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Fifteen
We made our way to the Art building, and Graham led me to one of the rooms near the rear entrance. There was a woman near the front of the room, head down, attention focused on a drawing pad. I saw the resemblance to Graham instantly.
“Pst,” Graham whispered.
She looked up and smiled when she saw us. “Hey.” She gestured for us to join her, and gave Graham a hug when he was close enough. “Luna?”
“Hi.” I liked her warmth.
“I’m Adrienne. So glad to meet you. I love your corset. Those wings are everything.”
Yup. I liked her a lot. I spun so she could see my back. “Isn’t the whole thing amazing?”
“I was going to say magical.”
“That’s what I told her,” Graham said.
Adrienne tugged gently at one wing. “Magical Fae Luna. That’s it.” She returned to her chair and started sketching.
That all happened quickly. Not that I minded. No reason to stress about if she’d like me. If I’d like her.
Her pencil scratched across paper and she stuck her tongue out just a smidge while she sketched. “So you’re the girl who got my big brother arrested.”
My stomach plummeted into my shoes.
Graham coughed.
Adrienne looked up, eyes wide. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. That came out wrong. I didn’t mean—”
“How is she going to take that in a good way?” Graham’s question was sharp.
“I was teasing, I promise.” Apology rang in Adrienne’s voice. “I didn’t mean to strike any nerves. Graham’s told me so much about you.”
He had?
“And I have nothing but the deepest respect for you,” Adrienne said. “You’ve done amazing things, and you’re so brilliant. I’m honored to get to sketch you.” She sounded sincere. She held up a line art, chibi version of me, complete with the wings on the corset.
The art, even though it was rough, was fantastic, and I’d said dumb things to new people plenty of times. I understood. “I can’t believe you just drew that. I love it. Do you do this professionally?”
She blushed and returned to the drawing, this time with colored pencils. “I do 3D rendering for a commercial architect. But I’d love to work in games. Is that silly?”
“Not silly at all. Me too.” Okay, now I liked her again.
“And I really am sorry,” Adrienne said. “I don’t blame you for what happened. Not even a teensy, tiny, minuscule bit. I know Graham blames himself. He’s like that. White knight always coming to someone’s rescue. He’s been sticking up for me for as long as I can remember.” She was a rambler too. Full respect for that.
I also liked hearing these snippets about Graham from someone else. “That’s really sweet.”
“It’s especially useful when he comes to my defense at family dinners, when Mom and Dad are asking me when I’m going to meet a nice man, settle down, and give them grandkids.”
I may not be ready for this conversation.
Graham chuckled nervously. “I have to take the heat off you, so I don’t get it either.”
“But now that he’s got you, you’ve got at least five or ten more baby-making years than I do.”
“Adrienne,” Graham all but shouted.
I laughed.
