"James," I nod at him before opening the door wider. "Come on in." In his hand is a tub of ice cream, though I can't tell what flavor it is. "She's in the kitchen if you want to head in there," I tell him. "I can put that in the freezer for you." We walk into the kitchen and she immediately smiles when she sees him. They hug and he kisses her cheek lightly. "I brought something for the sweet tooth. You said butter pecan is your favorite, right?" he asks her. "I did," her grin widens. I take it from him and put it in the freezer. My aunt finishes dinner as she talks to him. Deciding I don't want to be too much of a third wheel, I go to my room and pick my phone up from my bed. I don't have any messages so I scroll through Instagram before my aunt calls me from the kitchen. I help set the table and we are soon sitting, with me at the head and my aunt and James sitting across from each other. James, being a genetics professor, is a giant dork. It's not that I don't like him, but his topics of conversation almost make me lose my appetite. Other topics are interesting. He tells us how we can see the probability of what traits will carry on in a family based on partners. He's better at teaching this than my sophomore biology teacher. "So if you and my aunt have kids, what's the chance they'll have hazel eyes like you?" I can't help but ask. I'm partially teasing, partially not. My aunt gives me a look, but he chuckles. "Well, there's a chance the dominant trait might be brown eyes since my family has a history of those and especially since yours are a chocolate brown," he directs the statement at her. "My mother has dark green eyes, so I somewhat got a mixture of hers and my dad's brown eyes." At the mention of green eyes, my mind goes to Dylan and his intoxicating light green eyes. "That's a lovely tattoo you have," James suddenly says, his eyes zeroing in on my wrist. I quickly look at my aunt and she's almost giving him a 'shut up' look. I realize she must've mentioned to him why I have the tattoo, but I'm curious as to where he wants the conversation to head. "Thanks," I say slowly. "I'm trying to get rid of it." "Are you thinking removal or cover up?" he asks, seeming genuinely interested. It throws me off because I've only ever talked about it to my friends. "Um, whatever is cheapest and easiest, I guess." "Removal is a long process," he says, looking at my aunt. "I had a tattoo removed a couple years back." "Really?" I ask. My aunt seems like she's heard the story before, but I want to hear it. "How was it?" "It was a pain. You have to go in intervals until it's completely removed. I didn't want to get another tattoo, so that's why I wanted removal." "What was the tattoo of?" I ask. "Some Chinese inscription I got in college. It didn't mean what I thought it meant and it was quite embarrassing," he laughs slightly. "The removal is just a little more expensive than what a cover up would have been." I pick at my food. "At least yours isn't a matching tattoo with your now ex-boyfriend," I try to sound light-hearted, but my aunt frowns. I've gotten over the whole thing with Jacob, but she hasn't. And I haven't told her that we're on friendly terms now. "What would you cover it with?" she asks me. "I don't know," I shake my head. "I have to come up with some money before I start thinking about it I guess." James sets his fork down. "I could pay for it." What? "You really don't have to do that, James," my aunt says to him. "No, I really mean it," he nods. "I know what it's like to have a tattoo you don't want anymore. I have no problem paying for it." Excitement is rising in me, but I try not to get ahead of myself. "I'll have to think about it," I say. Covering my tattoo will really allow me to move to a different chapter in my life. "Well, I can help too," my aunt chimes in. "Anything to help you forget him." Him, meaning Jacob. "We're on good terms now," I told her. "We've talked through it." And fought, and argued, but I didn't tell her that. "In my opinion, a guy who changes your tire and takes you out all the time is a much better guy," she says a little on the nose. That means she clearly likes Dylan. "Anyway, I think I'm ready for dessert. I'll go pull it out so it can thaw a bit." As soon as she leaves, James turns to me again. "I don't want you to think I'm weird for offering help with your tattoo situation. I really care about Jade and I want to help her any way I can," he says. "I also don't want you to think I'm trying too hard to make you like me." "I appreciate it. And as long as my aunt is happy, then I'm happy." He smiles. "Whenever you want that tattoo gone, just let me know. I've heard students talking about the best places in town." I can only imagine what conversations he hears on a daily basis. "Thanks," I laugh. I can't wait to tell Casey. She'll help me decide on a cover up. Maybe that can be our small distraction from the Xavier disaster going on.