Page 26 of Infinite as They Come
“You needed time,” she said quietly. “I get it, but you know you’re not doing any of this alone, right? You can share everything with me. Whatever you’re thinking and feeling.”
“You don’t have to worry about my problems. I can handle them. I can…” I forced the cigarette back between my lips. “Ihaveto handle them.”
“And you will. I know you will, but not alone. Whatever decision you make, I’ll be there.”
“You deserve better than to be dragged into my mess, baby.”
“Your mess is my mess.”
I raised her hand to my mouth, kissing her there. “I love you. My sweet girl,” I said against her skin, but just as quickly as I felt the weight of everything there on my chest float away, it came right back, hard and fast, like it was snapping back into my body. “I really need a distraction. Can I push you into the pool?”
She snorted, a grin spreading across her face. “I see you’ve reverted back into your high school self.”
“It’s just so nice seeing you all wet…”
She suddenly sat up straighter. “We could do that interview if you need a distraction. I have really fun questions.”
“Fun, huh?” My brows rose. “Yeah, okay, go for it.”
“Yay.” She stood up and slid into my lap, my hand instantly wrapping around her waist on instinct. “I finally get you all to myself. You’ve beendodging my request for months, Mr. Westbrook. What’s with that?”
“Have I now?” I asked, my words a little muffled with the cigarette between my teeth.
“Mhm.” One eyebrow raised, she gave my chest a little poke. “What’s with the elusiveness, hm? The suspicious behavior?”
“You sound like a cop, baby.”
Her nose scrunched up. “Ew.”
“You’d make a real awful cop. First suspect you get just has to smile at you and you’d tell ‘em they’re free to go.”
“I can be mean, thank you very much.”
“You gonna read me my rights?”
“How does it go?” she asked, her fingers threading through my hair. “You have the right to remain silent…”
“Mm. I never used that right.”
She giggled, burying her face in my neck. “Yeah, I can imagine. Such a menace.”
“Only a little.”
“A little?”
“Well…”
“It’s very alluring, though,” she said, lifting her head up. “I kinda love that you have zero respect for authority.”
“Didn’t take me long to corrupt you, huh?” I asked, letting a stream of smoke leave my mouth. I watched as her tongue stuck out that little bit and ran across the top of her teeth, her big eyes lighting up as they chased after that smoke. Her cheeks reddened for a second before she cleared her throat, her gaze settling back on me.
“First question: what’s your biggest inspiration? Hm?” She pushed a hand through my hair again, her fingers raking through the strands. “What made you want to paint?”
“That’s very original.”
“Shh. Answer it please.”
“It’s the suffering. The anguish. The pain. The dark, empty, abyss, the fact that—”
