Page 20 of Partnering with the Artist

Although…if I’m being honest…I’m not as opposed tojusticeas I should be, not with Harry’s post about wanting a harem still simmering beneath the surface of my thoughts. Clearly, if I’m ranting about it five days after seeing it, it bothers me. A lot.

I’m not delusional enough to believe someone as self-centered as him will ever understandwhat he lost, but I think I’d like to believe I am someone whose existence matters enough to be considered a loss.

I twiddle. “You know I’m sensitive to the light and can’t be in the sun for any length of time. That won’t be a problem with where you want to draw me in public?”

“Nope.”

Okay then.

Wait.

“Um.” I chew my lip. “This fake relationship you’re proposing. It…won’t include PDA, right?”

“Not unless we want it to. For the record, I’ve never been in a relationship before. Only Kaleb has. Well, Kaleb and now Viktor, who’s engaged to Crisis; I believe I’ve mentioned her. She’s not been by for lunch this week, which is probably for the best. All things considered, the two of you should not be in the same room together.” He chuckles, rustles his waves, and smiles with venom. “Even Lukas is all bark, no bite. Notoriously afraid of intimacy, us, so you can rest assured I’m not interested in imposing anything on you that you aren’t comfortable with.”

I suppose I’ve never realized the stark absence of romantic relationships in the Bachelor brothers’ headlines. Their accomplishments do a great deal in stealing the spotlight, so I’ve never noticed that there’s never been awho’s-with-whoupdate on their love lives.

It isn’t just because no one in Sunset is allowed to sell stories about them. It’s because their “love lives”don’t exist.

“Maybe,” I say, “we can both overcome some of our emotional baggage, together?”

The ire in his smile fades as something very near wonder softens his chilling eyes. Pulling his gaze back to his tablet, he scoots his chair in. “I’d…like that.” His throat clears. “Very much.”

I smile as he pours his attention into sketching. “Well then, Zakery, it would be my explicit honor to fake date you.”

“For revenge. And glory,” he says, refusing to look up off his tablet as he smiles.

Or, you know. For healing. And closure.

And only a teeny-tiny, little bit of justice.

Chapter 8

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Tea and giraffes.

Zakery

“I’ve always wanted to come in here, but I looked the menu up online, and I know I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from ordering dessert, and by the time you’ve ordered a tea, a meal,anda dessert—well—” Maelin giggles, enraptured by the tiny silver prongs in the ornate sugar bowl. She keeps picking up the raw brown crystals and making them clink together while we wait for our waitress to get our orders. “It all added up to about fifty dollars with a tip, and that’s how much I make in a week doing laundry.”

Doing laundry.

When she’s skilled enough to have made her entire outfit and the accompanying lace parasol that protects her from the sun by hand, she merelydoes laundry.

That is a heinous crime against creativity if ever I have seen one.

My precious muse is blisteringly white today, from her attire to her accessories. As beautiful, delicate, and lovely as fresh snow in winter.

Per my request, we’ve been seated away from the windows, in a quaint back room of Brew Tea, the cozy tea house Crisis recommended when I snuck up on her to ask aboutfirst datelocations, and if she would maybe be willing to put together one of her glorious murderboards for me and my revenge schemes, should it be necessary.

Brew Tea, she said. And yes, absolutely, just email her detailsfor the murderboard the instant necessity arises.

I am very excited to get a sister soon.

“Everything here is so pretty,” Maelin says, shifting her attention to her teacup—a stunning, wide-rimmed bit of porcelain adorned in pink flowers. It matches her saucer and fits flawlessly atop the circular indentation.

I have yet to turn my teacup over as I am itching to get my LeoPad Draw out of my bag and begin sketching these moments. She is so…enchanting.

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