“Your left eye is closed.”
“It’s nothing.” I turned toward my screen. “My lens is bothering me.”
“Take it out then.”
“No.” I would do no such thing. He didn’t understand.
“Addingstubbornto your list of personality traits,” Hal said, pushing off the doorframe.
“I didn’t realize you were taking notes,” I retorted snidely.
Hal ran a hand through his hair. “You need to take it out.”
“No, I do not.”
“You look ridiculous,” Hal stated. “Just take it out, Emeline. It’s bad for your eye.”
“The Illum monitor everything. If something comes up, my MIND will take care of it,” I snapped, attempting to open my eye. Every time I tried, it burned viciously and blurred my vision.
“So you’re going to act like your eye isn’t bright red and clearly irritated, just to keep that thing? To adhere to your dear Mate’s demands?”
“He didn’t demand it, and he isn’t my Mate.”
“You signed, though,” Hal said quietly.
“I did. I haven’t heard from him since. I think . . . I think I messed it up somehow.” There it was. In saying it, I felt so small.
Hal sighed. “I doubt you messed it up. The Elite live life by their own rules, on their own time. He’d be stupid to reject a woman like you. I am sure there’s a reason.”
“What if I’m the reason?” Even as his comment sent my pulse fluttering, the dam broke open, and all the horrible thoughts threatened to spill onto the floor around us until we both drowned in my self-pity. Why was I telling him this? The things we had said to each other four days ago found me. I must seem crazy.
“You don’t have to worry,” Hal reassured me. “I am a Major Defect, Emeline. Nothing you say is crazy.” I whipped my head toward him, unnerved. “You wear all your feelings on your face,” he clarified. “Now take the lens out. Please.”
It would be nice to be able to see fully again. Still, I didn’t move.
“I’ll even apologize first for the other day,” Hal said. “I am sorry.”
I stared at him, huffing a breath, and he crossed his arms expectantly. Finally, I attempted to fish the lens out. It took several tries until I felt it release from my eye. Immediate relief flooded me.
“Better?” Hal asked, walking into the room. “Would it kill you to admit I was right?”
I rolled my eyes, the lens still on my finger. “I’m not willing to find out.”
Hewasright, though. My eye was still sore, but I could keep it open again.
“The red will go away soon.” He peered into my eyes. I stiffened at his proximity, the fluttering turning savage. “The blue and brown combination is striking,” Hal confessed, and he leaned closer, his warm breath caressing my face. “I’m still waiting on your apology.” I shot him a glare even as my pulse danced, and he pulled back, smiling widely. “I’m patient. Take your time.”
“I will.”
His gaze shifted toward the dying flowers. “So you’re possibly in a contract.”
“I am, or I think I am. He said we were.”
“Does that change your offer?” Hal asked, hesitation lacing his words. “You said you’re always here if I wanted to come and look at art. If your invitation remains . . .” Hal shifted, tugging at the sleeve of his blue jumpsuit. “I would like to look at art with you.”
I stared at the man before me, at his hesitancy and the blue.
“All right,” I said, turning toward my work. I sent a landscape to reassignment. A new piece appeared, marked to be destroyed.
