Page 30 of Possession

“Yes.”

It was quiet for a few moments before either of us said anything. She watched me push my food around my plate before she said, “I think this is good. I mean after what happened at St. Ann’s… you guys need to reconnect, get all this shit… out… in the open… done.”

My eyes locked on hers. “I’m scared.”

“But you have to try, right?” She speared a carrot and brought it to her lips. “It can’t get any worse than it already is?”

It could, but at least now, I had a twinkling of hope. “We’ll see.”

“Well, I’m glad you got your appetite back, even if you’re eating your emotions, you need your kick ass curves back. I need a hot wingman.” She smirked as she nibbled on the carrot.

“I’m not ready for wingman status.” I stood from the couch and brought my plate to the sink.

“No? But look how far you’ve come. You’ve left the tyranny of a controlling, cheating bastard to live with the sinner of your past…” She paused and drew a halo over her head with her finger. “And now you’re about to take the bull by the horns and win back the love of your life. It’s like a Shakespeare play.”

“He liked to write tragedies.”

“Ahh. But he wrote a good sonnet I hear.” She grinned.

“Lana, you’re making me nervous.” It was the truth and all the food I’d just shoveled down my throat flipped and threatened to come back up as I walked over to the couch.

Her smile faded and she took my hand. “If you need me, text me. I’ll wait up for you. I’ve got nothing going tomorrow, so if Declan turns out to be a dick, I’ll be here for the rescue mission.”

I gave her a confidant smile, even though inside I was screaming in terror. “I’ll… I’ll be fine.” I squeezed her hand in reassurance, but I wasn’t sure if it was for her or for me.

My stomach was still a battleground as I pulled to the back of The Gallery and parked. The full feeling weighted me like a boulder to the front seat of my car as I turned off the engine. There were no other cars in the parking lot, but I’d seen a pale light shining from the back of the shop through the windows when I’d driven past the store front. My legs were like jelly as I made an attempt to stand from the vehicle. All my doubts bubbled with the bile in my throat. What was I doing here? What would I say? My hands trembled as I wiped them on my jeans. The thin, light blue sweater I wore hung off my left shoulder, and the cool air tickled my skin, but did nothing to calm the heat brewing in my blood.

My face felt hot all the way to my ears as I used my key to enter The Gallery. Music played and I recognized the song, “Evergreen”by Broods, it was one of Lana’s favorites. She’d played the album almost every day since I’d moved in. The notes were slow and menacing, drawn out and sensual, and I wondered if the melody matched his mood. The studio door was propped open with the stool that normally sat behind the cash register and, as I moved closer, my heart fluttered like a trapped bird in a cage. The light from the open door cracked through the dark and my eyes were drawn to it. My gaze followed the warm yellow silhouette, and before I had a chance to take a breath, my eyes lifted and saw him standing in front of the canvas.

My cheeks flamed and my muscles tightened and went weak all at once. He was shirtless; his paint-splattered jeans hung low, his hands rested on the top of his head as he stared at his painting. His body was not what I remembered. He was carved stone now. The only word that came to my mind was powerful. Powerful, beautiful strength etched out each muscle. I tried to swallow as I watched his hands fall to his sides, but my mouth was ash. He turned just enough that I could see the ink that covered his chest and the perfect V that disappeared below the top of his jeans. I tried to breathe, but the boy I’d known had transformed into a magnificent statue, and I was just a shadow, a voyeur… and I couldn’t look away. I shouldn’t be here; my courage evaporated as I made a move to step back. My footing was off, I was dazed, and I gasped as I stumbled. Declan’s eyes darted to the door and trapped me.

He looked at me, his blue eyes wide as if he wasn’t sure, as always, debating his own mind.

“Paige?” he asked. His voice was rough and sent a warm shiver up my spine.

I had nowhere to go, he’d caught me, so I walked through the studio door with my heart in my stomach. “I-I wasn’t sure if I should, but I needed to see you.”

He grabbed a rag from his work stool and rubbed off the excess paint from his fingers. The muscles in his arms pulled, and the power I’d seen a moment ago seemed to ripple off of him in waves.

“Why?” He threw the rag onto the work stool and winced, as if his own abrupt tone shocked him.

Because I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. Because I lost myself and I think you’re the only one who could put me back together. Because, I still love you, always have.

The air grew tense between us, his citrus scent muted my thoughts, and I had to close my eyes. I had to speak, I had to say something. “Because, I miss you.”

I heard him exhale and my eyes opened, but fell to the thick, black cross he had tattooed in the middle of his sternum. The rise and fall of his chest was noticeable as he sucked in each ragged breath. He took a step toward me and I lifted my gaze to his.

“I’m not sure where to go from here, but I miss you, Declan, and—”

He lifted his hand and for minute I braced myself for his touch. I longed to feel the heat of his palm on my cheek, let the forgiveness feed my pulse, but he’d raised his arm just to run his fingers through his hair roughly as he stared at me with bright blue eyes.

“Grab a canvas.” He flicked his gaze to the door.

“You need another canvas?” My heart skipped, was he dismissing me or letting me in?

“No, but you do.”

The slight hiss of the storm was competing with the delicate sound of guitars. The music was lazy, and the slow strum fed my heart, and fed my mind as I painted. It was days like this that I lived for. Days when the snow was three feet deep and still coming, and I’d become a captive of a beautiful artist. My smile spread warmly across my face as I sat down on the white marble next to Declan.

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