Page 131 of Knot Happening Again

"Okay.” Leon's voice comes from somewhere in front of me. "You can look now."

Troy unfastens the blindfold, and I blink, adjusting to the light. We're in a part of the house I've never seen before, standing in front of a door I thought led to Leon's gym.

"Go on," Rhys urges gently from behind me. "Open it."

My hand trembles as I reach for the doorknob. I push it open, step inside, and freeze.

It's not a gym.

It's a studio.

A fully furnished, beautifully decorated art studio.

I spin in a slow circle, taking it all in.

Easels stand ready, their blank canvases waiting. Shelves line one wall, stocked with every type of paint, brush, and medium I could ever want. There's a pottery wheel, shelves upon shelves of clay and supplies… even a kiln in the corner by the massive windows that take up one far wall, overlooking the beauty of the gardens below. A drafting table sits by the window, bathed in natural light. There's even a nest by the window, covered in soft blankets and comfortable pillows.

My mind can't seem to process what I'm seeing.

"But what about your gym?" I ask, confused, looking back at Leon.

He shrugs, a small smile playing on his lips. "It was collecting dust. And way bigger than it needed to be."

I shake my head, disbelieving. "You gave it up? For… this?"

"It's no big deal," he insists. "The others helped design it and get it finished before we got back."

Realization dawns and I turn to Rhys and Maddox. "That's why you took me on that trip?"

Rhys nods. "Partially. We also figured you could use a little vacation after everything."

I wander around the room, speechless, running my fingers over the smooth wood of the easels, the cool metal of the supply carts.

It's perfect.

Everything I could have dreamed of and more.

But my guard is still up. I can't let myself get swept away by this gesture, no matter how grand.

"Do you like it?" Mace asks, his voice hopeful.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

Emotions clog my throat.

Gratitude and confusion.

Longing and fear.

"We'll let you explore," Rhys says, sensing my need for space. He herds the others out, leaving me alone with Leon.

For a moment, we just stand there, the silence stretching between us like a living thing.

"Thank you," I finally manage. "For everything. But..."

Leon holds up a hand, cutting me off. "I know it doesn't change anything."

I blink, surprised by his directness.

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