so.”
“Can I see the other wall?” he asked.
“I’ve never shown anyone my stuff.” She sighed. “In a few days you’ve seen all my secrets.”
“For someone who is adamant about not keeping secrets, you’re the most secretive person I know.”
She looked up at him, her brows together in thought. After a long moment she said, “Damn. Never thought about that.”
“At least you shared it with me. I’m honored,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “By the way, your friends have seen it? The people who were here tonight?”
“Yeah, but they’re artists, so it’s different. They don’t judge.”
Enzo squeezed her tighter, realizing that they were sweaty and paint-stained, but not really caring. He needed to touch her, so he did. “I saw your chalk room and your canvases already and I loved them. I think you are so talented, and I would never judge you.” He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. “Plus, I’m your friend too. I think it’s only fair you show me.”
—
The wall was about a third of the size of the one they’d just primed. Against a soft blue background she had painted a little girl—who looked a lot like a young Jamie Lynn—sitting alone holding a flower that was withered and dying. The little girl was smiling. She seemed hopeful. There were what looked like people all around her, but they were just silhouettes; the focal point was the little blond girl who wore dirty overalls full of holes. Around her was utter destruction—angry faces, broken cars—but the girl was all smiles. It was as if the world was falling apart around her, but she was…
“Hope,” he whispered, mostly to himself.
“What?”
“That’s what I see. Is that you, sweetheart?” He pointed to the girl on the wall. Every freckle and line of her face was drawn with the precision of an accomplished artist. Even the details of the flower were amazing.
She shrugged. “Actually, I see innocence.” She stepped back to observe again.
“I don’t.” Her tiny body was in front of him, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I definitely see hope.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s beautiful, Jamie Lynn. You should share this with everyone you know. Your brother and Violet would love it. They’d be proud.” He shouldn’t have said that, he realized immediately; it was giving her and the little girl in the mural hope that would soon be ripped away. She turned into his arms and kissed him. Her kisses were usually hard and charged, but this was different. It was soft and tender.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“If you have to ask, I’m not doing it right.”
“Stop.” He cupped her face and looked over her shoulder to the wall. “What does it mean, sweetheart?”
“Nothing. It was just something I drew.”
“Bullshit. Tell me,” he said, but she pressed her body closer and kissed him. “I won’t let you use sex to divert my attention,” he insisted. “I want to know.”
“My mom would throw away my drawings. Call them stupid. Call me stupid. Said it was a waste of time. We didn’t have money for art supplies. I’ve been working since I can remember. No one knows I do this. Draw, I mean. Not even Travis. My twin brother! I mean, now they know about the community center classes, but they don’t know the extent of it.”
Enzo looked around at the area he was already all too familiar with, and felt a pain in the pit of his stomach. The people he’d assumed were just faceless thugs weren’t faceless anymore. Hell, they weren’t even thugs. They were real people with real feelings behind their art. And yes, it was art, because what she’d drawn made him feel. It wasn’t just some beautiful piece; it was heartfelt emotions spread out for the world to see. “You know, I can help you pay for art school,” he said tentatively. The money wouldn’t even dent his account, but he was sure she’d be too proud to accept his money.
She pushed back slightly. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted pity. I hate that look you’re giving me right now. It’s the reason I don’t tell anyone. I just told you because you asked about it. But no, I don’t want your money, and I certainly don’t want you trying to fix me. I like my life. I like working at the Pier.”
“It wasn’t pity, Jamie Lynn. It was just…” He brought her into his arms and inhaled the scent of