“I didn’t do much. This is all you.” He grins almost bashfully, sliding his hands a little lower so they rest just above the swell of my ass. Maybe it’s not entirely appropriate for a fancy art show, but I don’t give a fuck about that.
“I never thought I’d be someone who could share like this,” I admit. “But having people see my pieces, study them, absorb them—hell, even offer money for them—it’s fucking amazing.”
“They love you, Soph,” he says, leaning down to kiss me, his tongue gently seeking entrance as my lips part for him.
Just like I love you.
He doesn’t say that. Maybe he isn’t even thinking it. Maybe it’s all just in my head, my mind filling in the blanks and putting thoughts in his head. But in one heart-stopping second, with his body pressed against mine and his lips devouring me sweetly, I realize the truth.
I’m beginning to fall in love.
Not just with Declan.
Not just with Elias.
Not just with Gray.
With all three of them.
19
The show doesn’t wrap up until much later than I expected. Guests linger until nearly midnight, though most of the people I know from school are long since gone.
“The gallery owner says you’ll get the paintings back sometime within the next week,” Gray says. “But if you’d like, you’re more than welcome to take as many as we can fit in my car back to the dorms tonight.”
“I think I’m good.” I let out a little sigh, realizing how tired I actually am. “I don’t want anyone to have to—”
“Don’t worry about convenience, Sparrow.” He laughs. “You just brought this gallery a lot of publicity, and I’m more than willing to bet that they’ll be bending over backward to help you.”
I blush in spite of myself. The past few hours have given me a surge of confidence and energy I didn’t know was even in me. It’s still hard to believe that tonight was actually a success, that people—strangers—saw my work and liked it.
Elias and Declan join us, and Elias swings an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to his warm body. As we head out to Gray’s car, all three guys talk excitedly about how much of a success the night was. Gray even shocks me by mentioning that the gallery might want to display my art again.
“Especially if you’re not keen on selling anything right now.” He glances down at me with pride gleaming in his eyes. “Not,” he quickly adds, “that that’s a bad thing. If you choose not to sell, people are still gonna want to see your work again. And then if you ever do sell, you’ll probably be able to charge whatever you want and still have buyers.”
I laugh. “Yeah, whatever.” Even though that prediction seems a little far-fetched, the thought is nice.
“I’m telling you, Sparrow,” he says teasingly, “you’re the next big thing.”
As we reach the parking lot, I suddenly realize that Max isn’t with us. The last time I saw her was maybe an hour ago.
“Hey, where’s Max?” I ask.
Declan gives a knowing grin. “She told us to let you know she’s letting Aaron take her back to the dorms tonight.” He raises an eyebrow. “Sounded like she might actually be getting somewhere with him.”
I make a mental note to shoot her a text and make sure she’s all right—even though Aaron may be the most bearable of the Saints, I still don’t trust him. He associates with Cliff, so how the hell could I trust him?
The school is only a thirty minute drive away, and as we pull up on campus, all the tiredness I was feeling as we left the gallery has been replaced with another wave of adrenaline. There’s no fucking way I can sleep right now.
Maybe the guys feel the same way, because as we cross the quiet, dimly lit campus, I realize that Gray isn’t leading us back to my dorm or even his.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He throws me a look over his shoulder that makes my skin heat. “You’ll see,” is all he says, and when the other two Sinners don’t question him, I get the feeling they already know where we’re going.
They take me to a building I’ve never been to—a lecture hall that I don’t have any classes in. Despite the hour, they manage to get into the building by a conveniently unlocked door, and I vaguely wonder what favors they called in and who they called them in from, but decide not to think too hard about it.
My skin is tingling with anticipation as we head up a long flight of stairs, turning out into a hallway and then finding another flight of stairs, smaller this time. I know we’re on the top floor, but for some reason, as Gray opens up the door at the top of the final flight of stairs, I’m shocked when I see a bright expanse of stars stretching out over a clear night sky, the chilly air stirring little tendrils of my hair.