Page 37 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

“Don’t talk shit about my angel, I won’t stand for it.” I scoff, walking up to stand next to her.

We both watch Oscar finish the job for me.

An hour later, after cleaning the room of the shitty bodyguard’s blood splatters and dumping Luke in a body bag for Mr. Rogers’s garbage crew, Nat, Oscar, and I sat in Oscar’s living room.

“I’m not giving you his number, Briar,” Oscar says as he hands me a plate of grilled cheese.

I gawk at him, “What? Why?”

“Because Natalie said you’re trying to leave him alone.”

I look at my so-called best friend and say, “Oh, I am? That’s new. I didn’t know I was doing that.”

Nat rolls her eyes, “We talked about this, Briar. He’s not part of our world.”

I swallow a bite of my sandwich and grumble, “What does that have to do with me wanting his number? What if Rurik could be my art buddy, and we could make beautiful art together?”

Oscar and Nat exchange looks.

I glare at them both before asking, “Okay, just to confirm… He doesn’t have a girlfriend?”

“I’ve never seen him with anyone,” Oscar shrugs, ignoring Nat’s warning.

I throw her a smug smile as I address her fiancé. “You’re the real MVP, Oscar. Can I have his number?”

“No, stop asking.”

“I changed my mind. I don’t approve of you marrying my bestie.”

“Damn. That sucks.”

I glare at him. I’m not leaving his house until I get my angel’s number. That way, I can talk to him even while I’m at work, and he’ll do his own thing! See, I can give him his space if he wants.

*-*-*-*

I look at my watch and frown.

Where the fuck is Rurik?

It’s already 6:45 AM. He should have been here on his morning run around the park. This is his usual route; from what I’ve gathered after watching him for weeks, my angel loves routine.

So where the hell is he now? I would be annoyed if he decided to change his route out of the blue.

I almost give up and start running in the opposite direction, but I stop when I finally see him running upward toward me down the hill.

I grin. Aw, he’s coming to get me. He’s so fucking gorgeous. I just want to eat and swallow him whole until we’re one.

Shit. Why does my heart feel like it’s doing backward somersaults and my stomach dropping simultaneously? Is that normal? Also, are my hands sweaty?

Oh, god. I’m dying. That must be it.

Oh well, even more reasons to stay close to my own personal angel.

As he pauses by a shaded tree to adjust his shoelaces, I lift my hand and open my mouth to call out to him. But before his name can pass my lips, a blonde girl in pink shorts and a white sports bra calls his name and sprints toward him.

I drop my hand.

As he straightens up, the girl throws her arms around his neck, pressing her barely covered cleavage against his chest. Rurik grins down at her, his hands immediately finding her tiny waist.

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