Page 81 of Bound to You

He treats me unlike any other man ever has. He puts his trust in me, so maybe I should put my trust in him. Maybe I should take that final leap.

But what if I do? What if I take the leap and land just short of the edge and fall down the cliff into the freezing river waiting below? It’s a massive risk, I just have to figure out whether it’s a risk worth taking.

I spend the rest of the morning here in the studio, chatting with Nora. She treats me like an old friend, asking about my art, and sharing her own stories of where her art has taken her in the world.

She asks about my family back home, and it’s easy to open up to her. She nods in understanding, though her typically joyous features have morphed into a frown, and it doesn’t take long before she comes around to wrap me up one of her warm cuddles. It’s more than I could ask for, this town accepted me into its open arms and I’m high on the feeling of effortlessly fitting in somewhere. I’ve never had to try to be anything other than what or who I am here and it’s liberating.

I paint canvas after canvas, it’s like after holding back for so long I’m rushing to get everything from my mind onto the board in front of me as soon as possible.

The paintbrush is an extension of my arm, I barely have to think about where to place it, my muscle memory leading me. Before long the picture in front of me transforms, coming together perfectly. For the last hour I’ve been working on recreating the view I had on that first day out on the water, that magical cave we went to. Shades of blue coat the canvas in front of me, and where everyone else will see the ocean, waves rippling across the picture, and the sky, the sharp contrast of color at the horizon, I just see Caio’s eyes looking back at me.

“So how long have you owned this place?” I ask Nora as I stand at the sink washing out my brushes. I think I’m done fortoday; my shoulder is sore from my arm being on an angle for so long.

“Oh, I don’t own it, this building is one of the only ones on Main that is rented, but I’ve been in here for about maybe twenty-five years now.”

“Wow, that’s incredible,” I say.

“Yeah,” she sighs. “I’ve never much minded that I rent. It’s never been an issue for me, the people that own the building don’t live here and they have always kept the rent at a manageable rate, so it’s been good. It was good, up until a few weeks ago anyway.”

“What do you mean?” I turn the tap off.

“Ah,” she waves me off. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Nora, what are you talking about?” I fold my arms and lean back on the sink behind me.

She sighs again. “The owners are selling the building.”

My stomach drops. “What? Why?”

“They’re moving away, selling all of their property before they go to live in France, and they can’t guarantee that the new owner won’t kick me out, or change this place into one of those fancy new clothing shops that are popping up all over the show.”

I’ve just come to love this place, and now it might not even exist anymore. This is just my luck. The universe is paying me another visit, and it obviously doesn’t want me to have my happy ending.

“We have to do something.”

“I don’t have the money to buy the place,cara.Trust me, if I did, I wouldn’t hesitate, but this place doesn’t generate the amount I’d need.”

I frown. There’s got to be some way we can get some money together.

I chuck my brushes in a jar and grab my bag off the floor. “I’ll figure something out Nora, give me a few hours and I’ll be back,” I say, before I scurry out the door with an idea.

chapter thirty-four

CAIO

“You’re coming,Caio, I won’t take any excuses. And bring Isla with you.” Vanessa’s voice is stern on the other line.

I haven’t been to a D’Angelo family dinner in nearly a month and apparently Vanessa is sick of having an empty chair at the table, even though when I’m in busy periods with work I will skip dinner here and there so there’s often an empty chair at the table.

Really, I just think that Marina let it slip to her ma that Isla and I are…whatever we are, and Vanessa couldn’t wait another day before wanting to see us together.

“I’ll have to check if she’s free,” I say.

“You tell her there will be a lemon panna cotta waiting for her and she’ll cancel any plans she might have.”

I can’t argue with her there.

“Be here at six, we’ll be expecting you.” And with that she ends the call, giving me no wiggle room to negotiate. I guess Isla and I are going to dinner with my family tonight.

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