Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Brody gives me a thumbs-up. I can’t read the subtext, but I don’t think it’s the same as when Cammie does it. As we get closer to Fee’s installation, we can finally see the entire piece.
“Dude,” Brody says. “That is…wow.”
“That’s the perfect descriptor,” Chase deadpans.
“Fuck you, bro,” Brody grumbles.
“Holy crap.” In some ways, it echoes of the art on my bedroom wall, but it merges the darkness of her Ouvre Obsession art and the pieces I’ve seen her working on in the studio. The right side of the installation is a compilation of her Ouvre art: monochromatic moody snapshots with bursts of color. The large canvas next to it starts in shades of black and purple, the left side of the figure slowly shifting to full color until it becomes a vibrant neon rainbow that dissipates like grains of sand. On the right are more of her snapshots, bright and vivid, with tiny hints of darkness threaded through.
“She made you look good.” Chase grins.
“Definitely a few embellishments,” Brody needles.
The canvases tell a story, her past, present and future laid out for everyone to see.
We wait our turn to finally step inside her circle to say hi. Fee’s absolutely radiant in her navy dress and bright blue heels.
Her face lights up when she sees us. “You’re here!”
“This is kickass, Fee,” Brody says.
“So fucking cool,” Chase agrees.
“This is amazing, you look amazing.” I thrust the bouquet at her and wish I felt less awkward with all these people around us.
I swear I feel Roman’s eyes boring a hole into the side of my head. Or maybe that’s just my paranoia.
“These are beautiful. Thank you.” She steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist.
I drop my head and breathe in the familiar scent of her shampoo. “How you doing?”
“This is cool, but I’m a little overwhelmed to be honest. I didn’t think so many people would show up. I’m really glad you’re here.” She hugs me tighter for a moment.
“Me, too.” Relief washes over me at her admission. It feels so good to hold her again. I soak up the balm of her closeness. “I’m so proud of you.”
She steps back and captures my hand, squeezing gently. “Thanks for coming out to support me.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” I say softly.
“Not even the ice,” she jokes.
“Only here with you,” I reply earnestly.
“I would commission you to draw my wife.” Connor kisses Dred’s temple. Their arms are linked and his sleeve is rolled up, exposing a sliver of the art that decorates his skin.
“I would commission you to draw Lexi,” Roman jumps in, probably not to be outdone by his former teammate.
“I would love to paint both of you.” Fee grins, her cheeks flushing.
Gage busts through the throng of people waiting to talk to Fee to join us. “Hey, guys! Sorry I’m late. Shit’s been going down. Holy hell, Fee, this is like seriously legit and that—” He points to the art behind her. “—is freaking amazing. Is that our boy Mac? She did you a solid with the broad shoulders.” He thrusts a bouquet at Fee, which means she has to let go of my hand.
It’s bigger than the one I gave her.
Not that it’s a contest.
I step back for a moment to give Fee a chance to say hi to the rest of our friends while Lexi assures the waiting fans that they will have a chance to say hi.
“Looks like maybe you have some competition,” Roman observes.
My mouth feels drier than a desert. “Gage is my roommate.”
“I was kidding, but also it’s good that your friend is keeping you on your toes.” He adjusts his hold on Ariel so she can rest her head on his shoulder.
I nod and shove my hands in my pockets. “Fee’s wildly talented. She really pours her heart and soul into everything she creates.”
“She is and she does,” he agrees. “She’s an amazing and resilient young woman and it’s inspiring to see her channel her talent into such beauty.” His gaze shifts to me. “She deserves someone who will treat her with gentleness, because she has already taken some serious blows.”
“I know, sir. She’s important to me.” I swallow past the lump in my throat and go with honesty. “I love her.”
One eyebrow pops. “Does she know this?”
“Yeah. She knows.”
“Because you told her, or because you showed her?” he asks. “Words are just words until you follow them with actions, Mac.”
“I hear you loud and clear, sir.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “It’s just Roman.”
An edgy young woman approaches when there’s a break in the waves of people waiting for a chance to meet Fee. Her long black hair is pulled up in a tight ponytail, showing off a line of tiny birds flying along the side of her hairline. Her arms are decorated in colorful art.