Page 117 of Talk About… Rivalry

We continued tossing out ideas until the form was exactly what Maverick needed. I shifted off of his lap so Leo could showhim the form and how to send it out to the email addresses of those who’d shown interest when he was ready.

“Don’t forget to add Sidney’s email as well for a vendor,” Leo added. Every set of eyes shifted to me, a mix of confusion and surprise on their faces.

“For her art,” Taylor said, nodding his head like this all made sense.

Even though I hadn’t outright shown them or talked about it, they’d watched me sketch over the past few hours on and off.

“Yes, I mentioned to Leo how I missed painting on canvas and he suggested we turn the garage into a studio.”

“Tell me you’ll share the sketches, too,” Bennett said. “I’d like to frame a few of them in the packhouse already.”

I bit my lip, barely able to stop the smile as I felt their excitement building for me, mixing with my own, even if a little hesitation clung to me.

It had been far too long since anyone saw my art, let alone shared it with the world.

Could I do it?

When I glanced around at the men surrounding me, felt the way they were sure of it, I felt some of my own confidence building.

“Leave it open, and try out the studio first,” Maverick suggested.

“I might need to commission a big piece for the lounge. There’s a spot near the bar I haven’t found anything to fit there.

“You should paint yourself, Sidney,” Taylor said, his voice gentle. “Just how we see you.”

“That feels a bit narcissistic,” I laughed, but I was the only one who found it amusing. The others were all in agreement.

“We should find a red dress for her, have her pose and take a picture as inspiration for it. The color would match the tone of the shop,” Bennett suggested.

“You want me to paint myself?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. I’m going to pay you like any client would, for a piece of art that ties my lounge together,” Leo said firmly.

“It’s not conceited, it’s a way to heal, to see yourself differently,” Maverick said. My eyes widened. That was the last thing I expected from Maverick. He let out a grunt at my shock. “Don’t argue with me, omega.”

“Okay, alpha,” I said, my voice breathless under the weight of their reverence. It wasn’t anything I could have ever dreamed of, but it seemed my pack was ready to show me that reality was far better than the fantasy I’d been running from.

We settled back into silence, Bennett finally passing out the food that he’d brought as we all thought over the changes coming our way.

The quiet was broken as the doors slammed open and Ford rushed out. He was looking ragged but beaming with pure happiness.

“They’re here.”

Sidney

“Ican’t stop looking at their sweet faces,” I whispered, glancing from the tiny girl in my arms, to the one in Grace’s and the boy in Avery’s.

Quinn, Sophie, and Lincoln were all adorable. The girls had shocks of dark hair and Lincoln’s was auburn like Arden’s.

“Me, either,” Avery agreed, her voice lingering with both love and exhaustion.

“You did so good, Avery,” Grace told her, reaching forward to give her hand a squeeze.

“I’m just so tired,” she admitted around a yawn. “But I also don’t want to fall asleep. It feels like a dream.”

“It’s real,” I said, giving her a smile.

“Speaking of real,” Avery teased. “How is the pack life, Sidney?”

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