"What?" Griff demands, sliding the plate of eggs and toast onto my place at the table. I return to my chair, but just sit there, not eating. Not answering Griff's question.
I can't answer. I'm too stunned. Because I love him, too, but I did nothing but run away.
Yet he just sacrificed everything for me. His vision. His work.
And all I'm doing is hiding here inside these four walls--
Well, fuck that. Fuck. That.
I'm through hiding. I'm through being scared.
Most of all, I'm through believing that fate is my enemy. Punish me? How about reward me? I do something bold and scary and wonderful, then maybe the universe should do something nice for me. Or for the people I love.
I look up at Griffin, my eyes wide.
"What?" he demands again.
"Nia was right. My life's in a box."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"That's okay. I know the way out myself." I take a deep breath, and smile. "You're looking at the featured model for a stunning new art show opening in a couple of weeks."
"Am I?"
"Daddy will never let me hear the end of this." I say the words, but this time--for the first time--they're missing the usual dread.
"Dad's in Georgia. And you're here. And the last time I checked, it's your life."
I smile at him. "And I'm going to go start living it."
I'm pacing the studio when he bursts through the alley door. "Sorry, sorry. I got stuck in traffic, and--Kelsey?"
I lift my fingers in a little wave. "Hi."
He hurries to me, his expression a mix of concern and joy. "Are you okay? Where are Cass and Siobhan?"
"I sent them away."
He runs his fingers through his hair, and now his expression looks as if he's trying for patience.
"Baby, I'm thrilled to see you, but I have to get these shots done. I'm down to the wire here, and Cass has a full plate at the tattoo parlor. She's squeezing me in around clients."
"No, she's not."
He takes a step back, then looks me up and down. "What's going on?"
"It's just that you're not really that slammed. You've got at least two-thirds of the images, and the dance is already choreographed."
I watch as he swallows. "Kelsey--baby. Don't tease me."
"I'm doing the show, Wyatt. Me. The pictures. The stage. Nobody's taking my place."
He shakes his head slowly. "We've been over this. It's okay. You don't have to."
"Yeah, I do."
"Why?"