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Sebastian glanced at me. "We should get going if we want to avoid traffic."
I grabbed my coat and purse from where I kept them on the back of a dining room chair. My small wheelie suitcase sat near the front door.
"I'll grab your suitcase and put it in the trunk," said Sebastian. "Meet you outside."
Constance gave me a coy look. “Have fun, you two.”
SIXTEEN
FAITH
"And that, my friends, is how you paint the Brooklyn Bridge."
"Dude, you’ve got to come look at my painting, Miss Faith," one of the kids said, calling me over. His name was D’marian, and he had quite the eye for art.
I toured the rest of the room, admiring everyone's work. They were all different, and I enjoyed seeing how the students interpreted my instructions, putting their own spin on things.
"I'm impressed. You should all be very proud of yourselves. Miss Daisy and the team will put them up in the art gallery area once they all have a chance to dry."
The teens started chatting with each other and gathering their things to leave, while others took time to clean their brushes in the sink in the back corner of the room.
I waited patiently as they left, one by one.
But that didn't stop me from sensing him. He insisted on sitting in the back of the classroom for the entire class. In fact, Sebastian had not let me out of his sight.
The drive up had been a quiet one but when we entered the city he became extra tense. I wondered if it had to do with me or if he just wasn't a city guy.
Rather than dropping me off at the library like I thought he would, Sebastian found parking nearby, busted out my brunette wig, and told me to wear it until we were in the classroom. I'd laughed at first, but when I saw the set of his jaw, I decided to play along.
Besides, I rocked this wig and was excited for another opportunity to wear it.
And he wasn't acting frustrated that we were here. If anything, he looked content sitting in the corner, laptop open, doing his work while I did mine.
Daisy came into the classroom, saying goodbye to the last of the teens. Then sidled up next to me.
"He's staring at you," she whispered to me.
I knew who she was talking about.
"He does that." I didn't need to look his way to feel his eyes on me.
It was really annoying.
"These turned out great," she said, admiring the paintings. "I should have taken your class tonight."
"You know you're always welcome."
She beamed at me. "I just don't ever want to take a spot that could go to one of your students and you had a full house tonight."
"That we did." And they were extra spunky tonight. It was unseasonably warm for February.
"They were so happy to see you."
My heart caught in my throat. "I was happy to see them too." As reluctant as I was to come back into the city, it was a good thing to face my fears head on. Being with the teens reminded me of what fun I could have when I painted. They were vibrant and bright and full of energy. It was a feeling I wanted to bottle and carry with me.
But more than that, I felt needed in a way that was new and invigorating. They gave me a sense of purpose I'd never felt in my life.
Which gave me an idea. "Sebastian?"
