"And I only watch porn as an artist."
Fuck, why does he make it so hard to hold his gaze? My cheeks are burning. I stammer something. "Well... yeah... you need to study the human figure."
"And that's why you read dirty books, to study the prose?"
"Yeah. I don't need them for fantasies. My imagination is plenty active. You... I guess you haven't read any of my fan fiction."
"I'm still waiting on that story about Draco tying up Harry."
"Have you even read Harry Potter?"
"I know the gist."
"I haven't... I have to do more research still." I run my fingers over the edges of the notebook.
He brushes a stray hair from my eyes then takes the notebook in my hands. Runs his fingers over the cover. "This is exactly what you need."
"So I can fill it with cunt?" I manage to say the word without blushing.
He chuckles. "So you can fill it with whatever grabs onto you and refuses to let go." He flips the snap, bends the spine, drags his fingers over the paper. "This is a serious notebook. For a serious writer."
"But I'm not—"
"You could be."
"Why does it matter so much to you?"
"Because you matter that much to me."
Chapter Twenty-One
Brendon
Days pass in a blur. Kaylee in workout clothes in the morning. Emma at the brea
kfast table, groaning about an early shift. A back piece—a tiger hiding in the bushes. Two best friends getting matching ink. A guy who says nothing, simply hands me an abstract design, and tips an extra hundred dollars in cash.
Dean reminding Ryan they're about to be on equal footing.
Ryan growling and rolling his eyes.
The quiet in the house.
My sister attempting her summer reading.
Kaylee's laugh from Emma's room.
A night out with Ryan. A quiet grunt-hey-raise our beers-nod-drink kind of night.
Another long day at work. Dad duties at dinner with Emma. With Kaylee right there, those big green eyes all contemplative and innocent.
Another night out with Dean and Walker at a too loud dance club. They take turns picking out one-night stands. And teasing me about holding out for "sweet virgin pussy."
Sunday night, I get home late. Strip out of my sweaty clothes. Scrub clean in the shower.
I step into my bedroom wrapped in a towel. Something catches my eye. A light in the hallway.
It's a flicker. Then it's gone again.