Page 49 of Love Is an Art
“But the rest of the date was great?”
“Great.”Until I freaked out and ran away. But I’m not sharing that with Ben.“We also painted this one together.” I show him a photo ofDalmations Gone Wild.
“You painted that?” Ben asks, not even hiding the surprise in his voice. “Mr. Let’s-Check-The-Data painted?”
“With her.”
“She got you to paint.” Ben tilts his head. “And it’s such a happy painting.”
“She’s fun,” I say and meet Ben’s glance as he takes this in. “And this one was mostly her, so she does have talent.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I nod, but then I shake my head. “Still, it doesn’t quite make sense.”
“What doesn’t make sense?”
“That she’s such a bad artist.”
“Do you think she was pretending to be bad?”
“You can’t fake that.” I shake my head. “But it doesn’t make sense because she’s super cool and amazing at other things. She slaughtered me in billiards. And she definitely enjoyed wiping the floor with me. It doesn’t quite square with her personality—that she would want to pursue something that she’s terrible at. She looked more tortured than happy when she was painting. I’m sure she’ll succeed because she is so determined, but still.”
“She beat you at billiards?” Ben asks. “You’re like a pro.”
“She’s a pro. Apparently, she picked it up while bartending.”
“Well, that supports her story that she’s an artist and bartending to support herself,” he says.
I stare at my screen, thinking back to last night.
“Does she think she’s a good artist?” Ben asks.
“No. She admits she’s not good.”
“Well, wouldn’t that be hard to be that open about? It seems doubtful that she’d lie about being an artist if she knows she’s terrible.”
“I’m probably extra suspicious after Paisley.” And that’s another thing I hate Paisley for … that now I feel I have to be extra suspicious.
“Who wouldn’t be?” Ben pats me awkwardly on the shoulder. “But you shouldn’t taint all women—or lawyers—with the same brush.”
I change the topic. “How’s Brooke? Are you still distracting her from work?”
“I’m doing my best.” Ben grins.
I wave. “Distract away. Now that my case is settled, she’s working on some cases for Winthrop.”
“Sorry, but Brooke can date me and still excel at work.”
“I figured as much.”
Ben turns back to his work. I click on a new email and read it.
My phone beeps.
I pick it up. Tessa sent a text with a photo attached. Of a drawing. Of two stick figures holding hands.
Tessa:Had fun last night. I like holding your hand.
