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It made getting out of Silver Ranch seem one step closer.
Astrid
“How do you think it went?” Thatcher came up behind me, squeezing my hip once.
“I think it went well.” I wrung my hands together as I waited in the section off to the side specifically for the candidates. The judges were now going through the exhibits one final time then they’d make their deliberation.
Just like last time, all the guys were here. Even Angel and Trinity, who had become like extended family to me.
Trinity had cornered me a few days ago, asking me why I had acted weird around her. I hadn’t realized I had. And placed on the spot like that, I told her the truth, that I’d just found out about her history with Jonah, and I was coming to terms with it.
She’d been quiet for a few minutes, deflating before my eyes. “Shit. Like I’ve thought about it, and I had hoped you’d known. I thought he would have told you. But I guess you all weren’t really dating until recently. There’s nothing between us. At all. And honestly, I was so drunk the couple times we’d hooked up, I barely remember it. We were—”
I blocked her words by covering my hand with her mouth.
“Nope. I like you. I consider you a friend, and knowing you briefly had a thing with Jonah doesn’t change that. It was before I met either of you. It surprised me, but I’m dealing. That said. Please don’t give me details. I don’t want them.”
She was still under my hand, so I dropped it. After a second, she tilted her head just a little to the side. “You’re really okay?”
“I’m okay.” I nodded.
Then she swept me up in a hug. “Thank God! I really like you, Astrid. You’re the first real friend I think I’ve had that’s been worth something. Everyone always wanted the good time girl, or to fuck me, or something quick and shallow. It would break my heart if you didn’t want to be my friend anymore.”
I patted her on the back, not sure how to hug people that weren’t the guys. But she seemed to need the touch.
“I get it.”
Trinity stepped back. “Just for the record, there never has been, and never will be, anything between me and the rest of your harem. Even if you broke up with them tomorrow, they’re off limits. Girl code.”
I laughed and felt lighter now that this was out between us. “We’re friends. We’re going to be friends. No matter what happens.”
“Good. I’m holding you to that…”
After that conversation, we’d had deeper conversations, like our connection was stronger. Weird, I know, but that was how it felt.
When the guys were making plans to come support me, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Then Angel heard me talking about it at the shop, and he had to come too.
“I have to say, Astrid. All the guys do is wax on about your greatness when you’re not around. Now that I’ve seen some of your work, I have to say, I understand.” Angel gave me a tight hug. “I’m proud of you. That probably doesn’t mean anything to you, since I’m not part of your family, and you met me not that long ago. But I wanted you to know, I’m proud, and you should be proud of yourself.” The last he said against my ear.
Whether the guys could hear him or not, I wasn’t sure. They didn’t say anything when he stepped away. I nodded, pressing my lips together.
All my life, I’d wanted my dad to be proud of me. He’d never said the words. Then it had got to the point that I hadn’t cared if he was proud or not, because I wasn’t proud of him.
To hear Angel say that. It didn’t matter he wasn’t family, or that he wasn’t in the art community, or that I’d known him less than six months. He’d unlocked something inside me I hadn’t even known I’d needed.
He was part of the family I was building for myself.
“Contestants, it’s time to make your way to the stage. We’re ready to announce the winner,” Mary Ellen said over the speakers. She was the MC for the evening, and I had a sneaking suspicion she was the decision maker.
The guys each gave me a kiss on the cheek for good luck, and so did Angel and Trinity.
I lined up with seven other finalists. Some had introduced themselves earlier, some hadn’t. Either way, they all seemed like they really needed this scholarship.
When I had walked through the exhibits myself, I had been blown away, and for a few minutes, questioned whether or not I should be among them.
But no. I loved art. Specifically photography.
I needed this opportunity to separate myself from my dad and his church. And I had that right, like anyone else.
