“Lea, are you alright?”
Giovanna’s voice pulls me back to the present. I blink twice, realizing the whole class is halfway through sketching the model in the centre of the room while I’ve been staring at a blank canvas.
I force a small smile. “Just a bit tired.”
She studies me for a moment, like she knows it’s more than that.
“That’s my fault,” Paolo says from behind her. “Lea was modelling for a painting I’ve been working on. We both lost track of time.”
I stare at him, because I was absolutely not at his studio last night. I was lying in Gabriel’s empty hotel room, staring at the ceiling.
“I see your inspiration has returned then?” Giovanna says brightly. “Fantastico.”
She moves on, leaving Paolo and me in an awkward silence. He offers me a small, knowing smile before turning back to his canvas. I’ve been avoiding his studio for weeks, and now that he’s stopped asking, the guilt has settled in.
“Should we continue working on that painting after class?” I ask, loud enough for Giovanna to hear.
His head snaps up. “Today?”
“If you’re free,” I add quickly.
A warm smile spreads across his face. “I’m free.”
I nod and turn to my canvas. If I’m going to sit here for the next three hours, I might as well try to be productive instead of mourning a man who left me—again. I begin sketching the model but I’m not great at it, regardless of the fact that Giovanna insists I’m a natural.
She says my style leans toward impressionism, but to me, my work always looks like chicken scratch. But who am I to argue with Giovanna Colonna?
By the end of the class, I finished the sketch and start blocking in the base colours. It’s messy and unfinished, but it might actually turn into something I’m proud of.
“Cover your canvases. We’ll continue tomorrow,” Giovanna calls.
While I drape parchment over mine, Paolo steps beside me. “It’s going to be beautiful,” he says, studying it before it disappears.
I laugh softly. “I hope so.”
“Do you need to stop off at your hotel before we go to the studio?”
I hesitate, because as much as I’d rather go straight there, I know I’ll spend the entire time wondering if Gabriel came back.
“Let’s stop at the hotel so I can change into something more comfortable.” He nods, and we begin the short walk.
“You’ve been very busy lately,” he says once we’re outside. “I was worried you’d changed your mind about modelling for me.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been dealing with some things.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I glance at him. He looks like he genuinely wants to know, but I can’t relive it again. Not until I hear from Gabriel.
“Not really.” I give him an apologetic smile.
He nods. “Okay.”
When we reach the hotel, Paolo waits in the lobby while I head upstairs, but as soon as the elevator doors open, I see a cleaner exiting Gabriel’s room. My heart slams against my ribs as I rush to my door, unlock it, and step inside.
The adjoining doors are closed and his car key is gone from my nightstand.
No.
