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“Are you sure your family wouldn’t mind?” I ask, watching Carter closely. I know how spur of the moment he can be and I want to make sure he’s not committing them to anything that will make it an awkward day for all of us.
“My mother is dying to see you and Nadia will die of excitement once I tell her.”
I perk up, my nerves forgotten. "What about Jack?” I ask, a mischievous smile on my lips.
He chuckles and rolls his eyes skyward. “He’ll be as excited as he can be about anything, I guess,” he says with a dry smile.
“It’s okay if Dina joins us?.” The last time he saw her was at my father’s house the day everything fell apart but he doesn’t even blink.
His smile deepens. ”The more the merrier. Joe, I’d love it if you’re able to join us. Beth is family, and so are you,” Carter says. Hearing him call me family squeezes it in a way that doesn’t feel good. It’s true in a way
I wish it wasn’t.
“I’ll know in a day or two. Thank you for the invite,” Joes says.
Carter nods and glances at his watch. “You’re welcome. I hate to eat and run, but we’ve got an appointment. He walks over to get his coat.
“I wish you’d tell me where we were going so I could be sure I’m dressed appropriately,” I grumble and glance down at my dark jeans, black turtleneck and my dark grey ankle boots
Normally, I wouldn’t even worry. I could shave my head and dye it red and the most I would get would be a few double takes from people. But I know that if I’m with Carter, who everyone notices, the likelihood of my picture being taken is high. I put concealer over my scars, too. After my big reveal yesterday, I’m feeling more self-conscious than normal.
“You ready?” Carter buttons his jacket and smiles expectantly at me. I shove my worried to the side. I’m with Carter, I’m going to just enjoy this for as long as I can.
“You look perfect,” he murmurs and gives me an appreciative head to toe sweep.
I busy myself with buttoning my coat and keep my face turned toward the floor to hide my blush. I made an effort.
“Have you shown him your studio?” Joe asks and I bite down a groan. We’ve had a really tension free visit, and I don’t want to spoil that by making him revisit memories he might be trying to forget.
“Not yet, I’ll show him when we have time,” I say noncommittally.
I press a kiss to Joe’s cheek and take the hand Carter holds out to me. I turn in the direction of the exit, but Carter tugs my hand and pulls me to a stop and turns me to face him.
“We have time now. I want to see your studio”
50
Carter
How I See things
We don’t really have time, but her expression when Joe suggested she show me her studio made me wonder what she was hiding.
She looks like she wants to say no and it just makes me more curious.
“Please. I’ve waited ten years to see this. Just a peek.”
Her smile is resigned, but she nods. “Sure.”
She lets go of my hand and turns for the stairs. I follow her, and her nerves are palpable. Her posture is stiff and she doesn’t s
ay a word as we walk down the long, dimly lit hallway.
We stop at the only door on the left side and she slips a key into the lock. “This is it,” she says in a voice that’s as taut as her posture. Without looking at me, she opens the door and steps inside. She flips on the lights and then steps aside so I can follow her in.
It’s four times the size of Joe’s space and set up just like her studio in Texas had been. Complete with the piano and all. But that’s not what renders me speechless.
On the right wall, taking up almost the entirety of it, is the most riveting painting I’ve ever seen. I walk closer, my heart expanding with every step I take.
