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Niko’s hand closed over the Romance Conti label, and he lifted the wine bottle with a shrug.
Hope reached up and slapped his hand. “The drinking age in the U.S. is twenty-one. Neither of them is twenty-one.”
“Then it is good I’m not a U.S. citizen.” Alexi took a drink of the smooth wine while staring at her. He could be such a starer. Not that he did it to other girls. Just her. Did that make her special? Family? What?
Hope looked over at Mia. “Why aren’t you eating?”
Had they chipped in for groceries? She needed to talk about funds. Mia flushed. “Oh, uh, I grabbed something after practice.”
Alexi shook his head.
“Are you girls on one of those crazy diets?” Niko forked up a big bite of potato. “You don’t need to diet.”
“No.”
Niko nodded and returned to his meal. It wasn’t the worst time to figure out their situation. Mia leaned toward her sister. “Did Mom and Dad leave money to take care of me?” Alexi watched closely so she kept her voice low, not wanting him to know how much the dependent remark had skeeved her out.
“Did you go through the spending money they left you? Just write a check at the gallery.” Hope resumed drawing. Her charcoal pencil made soft brush sounds against the paper.
“No… Yes… Well, some.”
“What did you spend it on?” Niko asked. “What do you need money for?”
Mia shifted. “I have some left. I was thinking maybe we could give some to the household budget for all the food and stuff.”
“Clothes, she bought clothes for me,” Alexi said. “And she didn’t ask me for money.” He tilted his head. “I thought she would, but she didn’t.”
“I won’t take your money.” Niko waved his hand in the air. “That’s not necessary. We’ll pay you back for Alexi’s shopping.” Clearly the matter was resolved in his mind.
He didn’t get it. Mia’s stomach tightened more. She looked away, then at Hope. “Hope.”
No response.
Mia leaned o
n Hope’s shoulder and tapped the drawing pad. Hope looked up with unfocused eyes. “Hmm?”
“Mom won’t think this is okay,” Mia whispered. “Niko can’t pay for everything. Picture Dad’s face when he finds out. Or worse, Mom’s.”
Hope’s eyes widened, and she set the drawing pad down, straightening. “Oh, okay, you’re right. What amount do you think?”
Mia shrugged and held up her hands. Niko frowned. Alexi took another sip of his wine.
“I’ll write a check,” Hope said. “What did the painting of the blue trees go for? You know, the one that sweet guy bought.”
“What sweet guy?” Niko asked.
“This man came in and just fell in love with the blue trees. You remember the painting? I was trying to capture the trees at midnight.” Hope’s eyes unfocused, the way they did when she talked about art.
Niko frowned. “I remember you going on about which blue-black color did I like better, but I don’t remember anything about a sweet guy.” He said sweet like it was the worst trait a guy could possess.
“Oh, well, he said the moonlight through the darkness reminded him of his ranch. Evidently it’s lovely. What did that bring?”
“One hundred thousand,” Mia said. “I remember him. He wanted you to paint a picture of his ranch.”
Niko shook his head. “He wanted you.”
Hope tilted her head and blushed. “No, no, he just liked the color.” She patted Niko’s arm. As he continued pouting, she rose and whispered something to him. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. Hope broke the kiss. “I know. What did you and Mom find out about dorm costs?”
