Page 33 of Mister Artist

“You’llalwaysbe that.”

When she smiled, I smiled too.

“Aight, lover boy. Come on so we can get this shit in the truck. I need to get back home to my babies,” Malik said, and that was the only reason I released her.

It didn’t take us long to get her stuff in the truck, and we only had to make two trips. Since we got that done in an hour, we stuck around to help her start unboxing and made sure her furniture was how she wanted it. Because we’d designated certain things to certain people, I didn’t see her art and décor until everything was practically done. When I noticed she hadtwo sculptures that I’d made from my grandmother’s fine China, my heart skipped a beat.

After Granny died, I had no clue what to do with her China sets. Everyone else had gotten to her spot earlier and took what I wanted to remember her by, but none of my cousins that were married with homes at that point had come through, so all six of her China sets were still there. I knew they were expensive and valuable so I tried to figure out what I could do with them. In the middle of the night, it hit me. I broke them all and used the pieces to make sculptures.

I made her kids smaller sculptures to keep to remember her by and one for me and my brother, then sold the rest. I had no idea Malorie had one let alone two, because this happened after she left. She also had one of my larger paintings. In the center of her living room, she had the painting, and on both sides of it and the fireplace, she put the sculptures.

For a while, all I could do was stand there and stare. It wasn’t just thoughts of me and Mal that resurfaced but love and memories of my granny too. That lady was mywholeheart, my second mother, and losing her was a major loss. I didn’t realize how long I’d been standing there until Elias squeezed my shoulder.

“You did God’s work with those sculptures, bro. I hold mine and talk to Gran every day.”

Nodding, I licked my lips and composed my emotions. “I can’t believe she has this.”

“Why? You may not have wanted to keep up with her, but it’s clear she thought of and supported you. Mama and Pops maintained their relationship with her. Maybe that’s what made her apply at the firm. Either way, soften toward her, regardless of how things ended. It’s clear she really respected and supported you. And you know for men like us—”

“That’s more important than love,” I added, not even needing to hear him say it.

We embraced in a quick, brotherly hug before I searched the apartment for Malorie. I found her in her bedroom staring out of her window at the beach. Instead of taking her into my arms and kissing her like I desperately wanted to, I stood next to her. She looked up at me with a small smile.

“I’m sorry,” I said, causing her to turn toward me, but I wasn’t ready to do the same yet, so I continued to look at the water. Between my heart being filled with her and Granny, I was more in my feelings than I liked.

“For what?”

“The way I’ve been acting. Your presence startled me, and I haven’t been handling it properly.”

“You were handling it like a human with feelings. I don’t blame you for that.”

“Still, I shouldn’t have exploded on you with all thatyou didn’t choose meshit.”

She laughed softly and used my arm to turn me in her direction. “You didn’t explode. You directly told me how you felt. I can admit I wasn’t expecting it, but I respected it. It’s fine.”

I couldn’t resist cupping her cheek and running my thumb against it. “You supported my art, even when we weren’t in each other’s lives.”

“Of course. Regardless, I was so proud of you. I still am. You did it, Neek. And you didn’t just do it for you; you’re paving the way for other artists too. Regardless of how I feel about us, I will always support you.”

“Is that why you applied?”

“One of the reasons, yes.”

“And the other?”

She smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough.” Taking a step back, she added, “But as far as me not choosing you—”

“We don’t have to talk about that, sweet girl. I really am okay with your decision. It was the right one.”

“Mhm,” she said, grabbing a small box off her nightstand. Malorie handed it to me.

“What’s this?”

“All the letters I wrote you over the last five years.” My eyes immediately shifted from the box to her as I tightened my grip on it. “I know me wanting to maintain my relationship with Malik hurt you, and I’m sorry about that. As far as romantic love goes, regardless of who I dated over the years, it wasalwaysyou for me, Neko. There was never another option for my heart. I hope you can read these and see I really did love you.”

She lowered me by my shoulders and placed a kiss on my cheek before walking away. I was so stunned by the thick stack of letters I stood there for a while before abruptly leaving. I needed to get home and go through these. Maybe they were the key to my heart healing and reopening… and now… I wasn’t afraid to admit that was what I wanted and needed.

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