Page 377 of His Virgin Romance Series

“I rented out a room in this guy’s house,” I said. “Uh, actually it wasn’t a room so much as their basement. But the rent was dirt cheap, and I didn’t need much space anyway. I couldn’t paint though, and that part was hard.”

“Where will you go now?” Gabby asked.

I smiled. “It’s back to the basement for me.”

“What?”

“I called Jeff… he’s the guy whose basement I rented back in the day. Turns out it’s free, and he’s willing to let me rent it out for cheap.”

“Doesn’t sound that way,” Gabby said, looking slightly rattled by that information. Was it possible that she still cared about me… enough to care where I was sleeping after I’d moved out of here?

“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “I’ll be fine… and it’s going to be temporary. Just until I find a real job.”

“Can’t you… ask your parents for some help?” Gabby suggested.

“No way,” I said immediately. “I’m already in their debt for the bail posting my father made. I can’t ask them for more.”

I looked at Gabby and tried to memorize her face. She was so beautiful, but I knew that that beauty was beyond my reach now. It felt as though all I had left of her now were the paintings I had created in her image. They all seemed like pale imitations… but they had come to mean much more to me over the last few weeks.

“I never did thank you,” I said. “For convincing my father to come and help me…”

“I wasn’t sure if that was the right decision,” Gabby admitted.

“I never expected him actually to listen.”

“Apparently, he does care about you.”

“Or maybe he likes you,” I said. “Enough to listen at least.”

Gabby smiled. “I just… I knew I couldn’t leave you at the station. It just felt too…”

“You’re a good person, Gabby,” I said, cutting her off. “I hope you’re happy.”

She seemed to flinch back at my words, and I wondered what I had said. “I should go,” Gabby said quickly, moving towards the door.

“Wait,” I said, and miraculously she did.

“Yes?” she asked, turning to me.

“Was there a reason you came here today?”

“Oh… well… yes.” Gabby nodded. “I’m going to take you up your offer, Miles. I’m going to take the apartment.”

I smiled. “I’m glad… that one of us gets to stay here.”

She nodded curtly and then left abruptly. I stood there, wanting to go after her but forcing myself to stay put. I felt better knowing that she was going to be living here. I don’t know why that made me feel better… it just did.

I went to the room that had used to be Gabby’s. I had set up my canvases there, and I had been doing some painting in the night because I couldn’t really sleep anymore. I got my brushes and my paint out, and I started working.

I didn’t think or plan. I just turned my brain off and let my hand take control of my body. I painted for hours, and I didn’t stop to take any breaks. I kept going until I was finished and when I was done I stepped back and stared at what I had just created.

The painting had been created from passion and instinct and it showed in every stroke. It showed in every line that made up her face.

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