Page 111 of Fresh Canvas
I slumped to the floor in a sea of blue velvet, pressing my bare shoulders against the concrete wall. This was it. I finally had some tangible evidence, and Val had been undeniably implicated.
It was time for the here and now.
Sick, tired, and shaking with anger, I unlocked my phone and texted Val.
AMANTHA: Eli Bates Fountain. Twenty minutes or I’m calling the police.
thirty-one
AMANTHA
The rough pavement was warm beneath my bare feet, though I couldn’t stop shaking. Summer sun faded overhead, brilliant streaks of orange and pink chasing after their only source of warmth. Lampposts began to glow beside the gurgling fountain, punctual and prepared for the falling night.
The straps of my loathsome high heels criss-crossed my fingers as they dangled from my hand. I yanked a fistful of blue velvet out of my way as I turned and paced the other way for the millionth time.
An unfamiliar sensation was condensing in my vocal chords. It felt like the muscles themselves were weighted with millions of suppressed words, injustice crying out from each cell. I rubbed my throat.
Twenty minutes, or I’m calling the police.
Would Val risk not showing up? Surely he knew I’d figured it out. Turning Val in had been an empty threat. I probably should have immediately called the police, but my heart had other plans. For the first time after a heartbreak, I wanted answers.
After Ryan had cheated, after our marriage had been rippedat the seams, I had never asked him why. Why had he ruined our family? Why hadn’t he been willing to put in the work? Why hadn’t I been enough? I had been too terrified to hear his reasoning. Too fragile. Teetering on the precipice of complete obliteration.
But I wasn’t that woman anymore.
The oppressing humidity stuck my limp hair to my neck. I dropped my shoes and rummaged in my clutch for a hair tie. Raising my chin to the twilight, I began to sweep the annoying strands into a ponytail.
A shadowed figure stepped into a pool of light cast by a nearby lamppost. I watched as Val took me in, his gaze snagging on my bare feet. How dare the corners of his mouth twitch, like the criminal himself was amused.
I yanked the too-long dress out of my way, letting it trail as I stalked toward him. Val had the audacity to act taken aback, eyes widening at my fury.
“You two-faced, lying jerk. You really had me fooled.” My hard laugh sliced the air between us.
Val blinked, shaking his head as though to clear a punch. “Amantha, are you okay? What’s this about the police?”
“I’ll tell you what! You are a dishonest prick, that’s what! You are heartless and sadistic. I never knew you at all, did I?”
Yes. More.
“What are you talking about?” He looked at me with lowered brows, though a glimmer of pain peeked through his confusion.
“The painting! That’s what! I have no idea how you two stole that Cormac Padraig, but my compliments to the thief. Please, enlighten me. I’m just dying to know how you two pulled it off.”
“A Cormac Padraig? What are you—Wait. You thinkIstole something?”
“Oh come on, Val. Don’t embarrass yourself,” I scoffed. “The Cormac Padraig you and Kendra stole? Rick’s closet, backshelf, toilet paper box? Ring any bells?” The knuckles on my fists were beginning to blanch.
“Me and Kendra? Rick’s closet?” His eyes looked genuinely worried now. “Amantha, I never?—”
“Stoplyingto me!”
My shout reverberated throughout the park as Val was stunned into silence. Tears churned in my eyes, my lips quivering.
“Stop, Val. Stop pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about. Stop pretending to be innocent. Stop…” I tried to swallow. “Pretending to care about me.”
Val’s chest seemed to collapse.
“I didn’t deserve this, you know?” I said quietly. “I didn’t deserve to be lied to. Especially not by you.” I tilted my chin to the darkening sky and pressed the heels of my hands against my streaming eyes.
