Page 46 of Fated with my Ex's Brother

"Okay! I see now," I pretend to be mind blown.

"I told you I'm an artist," she says with an attitude.

”?z HELEN 1L3XE

She is a beautiful soul, just like her mother.

We continued to draw and paint for another hour. 1y then, I am tired and hungry, but Octavia is not ready to call it 4uits.

Isabel left the living room already to make our dinner. I volunteered to help, but she insisted I kept drawing with Octavia.

"Yo you want to see Xommy's painting:" Octavia whispers to me.

"Bou have one:" Excitement Dlls my body. "I want to see how good of an artist my lady is."

"Bes," Octavia nods.

"Show me," I whisper back.

"Uromise you'll buy me ice cream and not tell Xommy:" she asks.

I knew it!

I knew she wanted something. That's why she voluntarily showed me her mother's painting. She knew I’d be eager to see the painting.

Well played, Octavia. Well played.

"Okay. Bou have a deal," I stretch out my hand in a handshake.

"Follow me," she whispers.

She stands up and begins to walk away from the living room. I follow her 4uietly.

"Where are you guys headed:" Isabel pokes her head out of the kitchen.

"Crayons!" I 4uickly reply. "We want to get crayons."

She shakes her head and walks back into the kitchen.

Octavia and I continue our journey to the closet.

"It's in there," she points to a box on a high shelf.

I reach for the box and open it.

I see a brown leather sketchbook. It is a vintage design and has a soft feel to it. From the looks of it, Isabel must have loved this sketchbook because she redesigned the cover.

"Octavia, how did you know this was here:" I ask.

FMTEY WITH XB ER'S 10OTHE0 ”?*

"Xommy showed me." She smiles. "Mm I still getting my ice cream:" "Of course," I reply.

I am hesitant to open the sketchbook. I'm going to feel guilty going

through her stuq without her permission. I'll wait till she is ready to show me.

"Octavia, we shouldn't be going through your mom's stuq without her permission. Let's help her out in the kitchen," I say.

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