“But you had to give up everything you are.”
“So what?” she says. “I reinvented myself.”
“But you shouldn’t change for someone else—“ I say. “It’s—you once said you won’t change for anyone—and now?—“
“Shaw,” she says sternly. “I changed because I wanted to change.”
“But—“
“It was my decision.”
“But—“ I begin, but she interrupts me again.
“I want to be here, end of discussion. Stop guilt-tripping yourself for my decision.”
“But I made you?—”
“Shaw, respectfully, I am Avery Zayne. No one makes me do anything I don’t want.”
I have to laugh.
She has to laugh.
“Also,” she says with a chuckle as she sits back on her seat, “it’s quite refreshing being on the other side of the law here and there. Now, drive, we have laws to break.”
I give her one last look before I start the motor.
Our eyes meet.
And I know this will be forever.
Even if she drives me nuts every day.
Avery
Playlist: Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like) – Grits, TobyMac
“What the hell are you doing?” Shaw asks as I sniff the painting.
“Checking if it’s fake,” I say.
“You can smell that?”
“Yes, because I am that good,” I say, and she rolls her eyes.
“Smells real,” I say.
I can’t tell if I have felt any more alive than right now, as I cover the most valuable canvas in the world and slip it into its transportation bag with the woman I love by my side. The woman I thought would never do this heist with me, but apparently, I had the best possible influence on her.
“Here,” I say and throw it at her.
“Will you stop throwing that thing around!”
“Relax, babe,” I say, knowing she won’t.
“Relax!” she shouts and walks up and down as I fumble in my pocket. “We broke into a fucking penthouse and are stealing the most notable painting there is!”
“Yes, and?” I ask her, solely for the purpose of teasing her.
