Page 10 of Better Luck Next Time

He paused, knowing he shouldn’t say what he was going to say next, and already aware that he was going to say it anyway. Because she was wrong. Because she was, for some reason, denying herself something she needed as desperately as she needed air. He’d seen it in her eyes. In the sorrow that flashed through them as she slashed the canvas with that knife. And even though hedidn’tknow her and had no right to confront her like this, he refused to give up on her. He didn’t want her to give up on herself. It would be a tragedy if she did.

So he slashed with words, which had always been his knife of choice. “How many hours of your day will it take up? One? Maybe two? Is that going to be enough to satisfy you?”

Her eyes gleamed fiercely, and he wondered for a moment if he’d gone too far. Were those tears?

“If my designs are as good as you say, maybe I’ll become a graphic designer. It’s harder to smash a computer than it is a painting. I might just be able to make it work.”

“Do you really believe that, Adalia?” he asked. “Because I don’t. There’s a fire in you that won’t be put out, and stylizing some words and photos and doodles won’t even throw a thimble of water on it. Please, just think about it. I want to do this. Withyou. I have the resources to make it work.”

Her expression twisted, and he instantly knew he’d said the wrong thing.

“Get out,” she seethed, just like she had in the studio. “It’s never, ever going to happen.”

Chapter Five

“Are yousureyou’re feeling okay?” Georgie asked.

Adalia pushed back a wave of loose curls from her cheek as she sat up at her makeshift desk in the corner of Georgie’s office. She loved her sister with every fiber of her being, but sometimes working with her was like living under a magnifying glass.

“For the tenth time, I’m fine.”

“It’s just that you’re so quiet today.”

Adalia heard the worry in her sister’s voice, and while she appreciated that she cared, right now it felt stifling.

“I’m fine. Really, Georgie. I didn’t sleep well, just like I told you the previous nine times you asked.” She’d tossed and turned, finally drifting off at around four. Finn’s discovery of her secret had made her do some serious reevaluation of her life.

Maybe her father was right. Maybe it was time to grow up.

It had come as no surprise when Adalia’s father had disapproved of her going to art school, but his refusal to pay her tuition had come as a shock, especially since he’d paid for all of Lee’s and Georgie’s college expenses. Nevertheless, she’d gone anyway, to a very respected—akavery expensive—school at that. But the loans had gotten out of hand, and even though she hadn’t finished school for that very reason, she still had to repay them. They ate up the vast majority of the money Georgie was paying her. She knew her sister would pay off the loans in a heartbeat, but Adalia would never let her.

Still, pride didn’t pay the bills. Maybe she really should get a graphic design job.

In the back of her head, she heard Finn telling her it would never satisfy her inner fire, that it would be like trying to douse a blaze with a thimble of water, but who did he think he was, anyway? It had given her the chills, hearing him say that, but anger had chased them away. He didn’t get to tell her who she was.

Even if he wasn’t far off. Even if he saw her more clearly than the people she’d known her entire life.

“Things are going well with Jack?” Georgie asked.

Therewas a topic Adalia could latch on to. Anything to keep Georgie from poking at her feelings. She sat up in her rickety chair and turned in her seat to face her sister. “Actually, we had a family dinner last night.”

Surprise flashed in Georgie’s eyes, and Adalia thought she saw a hint of pain, but her sister shook it off quickly and smiled. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Adalia said with a shrug. “Dottie dropped off some food in our fridge, so we made plates, opened a bottle of wine, and sat at the dining room table and talked.”

Her eyes flew wide. “Jack opened up?”

“The conversation was pretty superficial, but…I like him.” The memory of Jack coming to her defense filled her with fondness and gratitude. “I’m honestly glad he moved in.”

Georgie took a moment, then said, “That’s great.” She lowered her voice. “Is that why you’re so tired? You two stayed up late?”

“Georgie.” It would have been easy to say yes, but that would have been a lie, one that might easily be caught, and she refused to say anything about Finn.

Because you know what she’ll say, a traitorous voice inside her insisted.You know she’ll encourage you to start making things again. Things you don’t destroy.

“I just worry about you, Addy.”

“I know, but I’m fine.”

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