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)
Her gaze darts around the group. She nods to Dred and Connor, who dip their chins in recognition, then zones in on Fee. “Ouvre Obsession.”
“That’s me.” Fee shakes her hand.
“I’ve been following you for a while. I’m a huge fan and this,” she motions to the installation, “is magnificent. You have an incredible eye for color and composition, the way you draw the eye across the canvas to tell the story.” She crosses her arms and tips her head back on a sigh. “Phenomenal.”
“Thank you. I had a lot of fun with this piece.”
“I can see that. Do you have plans for the summer yet?”
Fee glances my way briefly before returning to the woman. “Uh no, no plans yet.”
“That’s great news for me.” She pulls out a business card that reads Inked Armor. “I’m Ellie, and if you’re interested in a summer internship, I would love to take you on as an apprentice.”
Fee takes the card, eyes alight with excitement. “I've never done a tattoo before.”
“It’s just a different kind of canvas.” Ellie winks. “Think about it. Call me if you’re interested.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Ellie excuses herself, and Fee waits until she crosses the room before she grabs my arm. “Did I really just get offered an internship?”
“Ellie’s my artist. She apprenticed under her father who runs a studio in Chicago. She’s a genius artist and it could be a really cool experience,” Connor offers.
“I told you tonight would be amazing.” Cammie side-hugs her.
“You did. You told me that.” Fee grins widely. “Obviously your birthday gift this year will be a crystal ball.”
“No one needs a crystal ball to see how talented you are,” I say. “But I’m all for tapping into Cammie’s psychic abilities.”
“I predict an awesome party tonight.” Cammie winks. “Because we have lots to celebrate.”
“I love this for us.” Fee wraps her arms around my waist, and I curve one around her shoulders.
I have hope, for her future as an artist, for mine in hockey, and for us as a couple.
I might not know exactly how to make everything better, but I love her, and I’ll do anything I can to show her.
CHAPTER 39
FEE
“Ican’t believe you planned an after-party.” I’m standing in Mac’s kitchen surrounded by my friends.
Cammie hugs me. “As if we’d let this monumental moment pass without a celebration.”
“Was this all you guys?” I motion to the bunting hanging from the ceiling that reads OBSESSED WITH OUVRE OBSESSION! A collection of my posters from this semester are tacked to the wall under it. Based on the thoughtful layout, that was all Mac.
“The guys were a big help, and Mac was highly involved,” Tally explains.
Mac glances my way, as if he senses my attention on him. He’s sitting at the kitchen table with the guys—except for Gage, who had to duck out to deal with a situation involving his sister’s bestie. Mac brought me a drink a while ago, but he’s giving me space to celebrate with my girlfriends. The conversation I promised him is coming, and with all the effort he’s gone to, I’m confident about the outcome.
“Seriously, it was so cool to see all your fans come out and support you,” Cammie says.
“How do you feel now that you’re out there?” Enid asks.
“It was overwhelming at first, but having all of you there helped a lot. Now that the stress of it is over, I’m excited to really own my work.”
“It’s freeing, isn’t it,” Cammie says.
“And affirming.” For a long time, I’ve been protective of my art. It’s strongly connected to my mom and her memory, and I wanted to keep it close. But sharing it makes me feel even closer to her, and I don’t want to hide myself anymore.
“We’re so glad you took the leap.” Tally bumps my shoulder.
I glance over to where Mac was sitting a few minutes ago, thinking it might be time to take another leap of faith, but he’s not there anymore. Disappointment washes over me for a moment until he returns carrying a huge box. He sets it on the kitchen table and motions me over. “We need you over here, Ophelia.”
I narrow one eye at him even as my heart stutters. “What’s this?” I tap the lid.
He pulls out the chair in front of him. “Come find out.”
I slide into the seat as our friends gather around the table, all of them smiling.
“We’re super proud of you, Fee,” Cammie says.
“We know it takes a lot of guts to share your art, and we’re so glad other people get to experience your talent.” Mac settles a gentle hand on my shoulder and flips the lid open.
Inside the box is a huge cake with CONGRATULATIONS! scrawled across it. Beneath the lettering is a scrapbook style collage of my art that mirrors the ones under the bunting and Mac’s bedroom. “You guys! This is amazing!”