Page 105 of Fire of the Fox

Beaming at him, I set the canvas in my lap. “What should I paint?”

He laid out on his side and propped his head on his hand. Popping a grape in his mouth, he shrugged. “Anything. Paint something you want. This is for you, no one else.”

With my heart beating faster and my body buzzing with excitement, I grabbed a brush and let my mind and hands do the work. Rune let me paint, nudging me every so often to feed me some fruit or a bite of a sandwich.

“Your paintings are going to get you far in life, you know. You have such real talent, Bria. It’s insane watching you paint.”

Smiling warmly at him, I said, “Thanks. Painting is my dream. It’s what makes me happiest, but it’s not realistic, you know? I’m going to be an art teacher instead.”

Unless I came out of this week-long trip alive. Then, maybe, I could go to Italy and change my life forever.

He frowned, sitting up more. “Is teaching what you want to do?”

My lips lifted a fraction as I nodded. “Yeah.”

He studied me, his eyes trailing over my face. Finally, he narrowed his eyes. “Liar. You don’t want to be a teacher.”

“Oh yeah?” I laughed. “How would you know?”

“Because your smile didn’t reach your eyes. That’s your fake smile, the one you put on to look okay when you’re not.”

Biting my lip, I turned back to my painting. So far, it was the base colors for what would become the ocean, shoreline, and sunset sky. My fingers itched with the need to keep going, to get lost in the colors and brushstrokes. This was what drove me. Creating. Imagining. Painting. This was who I was and wanted to be.

Swallowing hard, I relented. “All right. You got me. I don’t want to be a teacher. All I want to do every day is paint, but like everyone has always told me, it’s not realistic. There’s no guarantee I’d make a living from that. So, I chose a different career path, one along the same lines, just a little different. Being an art teacher will feed me and still let me be an artist. Somewhat.”

Rune sat completely up and scooted closer. Leaning in, he held my gaze. “Okay. I’ve been alive much longer than you.”

I snorted. “Sure have. You’re an old man.”

He smirked and narrowed his eyes. “Do I look like an old man to you? I think not. What I mean is, I’ve been around for a while, and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that life is far too short for humans to not do what they love. It’s cliché to say, but it’s true. In the grand scheme of things, what’s more important? A life of riches or a life of happiness?”

“Yeah, that’s true, but—”

“No buts. Your dream is to be a painter. What’s the point in dreaming if you aren’t going to at least try to make it real? That’s what dreams are for. You aren’t given that passion or talent just to ignore it. It’s there for you to do something with. Don’t just dream it. Do it.”

A flicker of something bright filled me to the brim, and it tasted of hope and desire all mixed into one. He was right.

Smiling at him, I said, “You know, you’re pretty smart sometimes.”

“Sometimes? I’m always full of wisdom.”

We were silent for a moment when I finally said, “That’s actually what Italy is for.”

“Becoming a painter?”

I nodded, adding the first of the details to my painting. “If I get to study abroad in Italy, I’ll be given the chance to learn under my idol, Luca Romano. That kind of opportunity, that kind of connection could open doors for me. It could really help me get the foundation I need to not settle and actually have a career as an artist.”

My hand stilled at the sudden silence. I glanced up to find Rune’s amber eyes searching my face, and a warm flutter took flight in my stomach at the intensity of his stare. It was as if he were looking for something within my own eyes, or perhaps he was trying to figure out what to say next.

He took a deep breath before sitting up straight. He reached behind him into the picnic basket, and when he faced me again, he held a large manilla envelope. His golden eyes met mine, and he held the small package out to me.

“Speaking of Italy, this is for you.”

I accepted the thick envelope, throwing Rune a curious look. When I opened the flap, the air in my lungs stilled. Crisp stacks of hundred-dollar bills sat neatly in the envelope, and I knew without counting that it was the full five grand. He’d just given me the key to my dreams.

My wide eyes found his, and I stammered, “W-why are you giving me this now? We haven’t gone on the trip, so I haven’t held up my end of the bargain yet.”

Tenderness flooded his eyes as they softened at the corners. “You don’t have to. I want you to have the money. Trip or no trip. Deal or no deal. Italy is important to you. I want you to go, so no more strings attached. The money is yours, even if you decide not to go on the trip anymore.”

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