I did my best to answer. Then Ollie had gone to Grayden for advice.
Ollie had listened with rapt attention as Grayden tried to explain why people did bad things. He didn’t have any magical answers either. But somehow, Grayden had made Ollie feel secure. Grayden’s experience with prison gave him a unique perspective, and my kid had picked up on that.
Seeing Ollie grow to trust him was an amazing thing.
I drove away from the school. Grayden reached for my hand and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “Are you headed to Silver Linings today?”
“Not yet. I need one more day. It’s been…” I took a deep breath. “So much.”
“What would you like to do? Spa day? Hang out with Grace? I can make myself scarce if you need some time.”
“No. I just want to be with you today.”
We’d either been separated or had other people around us almost constantly since Danny’s attack. I wanted to relax with Grayden and just be.
He was my boyfriend now, after all, according to Ollie.Grayden hadn’t pushed for labels. Boyfriend was okay, though. I didn’t hate it.
We were at a stop sign. Grayden leaned over to kiss me. Someone tapped their horn behind us, and I started driving again, laughing. Oops. As if there weren’t enough rumors swirling about Grayden and me. We were putting on a show for the other elementary parents.
“Want to head to my place?” he asked. “I could use your help with something. It’ll be fun. At least, it will be fun for me.”
“Now I’m intrigued.”
“Right there,” Grayden said. “Hold that position. Just like that.”
I tried not to crack up. I’d never been a life model for a drawing before. “My hair is tickling my cheek.”
“Don’t move, wild girl. Stay still for me.”
A giggle threatened to erupt. My lips closed to keep it in.
“Be good,” he warned, eyeing me over the top of his glasses.
I stuck out the tip of my tongue.
We’d arrived at Grayden’s house a few minutes ago. He’d dragged me inside and moved me around like a doll, finding the light he liked best.
After he said he wanted to draw me, I’d assumed he would take out a sheet of paper.
But instead, he’d started sketching directly on the blank wall behind his desk. The future site of the mural he’d been planning the last time I was here. That had been just a few days ago, the same day Grace had walked in on us kissing.
Now, both our families knew about us.
I watched him from the corner of my eye. My hair was up in a messy bun, and I wore jeans and a plain sweater. Grayden had handed me an empty coffee cup to hold. He was sketching me just like that.
“Are you sure you want me in the middle of your mural?” I asked.
“Completely. You’re the first piece, and I’m going to build the rest of Main Street around you.”
My skin flushed. Nobody had ever made me feel the way Grayden did. Adored. Cherished.
At one point, I realized he’d stopped drawing. He was watching me through those naughty, sexy glasses of his.
“What?” I asked.
Grayden took off his glasses, set down his drawing pencil, and walked toward me. His fingers were smudged with charcoal.
“Just can’t believe you’re mine.”
