Page 46 of The Bitter Rival

“You’re no one.”

I attempt to gather my words when Austin swiftly interrupts. “I asked Mom who you were. She said you were no one.”

I feel a sharp sting in my chest. Why should I care if that’s how I was introduced? I’m sure she simply wanted to keep me out of her son’s life. Rubbing my chest wall to dull the disturbing sensation there, I decide to continue on.

“My name is Sebastian. I work with your mom. I’m sorry if I startled you the other night.”

“It’s okay.”

Not sure I’m getting anywhere here, I look back over at his work. It’s honestly quite advanced for a teenager. The shading technique he uses to give shadows to the imagery on the page is quite appealing. “Are those leaves?”

Austin suddenly stops sketching and looks in my direction. “Yes. I like how different they are. This pile here…” he points with his pencil to a large pile of leaves in different shades of gray, “remind me of a crowd of people. All different, but the same.”

Wow. I wasn’t expecting this. “Do you only draw landscapes?”

“Mostly. I paint too. I don’t draw people very well.”

There’s a certain cadence to his speech that causes me to think he has a spectrum disorder such as Autism or Asperger’s. He could certainly have Asperger’s as he appears very intelligent yet, I’m not trained well enough on these types of disorders to know for sure.

“Well, I think-”

“Austin, it’s time for cake. Why don’t you put that away for now and come and have some?”

“Okay, Mom.”

Looking up at Isabella, I try to make eye contact with her but find she’s staring out at the water with an unreadable expression on her face. “Austin’s very talented.”

“Yes, he is,” she says, looking down at her son with a proud smile.

“I bet he gets that from his mother.”

“Mom can’t draw stick people,” Austin quickly interjects.

“You’re right.” She laughs. “I tell him he gets his talent from his aunt Bailey.”

“Ah, the sister from the club?”

I hear a guarded chuckle from her before she confirms, “Yes. That’d be the one.”

“Come on, guys. She’ll turn two before we singHappy Birthdayif you don’t get up here,” Kat yells. Damn, I’m really going to hear aboutthislater.

Pushing from the ground, it takes some effort to bear most of my weight on my left leg so I don’t collapse back onto the ground like an invalid. I’m trying to hide the lingering discomfort there. I don’t want any attention taken away from Nick’s family today. Not sure why I thought sitting my clumsy ass down on the ground was a good idea. The need to be on eye level with this young man overtook my judgment, I guess. Holding on to the tree with my left hand, I attempt to bend to retrieve my wine glass when Austin reaches for it, carefully handing it to me.

“Thank you,” I respond as I watch him and his beautiful mother walk ahead of me. There’s so much reverence in her glances toward him. I guess that’s to be expected of a single mother. Yet, from the tales I’ve heard of Gavin’s absentee mom, it isn’t universal. Hell, I was raised in a two-parent family, and neither ever looked at me like that.

Finding an empty seat near the back of this gathering, I lower myself and take another sip of wine. This isn’t the group I was expecting. Granted, many of their friends work in medicine, fire, or law enforcement, so their jobs may have been a factor. Normally, there’s quite the collection of attendees when they’re out. I hadn’t realized Isabella was in their inner circle. But I’m grateful for the chance to clear the air all the same.

Isabella

Watching Grace covered in frosting brings back bittersweet memories. How can it be seventeen years since Austin was doing the same? Looking at him, watching her, I notice the cringe on his face. He doesn’t care for messy things. Strange for someone so attracted to painting.

Austin is meticulous about his art. He sketches first, reproduces on his ‘canvas,’ and then sets upon painting his outline. He’ll occasionally get frustrated when things don’t go the way he wants. We’ve had to paint over his work so he can start over more times than I care to count. But if it’ll settle the unrest and allow him to proceed, that is what we will do.

Although I’m surrounded by loving people all here to share their love of Grace and her doting parents, I feel an uneasiness. It’s as if I can feel Sebastian’s stare placing warmth against my skin. I need to protect myself. We have undeniable chemistry. But as much as I appreciate his attempts to clear the air, there’s no arguing his lifestyle. If there was any doubt, the giggly girls in front of me in the cafeteria line have brought that to the forefront. I try to remind myself of this fact whenever I get lost in thoughts of the naughtier moments we’ve enjoyed together. I’d love to think things could be different, but I’ve lived through enough storms to know when to avoid treacherous waters. And regardless of an occasional sunny day, sharks are still dangerous.

The crowd disburses to eat cake after Katarina hands slices to everyone. I laugh as the kids devour the icing, leaving much of the vanilla cake on their plates as they return to running about the yard. I move in to collect dirty plates and notice Sebastian out of the corner of my eye. He’s bending down to talk to Jenna and Luke with a mouthwatering smile across his stupid sexy face. God, that man is sinfully beautiful.Just look away, Isabella.

He stands to his full height and walks down to the water, a slight limp evident.He probably hurt himself with an overzealous nurse from the hospital.This has me picturing him on top of me, bronze chest glistening in sweat. I quickly shake those thoughts away and refocus on my task.

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