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“Oh, the guys will be here. Can they join us?” Elliot asked.
“Of course, the more the merrier.”
“They didn’t choose a name?” Holden chuckled.
“Eh they’ll survive.” Elliot raised his glass and drank the contents in one gulp. Once he set the glass on the counter he pulled out a stool and sat down, his shoulders slumped slightly.
“We’ll ski again,” my mom continued, “and walk Main Street one last time before we all pack up and leave. Oh, and the festival is ending. We need to get a few more looks at Jamie’s painting.”
I shuddered and walked up behind Elliot. I wrapped my arms around him and rested my chin on his shoulder. “Let’s not talk about my painting. I had forgotten it was there. Honestly, it’s been nice not stressing about what’s going to happen.”
My mom took a sip of her drink. “It’s officially in the auction.”
I nodded, my chin stabbing Elliot’s shoulder. “Ouch,” he mumbled.
“Oh, that doesn’t hurt.” I lifted my chin and took a deep breath. “Let’s keep the focus on the real star of the show, Daxton is the center of attention tonight . . . okay?”
He tilted his torso. “I want to see the painting again.”
I scrunched my nose at him. “Don’t get me wrong I love it, but it’s still nerve-racking to think it’s there, with people looking at it every single day.”
“It’s no different than going on stage.”
“It’s very different.”
Shaking his head, Elliot turned to my mom and nodded towards the bottle of wine. She lifted it and poured him a glass, picking it up by the stem and handing it to him.
“The lights are focused on you, Jamie, whether you’re next to your painting, or not. Every light is aimed at that painting and more and more people see it every day. It’s a masterpiece and you need to give yourself more credit.” He lifted his glass, giving me a silent toast before taking a sip of the wine. “It’s no different than when I’m on stage, except I’m only on their mind for an hour or so. Your painting is never leaving their mind.”
My mom hummed. “I like this one, Jamie. I hope you keep him around.”
Rolling my lips, I looked at Elliot. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
-Elliot-
“You need to just tell me who you have, and I can help you pick a better gift.” Jamie walked around me, her fingers lightly brushing my back as she passed.
It was just us in the store and I was currently holding up a candle and bath bomb set. I had drawn Janet’s name from the hat and, seeing as I had no idea what to gift my own mother for Christmas and birthdays, picking something for Janet was going to be worse. I would have been better off with Jillian or Carrie.
I put the set back down and gave Jamie a side eye. I knew she cooked, but I had already gifted her the oil and vinegar which she used every night. Getting a gift she would enjoy even after the trip was proving to be a challenge.
“If I tell you, it would be breaking the rules of the gift exchange. All you need to know is it’s a mother.”
“So, neither of my brothers and obviously not me. Give me some more hints.”
“Brown hair,” I mumbled.
“They all have brown hair,” Jamie shot back. “I’m the only one with blonde hair.”
Cocking my head to the side, I wiggled my eyebrows at her. She had her mother’s eyes and nose, but her father’s hair. She and Holden were the ones to carry the blonde through the family, and I’m sure her dad was happy about that.
“That’s not a good hint.” She crossed her arms and cocked her hip. She was clearly annoyed, and even annoyed she was sexy as hell.
“And yet, it’s the only hint you’re going to get.” I bent down and gave her a fleeting kiss on her lips. “Just think about what a mother might like.”
Her lips were twitching, wanting to form a smirk but she kept it at bay. She didn’t want to give me the satisfaction of knowing that a small kiss was able to get rid of her annoyance. Her lips still in tight line, she took a sharp inhale, and then turned her body away from me, her eyes looking at the shelves.
