That was very honest.
“Do you paint or draw?” She asked curiously and I shook my head.
“Never tried,” I mentioned, “what would I start with?”
“Sweetheart,” Marco’s voice had me jumping as I looked up. He searched my face and I frowned.
“What?” I raised a brow.
“Nothing,” Atlas patted Marco’s shoulder. “We will be over there if you need us.”
Sai winked, “have fun, kitten.”
Kitten? Now why did that make me blush?
“Come on,” Clara, I assumed, walked me towards a large shelf in the back. She spoke quietly and with a soothing teaching voice. “What sounds more interesting to you? Painting or drawing?”
I looked over all of the different sample projects on display, and smiled, “painting.”
She nodded and began to gather some supplies, “let’s start you on watercolor.”
I frowned noticing the pile. I really didn’t want them buying me anything else. I looked up. “Is it possible for me to work here to pay off the supplies?”
Her eyes softened as she looked over my shoulder, setting the material down. “What’s your name?”
“Maya,” I offered my hand as she met it introducing herself as Clara.
She sighed, “you remind me a lot of me. My Alec never wanted me buying or working for stuff, I’m assuming you are facing something similar?”
Who was her Alec?
I nodded, “I just don’t like them spending money on me.”
“Kitten,” Sai called and I refused to look, knowing they could hear me somehow.
“How about this,” she smiled, “you let them buy this stuff because I don’t think they are going to give you a choice, and I give you a job here? You can work out what works best with your schedule for after school.”
“How do you know I’m in school?” I frowned.
“I have a granddaughter about your age,” she explained and squeezed my shoulder.
I nodded and met her hand, “deal.”
As we walked back, Marco pinned me with a look and I wrapped my arms around his center, burying my face against his button down. His lips finding my ear as the other two checked out.
“You really want to work?”
“Yes,” I responded softly, “I’ve had my entire life controlled, it feels good to make this choice.”
Marco let out a low sound, “honey, what happened before you came here?”
I froze and swallowed, “why does it matter, Marco?”
He tightened his arms around me and spoke quietly, “because you’re our mate and I want to know everything there is about you.”
There was something more to this… and I’m sorry, what? My question from yesterday came flying back.
My head snapped up, “mate? We aren’t talking about friends, are we?”