I swivel and look directly at him, forcing what feels like an overly bright smile onto my face. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Will’s face lights up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I reply with a nod, refusing to let the smile fall.
“I have a few ideas on where we can go for dinner, can I show you?”
Nodding again, I wait patiently for him to pull his phone out to show me his idea of appropriate eating locations for our date.
I glance up when the bells chime again and watch the three of them leave, with Hudson throwing me an undecipherable look over his shoulder before the door closes behind him.
Did they even get their coffees?
“Okay, so there’s this Thai place…”
Chapter 75
Darcy
My focus has been absolutely fucked today. I’m lucky I had all practical classes where most of my students are midway through their projects and only need minor guidance, because there is absolutely no way I would have been able to get through teaching anything else.
Was she on a date?
Derek has mentioned the jock before, and now that I’ve seen him with my own eyes, I can see why Derek and Xavier have been twisted in a knot over the kid.
He is perfect for Emmy. The right age, good-looking, and from what I understand, his future is set whether he goes down the professional hockey route or joins his father’s business. And he has proved several times now, from what I can gather, that he’ll show up for her when she needs him. The fact that he has squared off with Derek a couple of times as well says a lot about the guy.
With a huff, I drop the pink ropes onto my studio floor, the sound not quite enough of athudto be satisfying. Today I’m working with a gradient of red to pink and then white, not that the colors matter in my sketches, but I like to use them to help me set the emotion while I draw.
For the horizontal suspension I have in mind, I’ll be using the darker ropes around her body, then going lighter up to the beam hanging from the ceiling, so that it looks like she’s falling. If this turns out the way I believe it will, this suspension will be one of the three main pieces, which means we will have to return to it, over and over, until it is perfect.
Straightening, I stare down at the bundles of ropes, trying to determine if I need any additional length, when there is a knock and the door opens, letting in noise from downstairs. I take a deep breath, force a pleasant look onto my face, then turn to face Emmy.
She’s half in, half out of the door, gaze darting around the room, looking for something.
Or someone.
I try not to let her apprehension mess with my mental state even more and give her the answer she is searching for. “It’s just you and me today.”
Where I’m expecting to see relief, I end up with a complicated expression that is hard to read. Relief is there, but also, maybe disappointment?
Emmy steps into the room and closes the door. “Hey.”
I drink in the sight of her.
She’s changed out of her outfit from this morning and gone with charcoal leggings and a huge white knit sweater that is long enough to be a dress. With her dark hair out, flowing in waves down her back, all she needs are some fluffy boots and a beanie and she would look like a snow bunny.
I stuff my hands into my pockets and nod at her, concentrating on modulating my tone so that it comes out even. “Hey.”
She shifts on the spot. “I brought the clothes you usually have me wear. Sorry for running out in them last time.”
Her cheeks are rosy with her apology. Not that she needed to give one. We had sprung Hudson on her. As much as we hoped it would go well, we knew there was a chance it wouldn’t.
Swallowing, I nod again, feeling like one of those bobblehead dolls. “I’m sorry too. I should have told you Hudson was going to be here. I won’t do that to you again. If there is ever another model here, I will let you know in advance.”
She breaks eye contact. “Thanks. I…I’d appreciate that.”
I take a massive breath of air and expel it, trying to ease some of the goddamn tension suffocating me. “Okay, well, if you want to go and get changed, we can get started when you’re ready.”
