Page 38 of Forbidden Impulses

And then the most amazing thing happens.

"Annie!" Suzie's sweet voice rings out over the noise of the crowd. My attention goes from the person I'm talking with to look across the room in search of my friend.

We've spoken almost nonstop since we made up, but because of work and then preparing for the show, I haven't been able to get away to go see her. Watching her bouncing curls and bright blue eyes come rushing towards me pushes up so many feelings that I don't even say anything to the woman next to me as I run to my friend.

It's like something from a silly rom-com where the crowd parts for the lovers that reunite, except you know... we're not lovers, but best friends.

Our bodies collide with a big 'Oomph' from both of us.

"Oh Suzie," I cry into her shoulder as I hug her close.

"I know!" she wails back at me. "I missed you too, and I'm sorry for being a turd-face."

Laughter bubbles from my chest as I pull back from our embrace. "Turd-face? Please! I was a brat. But we'renot doing apologies again. It's over and we've moved on, remember?"

She responds with a smile before looking around the room. "Your first showing, huh?"

"I know, right?"

"Now, show me everything. I've barely seen anything, and the photos haven't done it justice." She orders me around and I eagerly grab her hand and pull her back to the front of the room so I can give her the full tour.

Obviously, everything is for sale, but Chloe has put them all on the floor with the caveat that they will need to be on display for at least a month before they can be shipped to their new owners. I remember rolling my eyes at her stipulation, but she was so confident that almost all of them would sell that she insisted. So imagine my shock when I get to the first piece on the floor and it has a red dot on it.

And the second. Then the third. With each new sculpture I show Suzie my shock grows as almost all of them have a sold sticker on them.

And with each new discovery, Suzie's smile grows wider and wider.

"Did you do this?" I whisper-shout at her when we get to the last item on display, and it too is no longer available for sale.

Her eyes bug out at my question. "Me? What the fuck, dudette? My dads might be loaded, but my ass is broke until my twenty-fifth birthday. You know that." She nudges me with her elbow and wiggles her eyebrows excitedly. "This is all you, honey."

"It can't bethem, can it?" I ask instead, unable to believe what's happening.

"Nuh-uh. Ididtell them about the showing, but theydidn't come down with me. And as far as I know, these haven't been shown online anywhere, have they?"

I shake my head in response and look around the room for somewhere to sit down. Finding an unoccupied bench, I plonk my ass down on it and rest my head in my hands. "This can't be happening."

"Why the hell not, honey?" Suzie asks me as she takes the spot next to me. “I've heard the whispers around us. Everyone adores your stuff."

I mean. Ihadspoken to a few of the viewers, and everyone said good things. But that's what you do. When faced with an artist, you tell them nice things about their stuff because you don't want to be the asshole.

But now all but a few of my pieces have been sold.

And because they were sold at gallery prices, it's way, way more money than I made off my website, even after taking Chloe's commission off.

"Uh, Suze," I say, looking up at my friend. "I need to go."

Her expression morphs from concern to complete and utter joy. "Well, duh."

I look around the room at everyone here, all the people wholikemy stuff, and giggle. "Holy shit. I really need to go."

Suzie digs into her purse and quickly hands me a set of keys. "Here. Take my ride. I'll talk to Chloe and get things squared away here." She drops the keys into my hand when I don't take them from her, then she squeezes my hands and whispers. "Go get your happy ending, honey."

Chapter Twenty-Six

Annie

Nerves bubble up inside me as I pull into the driveway of the amazing, sprawling mansion. The view is exactly the same as the first time I saw it... but I'm not.

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