Page 26 of Always Darkest

“He’s kind of a strange guy, isn’t he?” Saber’s dad finally asked.

“I guess.”

Jim shrugged.

“That painting, you really liked it?”

“Love it,” she said. “She’s one of my favorite artists.”

“It gave me the creeps a little. They way he wanted to show it to you, I don’t know, you didn’t think that was weird?”

“Her work can be a little disturbing, but she’s really famous. I can see why he likes showing it off. I would too, I guess.”

“I hope you paint, like, trees and flowers and birds and things.”

Saber laughed.

“Ok, Dad, flowers and trees. You got it.”

“How much was that painting worth, anyway?”

“It’s hard to say, but one of her paintings just set a record for living female artists.”

“How much.”

“Twelve million, I think?”

“Holy shit,” Jim said, laughing. “I really don’t understand art at all.”

Saber laughed and reflected that she’d probably talked more about money in the last few weeks than she had in the rest of her entire life.

“Yeah, suddenly it’s not so creepy, is it?”

“No, if you can paint like that and make millions, I say go for it.”

8

“Come to a party with me Saturday night.”

Rex had slipped up behind her, scooped an arm around her waist, and said the words into Saber’s ear. His breath was hot, and his touch was so sudden it startled her.

“Don’t do that,” she said, laughing and spinning to look at him, unsettled by how close he’d gotten without her knowing. He must have sneaked up on her, which she didn’t like.Like Lozen had warned, he was flirtatious, sure of himself, almost swaggering.

She liked him, but he made her uncomfortable too.

“Ok, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. But would you come?”

He strolled along beside her to her car.

“Where?”

“My friend Laurel’s house.”

“What kind of party?”

He laughed, and looked at her with bright, teasing eyes and a wide, toothy smile.

“What? What do you mean what kind of party? A regular party. Beer. Music. I’m going to make out with you.”

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