The family stood opposite Aidan, the three of them huddled together in the doorway.

Tammy watched on, as usual being nothing more than an onlooker.

“It’s very nice of you to check on us,” the mother exclaimed before glancing toward her husband, who was less polite.

He stood at the door hunched over, chewing on something Tammy couldn’t see. “Can’t you just leave us alone, buddy?” he asked, swallowing whatever was in his mouth. “We’re trying to eat.”

Aidan frowned at the man, gritting his teeth. “I just wanted to know if everything was alright.”

Tammy tensed as she felt eyes on her; small, curious eyes.

Grace raised her head, the child’s petite, innocent face lighting up. “Mommy, can I get a tattoo?”

Her dad took one look at the word on Tammy’s wrist and laughed, bringing his focus back to Aidan. “Matching tattoos, eh? How masculine.”

His wife tutted, scowling at her husband. “Enough Dave,” she said, raising her voice. “I think it’s nice.”

Grace looked up at her mother and smiled. “Me too,” she beamed.

Aidan returned the girl’s smile, then reverted his attention back to the person he didn’t like.

Dave smirked, meeting Aidan’s looming gaze. “You know what they say about those kinds of inks,” he started, “Once you get the name, it’s endgame.”

Aidan blinked, trying his hardest to hold his frustration in. “I’m not sure I follow.”

Dave’s smirk grew further at Aidan’s confusion. “You should have said goodbye to your relationship the second she got that tattoo.”

“And, why is that?” Aidan replied, his voice calm but his hand shaking.

The man cocked his head, picking up on Aidan’s stress. “Once you get your partner’s name on your skin, you’re doomed. Say bye-bye to any happy endings.”

Tammy watched on, her eyes wide as Aidan pulled his palm into a fist.

A mixture of anger and fear overcame her body as she began to shake.

How dare he call Aidan her partner.