I’d never had thoughts like this about a girl. I just compared her to a crane…what the hell was wrong with me?
“Hi.” She placed her bag on the table.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Hey.”
She sat down then crossed her legs. “Where did we leave off...?”
“I think on page 226.” I wasn’t sure if that was even right. My mind was in the gutter.
“Okay.” She highlighted a few sentences and kept her head down.
I snuck glances at her whenever I could.
For the next hour, we worked on the project. The longer we worked together, the more I realized how genuinely smart she was. It took me several minutes to understand a concept, but she understood things immediately. Even complex problems were easy for her to solve. Her intelligence rivaled mine. Actually, she put it to shame. She was artistic but analytical, a perfect mix. And she was beautiful. What are the odds of that? She must have guys crawling all over her all the time. No wonder why she just wanted to be left alone.
“I’m sorry I hit on you before,” I blurted.
She froze then gave me a confused look. “What do you mean?”
The words came out of my mouth before I really thought about what I said. Now it was too late. I couldn’t take it back. “It’s just…you’re so beautiful and smart. You must get hit on all the time. Guys look at you and holler at you like a piece of meat. It must get old and I apologize for ever making you feel that way.” I meant what I said. In the short amount of time I’d known her, I become quite fond of her. The last thing I wanted to do was make her uncomfortable. I looked at her like she was just another girl to hit my sheets, but now I saw her in a new light. I respected her, adored her.
“Thanks…I appreciate that.”
I went back to my task and kept my gaze averted. We worked in companionable silence until it was five o’ clock.
“I should go,” she said.
“Me too. I’m starving.”
“What’s new?” she teased.
I smiled. She actually made a joke. She was warming up to me even more. I’ve never been friends with a girl without having sex, but I was quickly realizing how much I liked it.
She put her bag over her shoulder and we walked out of the library.
“Can I walk you to your car?” I asked.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll manage.”
“I really don’t mind.”
She stared at me with new eyes. It was a look she’d never given me before.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing…you can walk me.”
I studied her face. “What were you thinking?”
She gripped the strap of her bag while she walked beside me. There was a foot between us, but that was the shortest distance we’d ever done. “No one has ever opened the door for me or walked me to my car before.”
That surprised me. So she only dated jerks? No wonder why she was turned off from dating. “Well, I’m a gentleman so you can expect me to do it every time.”
“Do you do it for all girls?”
No, definitely not. “Just girls I respect.”
Her eyes softened then she looked away. She looked at the ground below her feet as she kept walking.
When we arrived at the parking lot, she walked until she reached a blue Jeep.
“This is yours?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“I like it.”
“Thanks.” She got her keys out and unlocked the door.
I stepped in and opened it for her.
She gave me a smile before she got inside and shut the door. I stood back and waited for her to leave.
She started the engine then rolled down the window.
I stepped closer to her so I could hear her words.
“Are you doing anything tonight?”
My heart raced in my chest. “No.” Even if I had plans, I’d cancel them.
“I have an art show tonight and I need a date. I usually go alone but…it would be nice to have a friend there.”
I was shocked she asked me. Even if she wanted me there as just a friend, I’d take it over nothing. “I would love to go.”
“It’s black tie and it’s last minute. I understand if you can’t make it.”
“No, I’ll be there. What time should I pick you up?”
“Seven.”
“I’ll see you then.”
She gave me a smile. “Thanks.” She rolled up the window and drove away.
When she was out of range I smiled then walked to my car, a skip in my step.
CHAPTER NINE
Livia
I don’t know what I was thinking. I was staring at Scotty when the idea came into my head. The more I got to know him, the more I liked him. And when he apologized to me, understanding how irritating it must be to be treated like a piece of meat, a few of my walls came down. Maybe he was just feeding me a line, tricking me so he could get closer to me, but it seemed unlikely. There was so much emotion in his eyes, remorse. I found it hard to believe that he would ever hurt me intentionally.
It was nice to have a guy friend that I wasn’t scared to be around. Just because something horrific happened to me didn’t mean I should punish every male I met because of it. Scotty seemed sensitive and caring. Even though he was an aspiring fighter, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
I tried on a few dresses, trying to figure out what to wear. I never dressed up and I never tried to look nice. I was always doing the opposite, trying to stay off everyone’s radar. But since this was my showcase, I had to look nice. I even did my make up and hardly recognized myself in the mirror. I wore a backless charcoal gray dress with black pumps. It was skin-tight and made me feel self-conscious. I knew I was skinny, but my curves were noticeable at every angle. I wasn’t used to being on display like this. I tried not to think about it.
At seven o’ clock sharp, Scotty knocked on my door.
I checked my appearance in the mirror one more time before I answered it.
