Ink & Intrigue -jaden hossler

Chapter Thirteen: The New Tattoo

Londen’s POV

The weeks since that day at the café had felt like a blur, but in the best way possible. Jaden and I had continued to spend more time together, the bond between us deepening with each passing day. It felt like everything was finally falling into place—like we were in sync, moving forward together in a way I had never experienced before.

But even with how easy things were between us, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Jaden was still holding back a little. As close as we had become, there was something unspoken hanging in the air, like he was waiting for the right moment to take the next step.

I wasn’t the type to rush things. In fact, I’d been patient with him, understanding that he was figuring things out. But deep down, I knew I was ready to take that leap. I just didn’t know how he felt about it.

That was until today.

I had just finished a tattoo on a client and was cleaning up when Jaden walked in, looking like he had something on his mind. He was wearing his usual hoodie and jeans, but today, there was something different in the way he carried himself. There was an excited energy about him, something I hadn’t seen before.

“Hey,” he greeted me with a smile, his eyes bright. “Got a minute?”

“Always for you,” I replied, trying to hide the curiosity bubbling inside me.

He glanced around the studio before stepping closer. “So, I was thinking about getting another tattoo. Something special this time.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Another one? You just got that sleeve finished a few weeks ago.”

“I know, I know,” he said, laughing a little. “But this one’s different. I want you to do it.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the idea of working on another piece for him. “Alright, I’m intrigued. What’s the design?”

“Well, that’s the thing…” He hesitated for a moment, looking almost shy. I’d never seen him like this before. Normally, Jaden was the confident, carefree guy, always ready with a joke or a flirtatious comment. But now, there was a nervousness in his eyes that made my heart race.

“You’re gonna think it’s cheesy,” he added, rubbing the back of his neck.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Cheesy? You’re not exactly known for your subtlety.”

“True,” he admitted, grinning. “But still, I need you to trust me.”

I nodded, still curious. “Okay, I’m all ears. What’s the design?”

Jaden pulled out his phone, swiping through it before showing me a picture—a simple, clean design that read: “Will you be my girlfriend?”

My heart stopped for a moment. I blinked, unsure if I had seen that right. I couldn’t believe it. He was asking me, but through a tattoo?

I looked up at him, my mouth going dry as the weight of his words settled in. “Jaden… you want me to tattoo that on you?”

He nodded, his usual playful grin replaced with something more sincere, more vulnerable. “Yeah. I know it’s a little untraditional, but I can’t think of a better way to ask you. I want this to be official, Londen. I don’t want to just assume we’re something… I want to ask you.”

I could feel the rush of emotion in my chest. He was doing it—he was finally making the move I had been waiting for. And it wasn’t just any move. It was bold. It was him.

“You’re serious about this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, still in awe of what he was asking.

“Absolutely,” he said, his voice steady and full of conviction. “I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while now.”

I didn’t know what to say at first. Part of me wanted to laugh at how unexpectedly sweet and unconventional his gesture was. But the other part of me was overwhelmed with happiness.

Here was this guy who had been so cautious, so unsure of himself—and now he was standing before me, showing me just how much he cared. The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable, and I knew in that moment that this was real.

I stepped forward, placing my hand on his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my touch. “You know what?” I said, my voice breaking with emotion. “I’d love to.”

His eyes lit up instantly. “Yeah?”

I nodded, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face. “Of course. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”

The relief that washed over him was instant. “I’m really glad I didn’t mess this up.”

“You couldn’t,” I said softly. “I’ve been waiting for this moment too.”

He pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around me like he never wanted to let go. “I’m glad I waited, though. I wanted to make sure I was ready. I wanted to make sure I was doing this for the right reasons.”

I smiled against his chest, feeling a sense of calm I hadn’t known I needed. “Well, you’re ready now. And so am I.”

---

Later that afternoon, Jaden was lying on the tattoo table, looking nervous, but excited as I prepped the area where he wanted the tattoo. It wasn’t going to be anything huge—just a small, simple script on his wrist. But the significance of it was enough to make my hands tremble slightly as I got to work.

Jaden caught my eye, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “You’re sure this is what you want to do, right? You’re not getting cold feet now, are you?”

I chuckled, wiping down the area. “No cold feet here. Just trying to do justice to your cheesy proposal.”

His eyes softened, the humor fading as he watched me prepare. “I meant every word.”

I met his gaze, my heart racing in my chest. “I know you did.”

With that, I began the tattoo, my focus sharp as I carefully etched the words onto his skin. As the needle buzzed, I couldn’t help but feel like this moment was more than just a tattoo—it was a declaration of everything we had been building together.

---

Jaden’s POV

I could feel the needle against my skin, but honestly, I wasn’t even paying attention. My mind was racing, my heart beating faster than it ever had before. This tattoo wasn’t just ink—it was me finally taking that leap, finally asking the girl I’d wanted for so long to be mine.

As I watched Londen work, her eyes focused and precise, I couldn’t stop smiling. She was everything I had been looking for and more. And now, as she inked the words onto my wrist, it felt like the universe was aligning in a way I had always hoped for, but never truly expected.

The tattoo wasn’t just about asking her to be my girlfriend. It was about everything we’d been through together, all the moments that had brought us to this point.

When it was done, and I looked at the tattoo on my wrist—Will you be my girlfriend?—I felt like I was finally where I was supposed to be.

Londen stepped back, admiring her work, her eyes soft as she met my gaze.

“So, how does it feel?” she asked, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Perfect,” I said, my voice sincere. “Now, I just need to ask—again—will you be my girlfriend?”

She laughed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “Yes, Jaden. Yes, I will.”

And just like that, it was official. We were no longer just two people navigating the unknown—we were a couple. And with that, everything in my world felt right.