it wasn’t fair for her to take it over.
    Two quick knocks sounded at the door before Jimmy stuck his head in. “Hey.”
    â€œHi. I was just thinking about you.”
    â€œYeah?” He came into the room.
    â€œI have no idea what Dad filled my old bedroom with downstairs. I tried looking through it, but he yelled that I need to keep my hands off his stuff.”
    Jimmy rubbed a hand over his head. “I don’t really know what’s in there either. I forget that room exists.”
    â€œI told you before that I’d move in there so you can have your room back. But you gotta do something about Dad.”
    â€œYou can stay here. I don’t think I’ll be needing the space much longer.”
    Norah’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
    Where the hell was Jimmy going? She’d just come home. She wasn’t ready for him to leave her life again. She’d been counting on him being there.
    He sat on the edge of the bed. “I was planning on talking to all of you guys at once, but since you’re the only one home, I’ll start with you.” He patted the spot beside him.
    She sat and a sinking feeling gripped her. The last time Jimmy spoke with her like this, he’d told her he was joining the army and she was being shipped off to Aunt Bridget’s.
    â€œMoira and I are serious. I’ve asked her to buy a house with me and move in together.”
    â€œWhat? You like just started dating. Isn’t that rushing it a bit?” He was leaving, just like she feared. The one guy she needed in her life to lean on and he was leaving.
    â€œI love her.” Jimmy put his arm around her shoulder. “We’re going to look for something in the neighborhood so I’m close to Dad and you. I’ll be around, but it’s time for me to start living my life.”
    She shot up. “Start? You’ve been living your life for years. That’s why you got rid of me when I was twelve. So you could go be a soldier. Then a cop.”
    â€œI always made sure you were taken care of.”
    â€œIt’s not the same. And now . . .” She rubbed her tight belly where the baby did a flip. Her breaths shortened and she stepped farther away from Jimmy.
    â€œYou’re not alone, Norah.”
    Right now, she felt completely alone.
    â€œWe’re all here for you. We’ve tried to help, but you’re not letting any of us in.