"You’ve got talent, Weston. Real talent. The way you see shit? The way you put it on paper? That’s not normal. You’re amazing at this."
My face is officially on fire. "Stop," I mutter, staring at the table. "You’re being dramatic."
"I’m being honest," he says. "You could show this to anyone and they’d think you’ve been doing portraits for years. You nailed all of it. You nailed me."
My heart beats so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t echo in the room.
He taps the paper gently. "I’m serious. I’m proud of you."
Yeah, okay. And I’m supposed to stay away from him. He keeps staring. "This looks… expensive."
I laugh, shaky. "Calm down."
He ignores me, still staring. "Sign it."
"Why would I sign it?"
He whips his head toward me, offended. "What do you mean why?!" he says. "Obviouslyyou’re gonna sign it. Sign it. Now. And put the date."
I laugh. No one’s ever beenthisexcited about my drawings. People usually go "oh that’s nice" and move on.
He wants a whole ceremony. "Okay, okay," I say. I take the pencil again, and sign my name in the corner.
Add the date under it. It feels weirdly official.
The second I pull my hand back, he’s already grabbing his phone.
"Gio—" I start, but too late.
He’s taking pictures. One, two, three, different angles like it’s a photoshoot.
I start laughing. "I think you’re overreacting a little."
He stops. Turns to me slowly with this lethal look.
"Stop downgrading yourself, Weston," he says, snapping another photo.
"I’m not overreacting, Rava. You are not reacting enough. Your drawing deserves all the attention I’m giving it. Let me give it."
That lands deep.
No one’s ever talked about something I make like that. I don’t know how I’m supposed to go back to pretending we’re nothing after this.
Because I know now. I know I’m not going to want another guy after him. He’s already ruined me for everyone else without even trying.
He walked into my life like a problem I had to tolerate, and turned into the only person I actually want to let this close.
And I know I’ve never been with a guy before. I know how girls work.
But guys? I have no freaking idea.
I don’t know how it feels.
I don’t know where my hands are supposed to go, how my body is supposed to react, what it’s supposed to mean after.
I don’t know if I’ll freak out, if I’ll overthink it, if I’ll like it too much.
All I know is that I want to cross that line, and I want it to be with him.
