Page 47 of Her Every Fantasy

The taxi pulled up within seconds. ‘Where are we going?’

‘It’s a surprise,’ she lobbed back.

I sighed and leaned back against the headrest. I saw her watching me but I couldn’t gather the energy to make idle conversation. And if there was one thing I could count on it was comfortable silence with Savvie.

Had everything really changed as irrevocably as I’d insisted or was I simply pushing that agenda so I wouldn’t experience that stupid bewildered anger when she left again this time?

Bloody hell—enough!

I suppressed my frenzied thoughts as the cab pulled up to another street corner. Savvie jumped out, muted excitement in her eyes.

I looked around as I joined her on the kerb. ‘Where are we?’

‘You’ll see, come on.’

I threw my arm around her waist to anchor myself to the present and let her lead the way. Two streets later, I realised where we were.

Kampong Glam.

Specifically the Sultan Arts Village. Home of street art.

‘Have you been here before?’ Savvie asked.

I shook my head. Surprisingly, I’d heard of this place but never visited.

She smiled as if gifting me with this place made her happy. I wanted to grab that happiness, bottle it exclusively for myself. But could I count on it?

I left that thought alone as theclick-click-clickof a spray-paint can being shaken hit my ears.

The village consisted of a few streets where graffiti was legally permitted. Wide, tall walls served as artists’ canvas and about a dozen or so people were already hard at work creating their masterpieces on the walls.

‘Wanna have a go?’ Savvie asked.

I couldn’t resist the twinkling in her eyes so, of course, I nodded. ‘Sure.’

We headed to the shop for supplies, then walked until we found an unoccupied wall.

‘Is it worth saying curb your competitive spirit and don’t put me to shame?’ she asked, tongue-in-cheek, her yellow spray can poised three inches from the wall.

With a light breeze ruffling her unbound hair and outlining her stunning body I could’ve stared at her all day. Resolutely, I redirected my gaze to my section of the wall. ‘Nope.’

Although my major had been in architecture, I’d minored in art design, primarily so I could be in the same class as Savvie. I’d never told her that and I didn’t intend to. She’d taken up enough of my angsty thoughts already.

Without hesitation, she plunged right into her mural, not one ounce of the insecurity she’d admitted to in bed showing as her arm swung back and forth in bold swipes.

She wore the front well. A little too well?

I frowned, my thoughts attempting to deepen once again without permission.

‘Are you going to stare at that wall all day?’

My forefinger hit the nozzle, and, with a little relief, I let my subconscious run free.

Savvie didn’t glance over at me once, her focus totally absorbed in her work. I was torn between admiration and irritation. None of the other women I’d dated before would’ve ignored me quite so totally. Hell, no other woman would be seen dead in this part of town frequentedby poor artists, gap-year students and hippies.

The novelty of it finally seeped in. There was something wildly cathartic about spraying my frustrations on a wall and the hour passed in a blink.

When I eventually took a breath and stepped back, I wasn’t altogether surprised at what I’d unleashed. But more than that, I was interested in what Savvie had drawn.

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