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“I would never judge you,” I say, unable to help myself from thinking about her literal other personality. Whatever is on her mind, it couldn’t possibly be worse than that.
“My dad has helped financially support me most of my adult life.”
She stares at me like it’s my turn, but I have no idea what to say to that. Exceptso?
She scratches at her arms and continues. “He’s done more for me than I can ever really say. I really,reallyrespect his opinions. Maybe too much sometimes…”
“What are you saying?”
She shrugs, but looking at her red face, I start to understand.
He told her her art is just a hobby. That it’ll never be more than that. And she believed him.
I lean back in my chair and take a drink of the punch that is so sweet, it makes my nose crinkle. I set the cup down and clear my throat. My eyes wander to the corner as the artist sets the book down and walks off, probably to take a break.
“I think you should give it a shot,” I say, turning back to Olive.
She taps a finger on the table and plays with her cup. “Maybe I will.”
“Now.”
Her tapping stops as her head pops up. “Huh?”
I point to the vacant corner, and she turns to look.
“I can’t just hijack?—”
“No one will know the difference.”
She faces forward in her chair and darts her eyes around the table. Fearful excitement brings out the blue tint in her gray eyes.
She wants this.
“Go, Olive. You’re gonna do great.”
She meets my gaze, uncertainty shining for just a second before she takes a breath and nods. She stands from the table then slowly makes her way to the backdrop while I lean back in my chair and watch.
It takes no time before a person in a mouse costume comes up and hands her money. When she doesn’t hand it back, I smile.
24
OLIVE
It’s quiet in Alik’s apartment when we step through the threshold, neither of us feeling the need to fill the silence. His hand leaves mine to flip on the light, and I wander inside, my lips spread in a woozy smile without a drop of alcohol in my blood.
What a night.
What a perfect, perfect night.
Alik shuts the door while my eyes land on the new chair at the table, mismatched with the first.
“Have you had company?” I ask, trying to keep my voice relaxed, but I can’t help the accusation when it slips.
Alik’s palm caresses my lower back while his lips press against my ear. “No. Why?”
I open my mouth to reply, but then I just point to the chair to let it speak for me. He follows my finger, and when he seems to understand my meaning, he comes around to face me, his eyes roaming my face while he plays with a lock of my hair.
“I got some new furniture this morning,” he says, meeting my eyes. “I told you, I’m confident I’m going to be able to leverage the mob boss’s arrest to take the target off your back. You don’tever have to stay with me if you don’t want to, but soon enough, it should be safe. If you want to.”
