Page 47 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

-Angel, that’s rude.

-You’re hurting my feelings :(

-Just kidding, I don’t have any feelings.

-Except for you. Although, my feelings for you are probably inappropriate to mention in front of your mom.

-Ooh, are those chocolate chip pancakes?!

-The way you’re licking the chocolate from your lips is doing things to me, angel. Stop it.

-Or keep going if you’re imagining my taste instead.

I grit my teeth and text her back.

ME:

-Leave me the hell alone.

I turn off my phone entirely and shove it inside my pocket. If she continues to text me, that’s on her. I won’t read or reply to them any longer. Maybe then she’ll take a hint and leave me alone.

Clearing my throat, I pick up my silverware and begin shoving my face with pancakes, wiping my mouth instead of licking them this time.

“If you’re annoyed with work that much, maybe quit? You can ask for a full-time position at the gallery instead,” my mum says, still thinking work was bugging me.

I swallow hard and nod, “Yeah, mum. The grocery store is just draining.”

I mean, technically, I’m not lying. Customer service jobs are fucking tiring with the different sorts of people we encounter every day. But she doesn’t need to know that’s not what’s irritating me.

As I enjoy my time with my mum, I can't shake the feeling of being watched again. This time, I have no doubt who it is.

Chapter 7

Briar

This is not what it looks like. No, I am not moping in bed way past my alarm when I should be getting up and going for a run, regardless of whether Rurik will be there or not. It’s good for my mental health and my overall health, right? But fuck… Okay, fine. I am in bed.

It’s been a week since I’ve seen my angel.

A whole damn week.

A week since I saw him with Fake Barbie, and we exchanged pleasant conversations via text messaging.

Well, it was pleasant for me because I got to talk to Rurik even when I was away with Nat doing work stuff. But he's ignored my texts and left me on 'read,' which is hella annoying. Doesn't he know I rarely text people? Aside from Nat and Mr. Rogers, Rurik is the only person outside of work to whom I reach out.

I miss him. Why hasn’t he texted me back? Am I that annoying? Probably. But whatever, he’ll get used to me. I’m just charming that way. I texted him constantly for the past week, and he never replied.

Not even a “leave me alone, Briar” or a “Fuck off.”

Nothing.

Groaning, I toss to my side and recheck my phone, only to see my unanswered texts to him.

ME:

-Hello, you ;)

- Sorry, I can’t meet you this morning on your run. I had work to do late at night, and I overslept. It won’t happen again!

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