Page 83 of Pining for Pierce

That feels like an odd thing to say, but I don’t dwell on it. I don’t waste any time studying him as he walks away, either. My head is too full of the fact that his father sent me the message.That means it’s not a game, and I take a moment to clear my head before I quickly type out a reply.

Chapter Seventeen

Harley

I’m waiting for Pierce outside the office, although I’ll admit, I’m surprised he wasn’t here when I finished work. He implied he would be in his message, and although I thought about walking home myself, we arranged to meet here, and I didn’t want to miss him, and make him worry. Because I know he would have done.

He rounds the corner, carrying a small bag of groceries, and rushes up to me, his eyes alight with excitement.

“What’s happened?” I ask.

“You’re never gonna believe it,” he says, leaning in to kiss me, before he shifts the groceries to his other arm and takes my hand, leaving me in suspense as we set off, walking slowly out onto Main Street.

“Believe what?” I ask.

“I had a message earlier this afternoon… from the Bowman gallery.”

“From Kaiden?” I say, feeling a little sick.

“No, from his father. At first, I thought it was from Kaiden, because it was just signed ‘K. Bowman’, and I assumed he was playing games, but then I met him just now, and he told me it wasn’t from him.”

“And you believed him?”

“No. Not until I showed him the message. He told me his father had sent it.”

“But what about the initial?”

“His father’s name is Karl, evidently. I didn’t realize that until Kaiden told me.”

“I see. So it’s a legitimate message?”

“It is.”

“And what did it say?”

“That they’re interested in exhibiting some of my work.”

We stop walking, right by the ice cream parlor. “Really? But that’s amazing, Pierce. Have you replied?”

“Yeah. Just now. I’ve told him I’d like to talk.”

“And have you heard back yet?”

“No. I just hope I haven’t blown it by delaying my response.”

“I doubt it,” I say as we start walking again, still holding hands. “You didn’t delay by very long. It’s only a matter of hours, not days.”

“I know.”

I nestle against him and look up, smiling at the eagerness that’s still visible on his face. “Did Kaiden say anything else?” I ask, feeling intrigued.

“He accused me of stealing you away from him. He made a comment about you being his girl.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I told him he was wrong about that.”

“Very wrong,” I say, shaking my head.

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