He giggled and nodded. "One to eat and one to talk."
"That would be useful." I glanced sidelong at Whitney, who was trying not to laugh. I could see what she was thinking. Two mouths would be useful for sucking two cocks at once. Except now I was thinking about sucking Connor and Riley's.
"Very useful," she agreed. She wasn't being very helpful at helping me to keep a straight face. Her expression made me want to laugh, but I didn't want Lincoln to think I was laughing at him. That wasn't how talent was nurtured. Or enthusiasm, for that matter.
"You could laugh and eat a burger at the same time," Kennett said.
"I'm starting to be envious of a drawing of myself." I was relieved to have a reason to laugh, this time at myself.
"Do you want to keep it?" Lincoln, suddenly shy, offered me the sheet of paper.
"I'd love to," I said. "But you need to sign it first. Then, someday, when you're famous, I can show everyone my Lincoln original artwork."
He grabbed up a bright yellow crayon and wrote his name in big, awkward letters before offering me the paper again.
"I'll cherish it forever," I said. "I'll put it on my fridge when I get home."
A thing my mother never did. If she kept any of my childhood artwork, she stashed it away where I couldn't see it. My stepfather had a couple of pieces my stepbrother did framed andhanging in his office, but nothing of mine. I'd cherish this picture all the more because of that.
Lincoln grinned. "Thank you, Miss Kent."
"All right, class," Whitney said.
Before she could say another word, the bell rang and the kids bolted from their seats, grabbed up their bags and ran for the door.
"Well then." She laughed at how fast the room emptied. "Thank you for doing this today. They had a lot of fun. You're welcome back any time."
"Do you want to see my drawing?" Now I was suddenly shy. People had varied responses to seeing themselves on paper. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.
"Of course I do." She followed me over to the table and gasped. "Oh my God, Leah, that's incredible! You made me look so pretty."
"You are pretty. I picked up the piece of paper and handed it to her. "You can keep it if you like."
"I like, I like," she said with a smile. "I like it so much." She managed to tear her eyes away from the drawing long enough to give me a hug. "You're so talented."
"I'm okay," I said modestly.
Yes, I could draw and paint, but it wasn't where my whole heart was. Although, my heart hadn't been whole for a long time. Not since my body started to be so broken.
21
CONNOR
"I'mglad you're doing better, Dad, but I've got this." What was with the prickle of annoyance at seeing him sitting behind his desk in his office? I'd been stir crazy for the last three days, waiting for the weekend, and for him to take back his job. Now he was here, I was, what? Possessive? Like somehow he was stepping into my territory, and not the other way around?
He glanced up at me and waved me away. "I'm fine. You know me, I can't lie around doing nothing."
He was right. He was as restless as I was. If things turned out differently, he'd be the one running the adventure tours. Bossing me around and making me step aside when he felt like it.
Respectfully, fuck that.
"Did you order more beer?" He frowned at the screen in front of him. "I'm not seeing anything here."
"I placed the order two days ago," I said. "It should be delivered this afternoon." Just in time for the weekend. Just as he asked me to do via text message the day after his heart attack. Of course he'd still question whether or not I did what he asked.
His frown deepened. "I can't see it… Oh, there it is. Right in front of my eyes."
Certain he wasn't looking, I rolled mine. Of course it fucking was. Right where I said it would be.
