Page 121 of The Art of You

“Well, I’m not about to turn down your cooking,” Hudson joked, patting his stomach. “We were just about to head inside.”

“Mind if I steal a word with my brother first?” I asked him, and he looked me up and down before nodding.

“Maybe not in the rain in that dress.” Hudson urged my legs inside the truck so he could close the door. He handed Enzo the truck keys and started for the restaurant.

As Enzo climbed into the driver’s seat, I set the cowboy hat on my lap and turned to face him.

“I know what you’re going to say.” He rested his arm across the wheel. “I’m fine. I’m not going to spiral and blame myself. None of us could’ve predicted this would happen. It was out of our control.” Oh, he’d for sure rehearsed that line. “If you, Callie, and Dad weren’t okay, then I’d for sure have lost it, but you’re all good, so I promise, I’m doing my best to let go. I have a lot to keep me distracted.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed. I supposed that was progress.

He met my eyes and demanded, “Now, you have to promise me you’ll try and draw again. I heard from a reliable source you’re considering not doing it. And if it’s Keith’s fault, I will break into prison and kill him myself.”

I don’t doubt you will.My shoulders slumped.And maybe I keep picturing Keith’s creepy face watching me every time I try to paint.“It’s been so long, maybe I forgot how.” Also the truth.

“Nope.” His lips tightened briefly. “That’d be like me saying I forgot how to take a life since it’s been, you know, like . . . months.” He exhaled. “Anywayyyy.”

I held back a smile as he took a page from my playbook.LOL.And dammit, I did it again. Just thought “lol” in my head. I really did need to disconnect from technology for a bit. Maybe some canvas and acrylics would be the best therapy. “I’ll try. You have my word.” Since my brothers and Hudson were all about the whole “my word is my bond” thing, I supposed I could jump on board, too.

“It’s inside you, I promise.” He patted my arm and squeezed my wrist. “You’ve got this.”

I looked over at the restaurant, thinking about our family. “Food is your art. Writing was Bianca’s.”

“And Alessandro’s passion is his wife.” Enzo laughed. “And maybe torturing bad guys.”

“Same for you, silly. Well, the first part. Your family, I mean.” A smile made its way back to my face as I met his eyes again. “I guess I’ll figure out if drawing is still mine,” I mused. “Now if we could just get Constantine to find his something, too.”

“He will.” Enzo nodded, then gestured toward the door. “Now, let me cook you two up a meal so I can get back to my exhausted wife.”

“You’re the best.” I leaned over and hugged him. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.” He reached for the hat and set it back on my head. “The South looks good on you. But so does the whole ‘being in love’ thing. Glad you finally found your way to the right guy. Bianca would love that you’re together, you know that, right?”

I fidgeted with the brim of the hat, sighing. “She’d be happy for you, too,” I whispered. “For all of us.”

Chapter 47

Hudson

Four Weeks Later

“Thank you,we appreciate the support. Be in touch with more information once the project is ready to lift off,” I said after wrapping up my presentation to the last group of investors inside my bar.

Alfie and I walked them out, shaking each of their hands.

I shut the door and faced him, a mix of emotions overwhelming me. Relief. Pride. Exhaustion, too. I’d been working nonstop on this project ever since Bella and I’d come back from North Carolina.

“They’re all in, man. We did it.” Alfie slapped his palms together as I loosened the knot of my tie.

“It’s really happening, then.” I was still a bit shocked we’d not only pulled this off so fast, but with so much support.

I went behind the bar and poured us celebratory glasses of Blanton’s bourbon. The bar didn’t open for another two hours, and I’d been using the space to hold meetings every afternoon of the week.

“All you, brother. Your idea.” He clinked his glass with mine and took a seat on the stool opposite me.

“I couldn’t have done this without you. Without the support of Matt’s family, either.” It’d also been an emotional week. Alfie and I had met with everyone from our old team, along with the families of those we’d lost from Echo—Matt and Devon. I’d introduced the guys to Bella, too. She’d won everyone over in the space of a heartbeat, of course.

“So, with all the investors in, including that big whale you landed the other day, The Maddox Group, not to mention the Costas, obviously, I’d say we’ll have this project up and running by January 2026.” Alfie finished his bourbon and set down his empty glass.

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