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My tears well up in my eyes before falling down my cheeks as my emotions catch up with me, and a sob echoes through the silent room before my father's voice comes out.
"Starry?"
I turn to look at him, and he sighs, seeing my tears, before walking over to me, taking me into his arms as he looks at my work.
"This, my darling girl, is fucking amazing!"
I nod, laying my head on his chest and looking at my work, not caring that my white dress is full of paint. I'll just dye it later.
"I got my muse back, Daddy." I rasp, and my father nods. "Your trust in Zayne?"
I nod back. "It's not going to be easy; I'll probably throw his misgivings in his face a few times a month when he's upset me, but the thought of losing him, whether in death or to someone else, someone who would take his heart and hold onto it tightly, makes me feel like I'm dying over and over."
"And that my daughter is what true love is all about."
I nod and sniffle before squeezing his waist. He lets me go and walks over to the canvas with the flames over the mountain, and he grins, pointing at it. "I want to buy this one."
I just chuckle and shake my head. "It's yours; no charge for my daddy."
He grins and gently picks it up, looking at it before looking around. "You've been in here for three hours," my eyes instantly widen, panic rushing through me, Theo!
My dad's eyes soften. "Theo is happy with his other grandparents being spoilt; Ella actually told me you are not allowed him back tonight; she wants at least eight paintings done, and by the looks of things, you've done her justice."
I smile before looking at the painting of Theo, and I nod towards it, "Do you think you can take her that for me? It's hers to have, and I can guarantee I'll take Theo back with me if I go."
My dad grins, "On one condition." I chuckle. "Yes, Dad, I'll paint one for you now. I need Zayne's one to dry before I take it to his office at the garage." My dad grins wide and nods before seeing one of him and my mother, and he sighs.
"I don't know what to do, Star."
I give him a smile. "Do you miss her?"
He nods, "every day. I'd planned on showing her the cottage I had built. It was my safe haven when all three of you had your monthly together," I chuckle because we were terrible all under the same house. "When I finally got out, I was going to show her. I was going to give the house to Emma because I knew you'd move in with Flame, and I was going to spend the rest of my days in that cottage with my wife spoiling our grandchildren," he says, looking at me with sad eyes. "That was my plan, Starry."
I nod. "Then you'd found out what she did and what Emma did."
He nods, “How can I forgive that sweetheart?”
I sigh before walking over to him, laying my head on his shoulder, "by talking it out."
He shakes his head, wrapping his arm around me, "but every time I see her, I want to fucking strangle her."
I cut him off. "But you also want to kiss her because you were forced away from your love for ten years." He sighs and nods while I smile. "Try marriage counseling, dad. I may not want a relationship with her, and I probably never will, but there's nothing stopping you from having it. She never moved on from you, Dad; she mourned you every day, and I'm not sticking up for her because, as I said, I want nothing to do with her, but your marriage has nothing to do with me, so take me out of the equation."
He nods. "I'll think about it." I nod. "You'll never want a relationship with her or with your sister."
I pull out of his arms and give him a smile as I set up the canvas. "I'm all for you trying with Momma, Daddy, but for me, I can't. Trying to forgive Zayne has been hard—so damn hard, his misgivings constantly running through my head kills me every day, but trying to forgive momma," I shake my head. "I needed her more than I needed anyone. I saw my father taken, I was shot at, I was assaulted constantly at school, and then I was—well, you know, and she wasn't there for me. I want you to try because she's your soulmate, your other half, but I just can't. I needed her dad, and as for Emma, she's been a selfish bitch before you were even taken."
He nods and walks over to me, hugging me tightly. "I understand, my darling girl, and I'll stand by whatever decision you make. I love you."
I smile and squeeze him tight. "I love you too."
He kisses my forehead and says, "Right, make my painting and bring it to the clubhouse later tonight, alright? I'll take these two with me now."
I nod as he picks up Ella's and his paintings before leaving the art room. I get my paints ready again, doing a different style of Theo for my dad because I hate doing replicas, before doing an at-night beach-style canvas. Then I clean up my paint before washing my hands and grinning as the colors swirl down the white sink. I turn the lights off after I grab Zayne's painting before rushing to the Jeep that Zayne bought back for me and kept. It was one of his truths, and I bawled when he showed me because swapping it for that Ford nearly killed me.
I place the painting carefully on the back seat before getting into the driver's seat.I look towards Zayne's parent's house and grin, seeing my boy in the little paddling pool as Tank admires my painting with pride before driving off, Cal opening the gates for me. I wave as I head towards Fire's garage.
It only takes me roughly five minutes before I'm pulling into a spot, and I quickly grab the painting before walking inside. Hallie, the receptionist, smiles a weak smile at me before her eyes catch my painting and they widen, her hands going for it, but I pull it away, making her pout, then sigh as she wrings her hands together. "Uh, Star, your uh, sister went in there five minutes ago."