Scotty’s eyes widened and his mouth parted slightly when he saw me. His eyes roamed over my body, looking at the tightness of the dress and the way it fit me. He looked at my feet in my heels then looked back up to my eyes. He did all of this within a second but I caught everything. He cleared his throat then opened his mouth to speak. When nothing came out, he cleared it again. “You look…wow.”
I felt the heat move into my face. I was blushing. I knew I was. Damn. “Thanks.”
He was wearing a black suit with a gray tie. Ironically, it matched my dress perfectly. His shoulders were broad and strong. His buttoned shirt fit tight against his chest, and it was loose around his stomach. He was a good-looking guy, but now all his features were highlighted. Everyone would take a look at the two of us and wonder how I got his attention. He was handsome in an obvious way, and I knew every girl noticed his body. “You look handsome.”
“Thanks.” He flattened his tie then put his hand in his pocket. He looked at me again then quickly averted his gaze.
I knew he was trying to not make me uncomfortable. And I appreciated it. “I’m just going to grab my purse.”
“Okay.”
I grabbed my clutch off the counter then walked back outside. I didn’t mean to be rude by not inviting him in, but I didn’t feel comfortable being alone with him in my house—or anyone for that matter.
“I’m excited to see your work,” he said politely. “I don’t know anything about art, but I know what’s pretty and what’s ugly.”
I smirked. “I just hope you don’t think my stuff is ugly.”
“I have a strong feeling I won’t.” He walked me to the truck and opened the door for me. Normally, he waited until I was inside before I shut the door, but since I was wearing a dress, he walked to his side of the truck so I could climb inside without giving him a view of my goodies.
That would have been awkward.
He left my house and drove to the address I gave him.
I was nervou
s about tonight. I had two paintings on display. Most of the regular art shoppers knew my name and jumped at the chance to buy my new piece, but showcases were an excellent time to get new fans. Plus, there was free food.
And I loved free food.
After Scotty parked, we walked inside the prestigious gallery. Scotty didn’t touch me. His hand never moved to my waist. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets and he hardly looked at me.
“This place is swanky,” he said when he heard the classical music play overhead. Glasses of champagne were passed around by waiters. Everyone was dressed fancy, wearing designer clothing and jewelry that cost more than the average house. San Diego was full of rich people, but that was good for me.
“Yeah, it’s nice.”
He looked around and noticed the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m too nervous.”
“Why are you nervous?” He stepped closer to me so we could whisper to one another.
“I don’t know…it’s easy to judge a painting and say cold and mean things. I guess I’m just touchy about my work. I’d like to say I have a thick skin but I don’t. Showcases are night where I receive lots of praise, but also lots of criticism.”
“I guess that comes with the territory.”
“It does.”
“Are your parents coming tonight?” he asked.
I stopped myself from laughing. “No. They won’t be here.”
“Really? Isn’t this a big deal?” An eyebrow was raised.
I didn’t like to think about my parents’ disapproval. Even though I shouldn’t care what they think, I did. And it hurt me. I needed to rise above it and just forget about them, but no matter how hard I tried, it never worked. “I’m not close with my parents…”
Scotty picked up on the sadness. “May I ask why?”
He once told me I could ask him anything. He was an open book, being honest with me since the day we met. Shouldn’t I reciprocate that? “They…don’t approve of my career choice.”
“Why?” The irritation was heavy in hid voice.
“It’s a long story…they’re from the aristocrats of San Diego. My father is one of the top surgeons in the world, and my mother is a classic housewife. Ash is following in his footsteps and I’m…I’m the loser of the family.”
His jaw clenched and the anger burned in his eyes. “How does following your dreams make you a loser? They should be standing where I am supporting you, not tearing you down.”
It was nice to have someone on my side, to make me feel better about the whole thing. “They threatened to stop paying my tuition unless I changed my major.”
His eyes widened in demonic fire. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “I said no. I can pay my own tuition.”
He rubbed his chin then clenched his fist. “I don’t understand. You’re already a successful artist. The fact your artwork is in this gallery is a testament to that. How could they possibly think less of you?”
“Well, they don’t know what I’ve achieved. They’ve been unsupportive from the beginning, and I don’t want their approval only because I’m successful. I want it regardless. I want it to be unconditional.”
His eyes softened. “That’s exactly how it should be.”
“Yeah…”
The silence stretched between us.
“Anyway, I should get over there.” I moved through the crowd of people while Scotty walked beside me. He was over a foot taller than me and I always felt dwarfed by his size.
“There you are.” Ash sighed when he rested his eyes on me. “Who knew finding an annoying brat would be so hard?”
“You came?” I asked in surprise.
“Why are you shocked? I always come.” He hooked his arm around my waist and gave me a quick hug. “I’m excited to see what you’ve worked on.”
My brother was always supportive even if he didn’t give a damn about art. It was nice to have the loyalty of someone in my family. “Thanks for coming. It means a lot to me.”
Ash noticed Scotty. His eyes widened and then he stared at him for a moment, noticing his suit and tie. Then he turned back to me. “You brought a date?”
