Chapter 12: A Broken Promise
JULIA
My mouth slightly opened before 1 could stop myself.
Evan stood there, the room’s warm light highlighting every contour of his sculpted frame.
Droplets of water clung to his chest and shoulders, gliding down toward the towel slung low around his hips. His damp, dark hair curled slightly at the ends, some droplets traveling to his sharp jawline.
He looked…devastatingly good.
It was almost unbelievable how he still looked in his prime despite being a big–shot CEO.
Usually, the likes of him would have been balding by now from all the stress! Somehow, I hoped that was the case. Maybe then, I wouldn’t feel this way.
My throat went dry, and before I could notice, my eyes lingered a little too long.
“Eyes up here,” he said, his tone slightly amused with a smirk tugging at his lips.
My gaze snapped up, and I immediately hated myself for reacting.
“I wasn’t-“I started, but he cut me off.
“You were.”
I crossed my arms, ready to defend myself. “I wasn’t.”
“Oh, Julia,” he said, the way he called my name sounding very close to home. I felt a slight ache in my chest, but I pushed it aside.
“What?” he asked, his eyes shining with mischief. “Are you still enamored?”
I scoffed. “Not even a little,” I said, but I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. Of all the times for my cheeks to betray me, why now?
“Sure,” he muttered, shaking his head. Then, he turned to me with narrowed eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he asked,
I let out a deep sigh. It seemed like Heather didn’t tell him either. But, why was it that he only asked now and not when he just opened the door? What a weird, handsome man.
“I have a project with Heather,” I said. “She told me we’d do it here.”
His frown deepened. “You’re back in school?”
I didn’t say anything and merely nodded. I could tell that he wanted to ask more questions–probably to ask me why. It was a fair question. He must have thought that I had already finished my studies.
However, before he could utter another word, Heather appeared behind him like a perfect sitcom character.
“Anders,” she said, her voice light and cheerful. “Get dressed first.”
‘Anders,‘ I thought. She doesn’t call him Evan.
He sighed and turned to Heather, his gaze softening slightly, “You didn’t tell me there was someone coming
over.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 12 A Broken Prombe
Heather smiled. “I’m sorry. It went over my head. You know how it is. I’m In school while modeling. Sometimes, I help with the company, too. I have a lot on my plate.”
“Of course you do,” Evan siniled warmly. “Tell me if you need any help.”
She nodded with a smile, playfully shooing him away.
The moment he disappeared, I exhaled, not realizing I’d been holding my breath. Heather smiled at me, to my internal meltdown.
oblivious
“Sorry about him. He’s always around these days,” she said with a laugh. “Come on, let me show you the art room.”
I nodded, forcing a polite smile as I followed her down the hall. Maybe if I focused on the project, I could forget the fact that I had just been caught ogling my ex like some lovesick fool.
But then we walked into the art room, and all coherent thoughts left my brain.
It was stunning. The walls were this soft, calming gray–blue color, and sunlight poured in through these massive windows. The curtains were bright yellow, too, accentuating the sun even further.
There were shelves packed with art supplies–paints, brushes, sketchbooks, the works–and in
the center, this giant wooden table covered in tools and half–finished projects.
“Wow,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Pretty great, right?” Heather said, clearly proud. “It took Anders and me forever to set it up, but now it’s my favorite place in the apartment.”
10
I nodded, still taking it all in. It was perfect.
Then, like some cruel twist of fate, a memory popped into my head.
Evan and I were lying on the grass in the park, the sun warm on our faces. I was doodling in my sketchbook while he sprawled out beside me, looking effortlessly relaxed.
“You’re drawing me again?” he asked.
I looked at him with a small smile. “Why? Do you want to stop being my subject?”
He chuckled and went closer to me, going behind my back to encase me in his arms. I was leaning against him now, making me feel even warmer than before.
“Of course not,” Evan sweetly said. “It’s an honor to be drawn by you.
TH
I continued doodling. “Did you know? I’ve drawn you so many times that I can draw every expression without even looking at you anymore.”
He chuckled, sending vibrations down my body. “Really?” he asked.
“Hmm,” I hummed.
“Well, you’re really serious about this art thing
then?” he asked
“Obviously,” I said, not looking up. “It’s not just a hobby, you know. It’s what I want to do.”
He tilted his head to look at me. “So, what’s the big dream?
+25 BONUS
Chapter 12 A Broken Promise
I grinned, flipping my pencil between my fingers. “Okay, picture this: a big studio with huge windows–like, floor -to–ceiling–so there’s tons of natural light. Shelves everywhere, crammed with supplies. And in the middle is this huge table where I can work on whatever I want. Paint Sculpt, sketch–you name it.”
“Oh, and I want the room to be painted soft gray–blue and with yellow curtains!” I added.
He laughed. “You’ve got it all figured out, huh?”
“Of course I do,” I said, sticking my tongue out at him. “It’s going to be amazing.”
He reached over and tapped my sketchbook lightly. “You’ll get it, Julia. You’re too stubborn not to.”
I looked at him then, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. You really think so?”
“Yeah,” he said softly, “I do.”
“And you’ll be there with me once I achieve it, right?” I asked.
“Of course,” he muttered. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The memory hit me like a ton of bricks as I stood in Heather’s art room.
This was it. My dream art room.
But it wasn’t mine. It was hers.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 13: The Perfect Subjects
