“I think I’m good,” I reply, walking over to Bellamy. I’ll be damned if I don’t say goodbye to him because Beau is hovering.
My fingers press against Bellamy’s chin so it shifts up to look at me, and his lips twitch as he sees the possessiveness shining back in my gaze.
“Let me know if you need anything,” I murmur. “I’ll be running errands and close by.”
“I will,” he promises, his breath hitching as I press my lips against his.
The kiss reflects how I feel, and it’s quick and violent. Bellamy’s eyes glaze slightly as I lift my head, and I wink as I see he’s at a loss for words.
“Have a good day,” I purr. “Show me out, Beau?”
“Of…of course,” he stumbles as I glance at him.
I suppose my work is done here.
“Ah, Bellamy, here are the different commissions available for you to work on,” Beau continues, handing him a sheaf of papers. “Feel free to peruse it, and I’ll be back to see what you want to do.”
Beau walks me down the stairs, quiet and stiff. After having him constantly chattering about the school, it’s a bit unsettling.
“I just want to thank you for bringing Bellamy into the gallery the other day,” he finally says.
“You’re the one giving him a chance,” I remind him.
“I know. I’m doing it because of his passion, and how obvious it is that he wants this,” he says. “Believe it or not, I know the look of someone who has lost things, Mr. Tremaine. There are few reasons that a serious artist doesn’t have a portfolio when they’re serious about doing something with it.”
I incline my head without saying a word either way, because Bellamy deserves to build a life without the taint of the last year following him.
“I see,” Beau murmurs, making his own assumptions. “I’ll check in on Bellamy, and remind him to eat.”
My brow raises as I give him a genuinely surprised smile.
“He’ll try to overdo it to impress me,” he shrugs. “I need healthy artists, not starved ones with low blood sugar. Have a good day, Mr. Tremaine.”
“Thank you,” I say. “You as well.”
Stepping out of the school, I chuckle under my breath. I think Bellamy will be just fine, but that won’t stop me from regularly checking on him anyway.
Chapter
Twenty
WINTER
I miss Bell.It’s so silly, because he’s doing what he loves today. I’ve sketched my feelings out, tried reading, stretching, fuck I even did some very weak push-ups to try to miss him less.
Listen, it was a moment of weakness, okay? I fucking hate sweating.
Now, freshly showered, I’m downstairs bugging Cassidy.
“Winter,” she smirks. “Your energy is making me twitchy. What’s up?”
“Everything,” I grumble. I came in to make myself a snack because Bellamy texted me to eat. He’s taking care of me, knowing today would be weird for me.
How could it not when we’ve been attached at the hip for so long? As he’s said, bad things tend to happen when we aren’t. Except, that’s not true today. I can feel the happiness radiating from our bond.
He’s loving his first day at the art school. I refuse to ruin that by being sad.
“Are you just missing Bellamy or is it something else?” she asks, watching as I pick at some rice and chicken.
