Page 98 of Sharkbait
And then… she paints.
My heart fills to bursting.
Goose bumps cover my skin.
It takes everything in me not to cry.
When I look up at Dana and the trainers—even Brendan—they look just as delighted and moved as I am.
Dana walks over and pats my back.
“I think we’ve found your contribution to the arts festival, my friend.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
James
"Oh my gosh,” Louise’s excitement pours through the phone. “It’s been so brilliant, I don’t even know how to fully describe it to you. You’ll just have to come see! Will you come?”
“To your arts festival?” I ask. “Are you inviting me?”
“As my date, yeah,” she says sweetly.
I’m pretty sure she can hear my smile through the phone.
“Of course I will. Name the time and the place, and I’ll be there.”
“November eighth. It’s a Monday night.”
“Perfect. That’s our slowest night at the bar.”
What I don’t say is that even if it was the busiest night of the whole damn year, I’d still be there in a heartbeat.
“It’s called Brew at the Zoo. Isn’t that cute?”
“A beer-inspired event where I don’t have to work?AndI get the hottest date in town? Sign me up.”
“Awesome. Hey, did I tell you Dana looked at my portfolio, and she wants to auction off some of my work that night too?”
“No! That’s incredible!”
“Yeah, she wants to pair my paintings of Meilani with the ones Meilani is doing herself. She thinks together, we can raise some serious money for the AZA.”
Louise sounds positively giddy. The happiest I’ve ever heard her.
“Remind me what the AZA is again?”
“The Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” she says.
“Remember when you said in a perfect world, you’d find a way to combine marine biology with your art? Looks like you’re doing it.”
“Wait. Are you home? Where are you? I just started talking your ear off the second you picked up.”
“Yeah, I landed this morning. I’m at a meeting.”
“I’m sorry! You should have told me you’re working!”
“Not that kind of meeting. An AA meeting. Wally’s actually here today as my guest.”
