Page 106 of One Little Lie
“I don’t want to hear about them either,” I say quickly.
“Okay. There hasn’t been anyone in a long while, though. And I was tested at my last checkup.”
“Probably something we should have discussed long before now, huh?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, probably.”
Hatty smiles down at me, and my world feels right. Here in his arms, I feel like I can conquer the world, and that makes me the luckiest girl on earth.
Pulling away from him, I keep the contented smile on my face as I reach down for my camera.
“Forever, huh?”
A grin hits me first. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and he’s my forever.
Removing the lens cap, I set the camera up on a portable tripod, push a button, and run back to stand with Hatty. He immediately wraps an arm around my waist and hauls me up in a bridal hold. He smiles into the camera while I smile at him.
The flash goes off, and I know this will be my new favorite picture.
Lowering his mouth, he kisses me gently, and when he pulls back, I notice his haunted eyes.
“Forever, huh?” he repeats my words as he sets me on my feet.
With long strides, he crosses the room to stand in front of the easel again.
“Forever.” It becomes a whispered chant as he lifts and inspects the charcoal.
I’m frozen to my spot. Afraid if I move, he’ll lose the nerve.
“You want me to draw our forever?”
Silently, I move closer. I won’t push him if this is too much, but I need to see his face. That’s how I’ll know if this was the right decision or not. Slowly, I inch closer until I’m standing at his side.
His focus is on the large, blank slate in front of him, and it gives me the opportunity to scan his face. His brow is furrowed in concentration, not fear. His breathing is regular, and his body posture is loose.
“I haven’t done this in a very long time, Rylan. Our forever might end up looking like a pile of dog shit.”
“Not a chance,” I say confidently. “I can see our future clearly enough for the both of us. Whatever you put on that paper will be just the beginning.”
“You’re pretty sure I can do this.”
“Hatty, I have no doubt you can do anything you put your mind to. I believe in you, but if our forever is too daunting, you can always draw me like a French girl.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at him, and he pounces. With his lips to my ear, he admits to a fantasy.
“I’ve dreamed of drawing you naked for years, Rylan. But when I do that, it will be just for me and not where a room full of assholes can watch from a computer screen.”
“Wh-When?”
He pulls away, and I stumble forward. His self-satisfied smirk is back as he glances around the room.
“Yes, when.” Grabbing my hand, he drags me through the space and out into the hallway.
“What are we doing?”
Hatty glances left, then right. His hand squeezes mine in the rhythm of a heartbeat.
“I don’t own you, Rylan. But I am going to own this moment.”
