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Not because I think she’d stop me. I’m almost certain she wouldn’t. I’m beginning to understand that waiting for something doesn’t always mean I’m being denied it. Sometimes it means I want the rest of it too.

At her car, Laura turns toward me but keeps hold of my hand. “I’m glad you asked me to come.”

“I’m glad you came.”

“I wanted to.”

She says it simply, and somehow that makes it matter more. Not long ago, I needed Laura beside me for almost everything.

Tonight I got here without her. My painting was already on the wall. People knew my name. I sold something I made.

I still spent half the night wanting to find her in the room.

She squeezes my hand. “What?”

“Nothing.” I smile when her eyebrows rise. “I’m allowed to have thoughts I don’t say.”

“I’m not sure I like this development.”

“You’ll survive.” The words come out sounding enough like her that I hear it myself.

Laura gives me a look.

“That sounded like you,” I say.

“It did.”

“I’ve learned a lot.”

She laughs again. A couple leaving the gallery passes us, and the woman glances back at me. I notice because people still do that sometimes. Laura notices too. Then she squeezes my hand before letting go and opens the car door.

“Good night, Kell.”

“Good night, Laura.”

She gets in, but before she closes the door, she looks back at me. “I really am proud of you.”

I carry the words with me as I watch her drive away, then head toward the curb to wait for my rideshare. The red painting is sold.

The green one is still waiting at the studio. I chose the one I couldn’t control. I chose right.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Laura

I make it until Sunday afternoon before I stop pretending I need more time. For two days, I tell myself I’m being thoughtful. Careful. Responsible. All the words I’ve used most of my adult life when what I really mean is that I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. By Sunday, I’m tired of hearing myself think.

I call Kell before I leave.

“Are you at the studio?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come over?”

There’s a brief pause. “Yes.”

He doesn’t ask why.