Page 42 of The Man in the Painting

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Abram

“You must have been really busy with this muse of yours. I can’t believe we haven’t spoken in a week!”

June sounds exasperated.

I guess she’ll have a thing or two to say about it if she knows just how busy I’ve been with my muse and in what way.

The past week has easily been the best I’ve had in…a very long time, if ever.

Melody and I have gotten closer both physically and emotionally.

Whenever she’s free during the day, we talk about the most random things, and she laughs loudly at my silly jokes.

The nights are the best.

On some nights, we make love till we are both too tired to lift our fingers. And on other nights, we snuggle tight against each other and talk late into the night. But every night, she falls asleep in my arms, cuddled snugly against my chest.

Every moment with Melody Hanson is a delight, and she crawls further out of her shell each day.

Last night, I’d asked her out on an official date, and she’d said yes...

“You aren’t even going to say a word now?” June asks with a scoff.

I’d almost forgotten that I was on the phone with her.

“I’m sorry, June,” I say genuinely apologetically. “How’s it going in Barcelona?”

“Barcelona?” June repeats with a dry snort. She sounds uncharacteristically shrill. “I’ve been to Rome and Egypt since. Now I’m in Paris. I sent reports to your email about my moves and purchase. Don’t tell me you haven’t read any of them?”

My chest tightens with guilt.

“I’ve been... busy,” I say lamely.

“The Farrell’s exhibition is just a few days away, and the boss is too busy doing God knows what to keep track of things,” June says in a disbelieving voice. “You’re never absentminded, especially not when it comes to your work. Something isn’t right, Abe. This isn’t like you.”

June has a point. I haven’t been my usual self these days. I have been too focused on Melody to think about anything else.

It’s not necessarily bad, though...not when she makes me this happy.

I let out another soft sigh and lean back against the couch.

“I guess I’ve been too….”

“Is this about that woman you met in Hudson?” June interrupts in a voice that suggests she already knows the answer to that question. “What’s so special about her anyway? What makes her different from the other women?”

Everything I want to reply, but that’ll just mean I have to explain everything I feel for Melody. June will never understand...not when even I haven’t fully comprehended the concept of whatever is going on with me.

“Look, I’m sorry I’ve been so out of it lately,” I finally say to June. “I’ll look at your reports and get back to you as soon as possible.”

“When?” June asks.

I almost laugh at the suspicion in her tone. She does know me too well.

“As soon as I get back from my date.”

“You’re going on a date with her?” June asks with an exaggerated gasp.

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