“As a friend,” I said quickly.
His face broke out into a smile. “Wow. You’ve actually found someone who can stand you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you need to tease me tonight?”
“I need to tease you every night.” He extended his hand and shook Scotty’s. “Thanks for coming with her.”
“I’m excited to see her work.”
“I’m glad my sister is playing nice with the other kids.”
Scotty played along. “She can be fun—sometimes.”
Ash laughed. “Once in a great while.”
I cleared my throat. “If you two are done picking on me, can I do my showcase now?”
Ash bowed. “Lead the way, your highness.”
Scotty and Ash both laughed.
I rolled my eyes and marched on.
I spotted Rydell standing near my platform. I walked over to him and waited for him to finish speaking to an art collector. Then he turned to me. “You look marvelous tonight, like a completed canvas.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed both of my cheeks then stepped back. “You’re quite popular this evening.”
“I hope it’s well deserved. Are you ready?”
“I think so.”
He smirked. “You sound hesitant.”
“I’m nervous.”
“You’re always nervous,” he teased. He led me to the platform where I stood off to the side. Both of my paintings were covered in white drapes. I was nervous to reveal them to everyone. One was old, made seven months ago, and the other was finished recently. They were so contrasting, it was like they were created by two different artists.
“Now for the grand finale,” Rydell said when he grabbed the string. “I give you two new originals by Miss Livia.” He pulled the string and they both were revealed.
One was a painting of a girl lying on the hill of a meadow. A hat was lowered over her eyes, and the stalks of grass blew in the light summer wind. The sky was a pastel blue, but pink and orange clouds filled the sky. The woman was beautiful with flawless skin and red lips. An open book lay beside her, forgotten. It was a lazy Sunday, a day I remembered experiencing in my youth.
The other painting was dark. I only used dark colors. Midnight blue, black, and gray were used to mark a shadowed corridor. A woman sat on the floor and leaned against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest. A clock sat above her, almost hitting midnight, marking the end of the worst day of her life.
People glanced back and forth between the paintings, whispering comments to their neighbors. I wasn’t sure what they thought of my work. With art collectors, you could never tell if they loved it or hated it until they offered to buy it. I stood to the side, waiting for something to happen.
When I looked at Scotty, he was staring at the darker painting. His eyes were glued to it, examining every piece of the canvass that was covered in paint. His arms were across his chest and he looked tense, almost uncomfortable. My brother kept staring at the girl on the hill. His face was unreadable.
“The bidding will begin in just a few moments,” Rydell announced.
More whispers broke out of the crowd.
I moved away from the platform then stayed in the back, watching people mingle and stare at the two paintings that marked two very different time periods of my life.
Scotty finally came back to me, a serious look on his face. “When were these painted?”
I looked at the first one. “A little over six months ago.”
“And the other?”
“A few weeks ago.”
He kept staring at me, his eyes dark.
“What?” I whispered.
He looked away. “Nothing.”
Was that all he had to say?
“You are…there are no words to describe how talented yo
u are.”
That went straight to my heart.
“I don’t even understand why you’re in college. This was clearly what you were meant to do.”
I blinked a few times so the tears would dissipate.
“They are remarkable. I don’t even appreciate art and I’m totally mesmerized by this.”
They didn’t feel like empty words. He seemed genuinely impressed by my work. And that meant a lot to me. Each painting was an emotional battle. I worked through my conflicted emotions and expressed it through a single image. I was always afraid that people would read through the work and see my soul perfectly. It was dark and twisted. My second painting demonstrated that pretty well.
He looked back at me. “For what its worth, your parents are fucking idiots.”
He hardly cursed at me. Actually, I couldn’t recall a time he ever did in front of me. “Thanks…”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have cursed. I guess it just really pisses me off.”
“It’s okay.”
He stayed beside me and admired my work.
“Now we’ll have the bidding,” Rydell announced.
I usually got a decent price for my work, and Rydell got to keep a percentage for hosting it in his gallery. It was a win-win situation.
“I’ll begin with the first painting.” He stood next to the image of the girl on the hillside. “The bidding is officially open.”
“Three hundred.”
“Three fifty.”
A woman raised her hand. “Five hundred.”
A man cleared his throat from the back. “A thousand.”
Whoa…
“A thousand,” Rydell announced. “Any other bids?”
“Fifteen hundred,” a man called out.
“Two thousand,” a woman jumped in.
Ash looked at me like a tiny elephant just flew up my nose. “Is this shit for real?”
“Two thousand,” Rydell announced. “Any other bids?”
The crowd was silent.
“Going once…going twice…sold.”
The audience applauded.
“You just made two thousand bucks?” Ash asked incredulously. “Why the hell am I going to medical school?”
Scotty gave me a smile. “You’re badass.”
Unstoppable (Forehead Kisses #4) Page 7