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Nora waved her hand dised in her electric needle, mixed her ink and cleaned Griffin’s ar fancy, mate?" she asked as she adjusted Griffin’s arm

"Not this year Just add another band to the bottom"

It took less than fifteen minutes to finish Griffin’s tattoo--a black vine around the bottoht bicep Michael could only watch in fascination as blood pooled and dripped Griffin barely even winced as the needle pushed ink deep into his skin For the entire time Spike worked on Griffin’s arm, Michael studied his face He had such a handsohing or s every few seconds Where did all that happiness come from? Michael didn’t really care He just wanted to be a part of it

Once finished, Spike cleaned Griffin off and took a photo of the tattoo

"When are we getting that griffin on your back we’ve been talking about?" she asked

"Think we’ll save that for next year and lucky anniversary number seven" Griffin turned to Michael "Spike specializes in big work Did big black angel wings all over the back of souy in Scotland"

"My best work," she said with pride "I love wings They’re ful look

Griffin looked at Michael

"Come here, Mick Got a present for you"

Michael stood up and walked over to Griffin Nora put her notes away, shoved her glasses on her head and watched theet a tattoo My et or where"

Griffin reached out and took Michael by the forearm He lifted Michael’s hand and placed it on the center of his bare chest Every nerve in Michael’s body caers on Griffin’s skin

Griffin started to unbuckled Michael’s watch

"Wait Stop," Michael said Griffin clapped a hand onto his arm and held Michael in place

"It’s okay, Mick," Griffin whispered "You can trust , Michael nodded "Okay"

Griffin removed Michael’s watch and set it aside as carefully as if it was Griffin’s three-hundred-thousand-dollar Audeuet and not Michael’s twenty-three-dollar eBay special

After re the watch, Griffin took off Michael’s black wristband He turned Michael’s arms over and showed the scarred wrists to Spike

"Can you do it?" Griffin asked