art is just as special as their friendship, and I know they will do great things in the future.”
Rooney’s cheeks were turning bright red as all eyes were on her and Evie, but she smiled at us and gave Ira who was still in her dad’s arms a little wave.
“And they have proven that their art is already loved. Mr. and Mrs. Andersson bought one of Evie’s, and one of Rooney’s paintings tonight at their grand opening!”
The crowed clapped and cheered, and the happiness in Rooney’s eyes made my whole body warm.
“That’s incredible,” Louise said in awe, waiting for her daughter to reach us and then hugging her tight.
“That’s fantastic, my dear. You sold your very first painting!”
Tears rolled down Rooney’s face as she let her mother hold her, and when Louise let go, she turned to her dad and hugged him too, letting Ira in on it as well.
“So happy for you, darling,” Devon said, letting go of her again to let it be my turn now.
I pulled her closer with my hands on her waist, kissing her lips before hugging her tight. “I’m so proud of you, love. I knew it would work out,” I told her, letting her nestle her face into the crook of my neck.
“I’m so happy. I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” I replied quietly before letting go of her and cupping her cheeks to brush away her tears.
“Are you sad?” Ira asked, worry in his voice.
Rooney laughed softly and shook her head, then she rubbed his back to assure him she wasn’t crying because she was sad.
“I’m very happy. That’s why I’m shedding some tears, you know?” she explained.
Ira studied her face for a while and tried to figure out if she was being honest or not, but after a few seconds he smiled. “I’m happy too.”
We laughed, and I caressed the back of his head.
“We all are, buddy.”
Epilogue
Rooney
My senior year in college wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
The stress other people anticipated wasn’t really there for me, and ever since we made that first sale at our gallery’s opening, people have been interested in our art and calling or emailing us daily.
It worked out better than we imagined, and in only one month, Evie and I would work full-time at the gallery, painting, holding exhibitions, and selling our art.
Life was perfect, and with nothing else standing in our way, we could relax and live a little.
It’s been almost a year since the opening, and I’ve never been happier in my life.
I parked the car in front of the apartment complex after a long day at the gallery and walked inside to head up the stairs and stop in front of Wells’s door.
He gave me a key a while ago, so I could come and go whenever I pleased. He had asked me to move in with him last month, but I told him that I wasn’t ready for that yet, or to make a decision.
Deep down I knew I wanted to move in with him and Ira, seeing as I was already spending every night here with them.
Though, that would mean I’d leave Evie alone, and that could result in her throwing parties again.
She hasn’t changed a bit, and we even had a few fights and disagreements when it came to our art, but we were all good now.
Our friendship was stronger than her outbursts of anger when something didn’t go her way.
“Anybody home?” I called out as I entered the apartment, and sure enough, Ira ran down the hall to greet me.
He had grown quite a bit in the past months, just like his blond locks, but he was still the sweetest little boy ever.
“Hey, buddy!” I said, hugging him tight as he wrapped his arms around my hips.
“Look what we got!”
He held up a brochure about turtles, and I already had an idea where they’ve been today.
“No way! Did you go get the turtle we’ve been visiting?” I asked, my eyes full of excitement.
“Yes! He’s swimming! Come on!”
It was hard seeing him grow, and thinking about his fifth birthday coming up was making me sad but happy at the same time.
I let him pull me into the living room where we had already placed a tank on a steady stand.
It was a semi-aquatic tank where the turtle could go for a swim but also climb onto rocks to sunbathe.
We had set up the interior of the tank already, so the only thing that was left