Why won’t it work?
“I would have been happy if she lost.” Those words are whispered, and I feel so guilty for voicing them out loud. “And that’s a shitty attitude. I’m not complaining.”
“No, younevercomplain.”
I frown over at him. “I don’t like to complain. I’m as privileged as it gets, Gideon. I don’t even have to list all the reasons. They’re glaringly obvious.”
“It’s okay to have opinions,” he replies.
“Sure. And I have some. But it would be intensely ungrateful of me to bitch about any part of my life.” I shake my head and go back to working on the trees on the other side of the lake. “Anyway, maybe someday I’ll try to sell my art. But it would have to be when Mom’s out of politics, and our last name isn’t so recognizable.”
“You could always sell it under a pseudonym.”
I blink over at him.
“You know, like some authors do. Actors. You don’t have to do it under your real name.”
Huh.I never thought of that.
“So it would be sort of anonymously.”
“It could be. You wouldn’t have to put your face next to it. Have a third party handle sales and exhibitions. Maybe the mystery would make it sell for a higher price.”
I grin at that. “You could be onto something.”
Sighing, I stare down at the drawing in my lap.
“I’m rusty. This is shit.”
“You’re crazy if you think that’s anything other than fucking amazing.”
The clouds overhead are getting angry, and I hear thunder off in the distance.
“Storm’s coming through.” Gideon stands and offers me his hand to help me up. “We should go inside.”
“I can smell it.” Taking a deep breath, I grin when the wind kicks up, blowing through my hair. “Wow, it happened fast.”
“They usually do around here. Come on.”
Following him inside, I’m surprised to smell something delicious in the air.
“How long was I out there?”
“A few hours. I have that pot roast you talked about in the oven. Make yourself at home. I’m headed out to the gym for a while.”
From his posture and the way he’s not looking me in the eye, I can see that I’m not invited to go with him.
And why does that hurt my feelings?
It shouldn’t.
“Oh, okay. Have a good workout.”
Gideon nods. “Need anything before I go?”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
I want him to stay. Or take me with him. I like being close to him.
