AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I owed her everything, and while a couple orgasms wouldn’t repay her for all she’d done for me, it sure wouldn’t hurt, either. I’d happily spend all my years showing her just how much I loved her—orgasms and all.
* * * *
Kenz
I straightened my hair and smoothed down my dress as I rushed into the art gallery, alone.
Vance had offered to drive me, to arrive with me, but I’d turned him down.
I needed to stand on my own, and that wasn’t the general mood I’d give if I showed up on the arm of art superstar Vance More, especially because I felt like ‘we just had sex’ was tattooed across my forehead.
I didn’t regret my quickie with Vance, of course. It was impossible to regret almost any time I spent with him or the other men I loved. That time was too precious to me. However, I didn’t want anyone else looking at me as though I’d ridden their coattails to my current place.The news had died down around Vance and I dating—I had a feeling that was partly due to Bray keeping my name out of the spotlight—but I still had a complex about proving myself.
So I’d taken my own car, leaving Vance to change and arrive at the gallery on his own.
The gallery looked as it had the day before when I’d spent hours helping set it up. Each painting was exactly where I’d picked, and the lighting was perfect. There were also already so many people there, all moving around the space, looking at the work and speaking softly to one another.
My heart thundered against my ribs. I’d put my all into the pieces, had stayed upfartoo many nights and gotten countless lectures from Hayden about needing more sleep.
It was all worth it, though, to put together a final exhibit I was proud of.
And I was damn proud of this.
An arm slid around me from behind, and I peered up to find Hayden there, dressed up. He rarely wore a suit anymore, preferring his casual clothing most of the time. It meant I didn’t get to ogle him like this often, because he filled out a suitfantastically.
He flashed me a smile before telling me, “You’re late.”
I went to tell him I was sorry, but the memory of what exactly had kept me made my lips clumsy and I couldn’t get anything more than a stammer out.
He chuckled and shook his head. “I knew letting Vance work at your school was a bad idea.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, then pulled away. “The turnout’s good. Even better, the pieces are all fantastic.”
“You know nothing about art,” I pointed out. “Even if my work was horrible, you’dstillthink it was the best thing ever made.”
“Fair enough.” He didn’t look sorry at all before shrugging, as if that was a given.
“You’re late.” The voice made me wince, taking me back to the times I’d gotten scolded as a kid for failing to be where I was when I was supposed to be there. I turned slowly to find Colton behind me, his arms crossed and his dark eyebrow lifted.
I almost went over some excuse until I recalled an important detail. “I’m an adult now. I’m allowed to be late.”
He snorted, then offered a subtle smile. “I don’t think I like the influence of these men on you. You never used to talk back.”
“She always talked back,” Dane said as he walked up and slapped a hand against Colton’s back. “Just not to you since you like to glower. This girl has always had a mouth that won’t stop, though.” He turned his gaze to me and grinned widely. “Good job, Kenz. Your paintings are amazing.”
The praise made me smile wider, pleased tofinallyget to prove myself, to show off my work. “Where’s Nem?”
Dane gestured behind us.Of course she sneaks up on me.Some things would never change, like my sister being a step ahead of me at all times. It didn’t bother me anymore, though, not since I’d realized we didn’t have to compete.
So when I twisted to find her standing there, wearing a black suit and her red hair pulled back and in a bun, I had to blink away a few tears. For so long, I’d thought her gone, thought myself alone. The fact that this wasn’t true felt like a gift I’d never expected.
“I’m impressed,” she said. “I knew you were talented, but seeing so much of your work in one place like this?” Nem paused, her gaze moving around the room. “It’s really impressive. I’m glad you came out here, that you fought for this. Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I see a few of your instructors over that way.” Nem took a step that way, and my chest tightened.
“She wouldn’t threaten them, right?” I asked to no one in particular.
“Of course she will.” Rune strolled up, snacks in his hand to tell me he’d already found food at the event. “It won’t matter, though.”
“It won’t?”
“Nope, because I’ve already done that.”
