“Ladies,” my calm professor says, “I can assure you Harper knewexactly what she was doing.”
“What?” Becca and Christina gasp in unison.
Maybe this is the part where I wake up? Now would be good.
“Oh yes,” he says. “This piece has already been reserved. That’s why I was looking for Harper.”
“W-what?” Maria and I both ask, gazing up at the elderly professor.
“Who would buy this crap?” Christina shouts.
“I would,” a deep voice says, shuddering my bones.
Has to be a dream, I think, turning my head.
Has to be a
?
–
“Hey, Harper,” Chris Collins says.
Nope. Not a dream.
The universe must be having fun at my expense because he’s turned up in the same blue suit I painted him in.
“Oh my God!” Christina squeals. “Is thathim? In the painting?”
Frowning, Chris turns his attention to the artwork.
I watch him closely, but he doesn’t react. Until…
No.
That’s not a tear in his eye.
Is it?
“Did you really do this?” Chris asks, gazing at the painting as he slides on his aviator sunglasses.
Why the hell is he upset? He doesn’t cry at anything. Ever.
“Yeah,” I say. “But it’s nothing special. It just sort of came to me. Artist’s curse.”
Chris turns to look at me, a single tear rolling down his chiseled jaw.
“Call the police!” Christina yells. “He’s the psycho grandpa who attacked us at Harper’s party.”
Chris and I just stare at one another.
I wish I knew what you were thinking.
“Christina!” the usually composed professor snaps. “Don’t be so rude! This is Christopher Collins, a renowned rare art collector.”
“It’s fine,” Chris tells the professor, still looking at me. “Not everyone has taste. How much for this painting?”
“You don’t have to buy it,” I mime at him.
Clearing his throat, the professor says, “Our starting price is eighteen?-“
“Done,” Chris says,
Like life imitating art in the painting behind him, another tear scales his cheek.
And I just stand here staring at the most handsome two men I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Both of them are Chris Collins.
“Wait!” Becca shouts. “Eighteen hundred dollars for this crap?”
“Yeah!” Christina agrees. “This is bullshit.”
“Language!” my professor snaps.
She rolls her eyes. “You’re telling me this gun-pulling, whiskey-chugging, whack-ass grandpa just has eighteen thousand dollars sitting in his bank account?”
Breaking eye contact with me, Chris sniffs hard and pulls out his checkbook.
Everyone falls silent as we watch him write something down.
“Here,” he says.
Chris hands over the check and my professor’s eyes almost burst from his skull.
“There must be some mistake,” he mumbles.
“I don’t make mistakes,” Chris says, returning his gaze to me.
I really want to see his eyes.
“T-two million dollars?” my professor stammers.
Maria drops the plate of food she just stole, and all but one of us turns to the professor.
“Yeah,” Chris says, nonchalant. “Keep the rest for art supplies or whatever you spend your money on. For Harper’s sake.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Christina screams.
“Language, Miss Fawkes,” my professor says. “Have some decorum. I won’t warn you again.”
She steps up close to him. “Don’t tell me what to do, old man. You can’t do shit to me. My father practically runs this university!”
“You don’t attend this university anymore,” Chris tells her. “And neither does your little sidekick.”
Christina laughs. “You might be rich, gramps. But my dad is on the board of governors.”
“I couldn’t give a fuck if he’s Santa Claus,” Chris says, and I bite my lip.
“You tell her, you sexy bastard!” Maria shouts, so I nudge her.
Chris snatches Christina’s bag from her shoulder, and we all gasp when he pulls out two cans of red and yellow paint.
“Exhibit A,” he says, waving it at the stunned professor.
“So what?” Becca yells. “You still can’t prove it was us. We…we found that paint!”
Chris nods. “Shit. You’re right.”
“Ha!” Christina laughs. “Not so smart now, are you, old man?”
“Can’t believe the silver fox got outfoxed by that plastic bitch,” Maria whispers.
“Wait,” I say, staring at Chris.
To paint him the way I did, I committed every line and expression on that man’s handsome face to memory. So I know that cheeky smile tugging at his lips.
And I know he’s not done.
“Say cheese,” he says, winking at Christina.
He then lifts his arm and we all follow his finger to the corner of the room.
“What are we even looking at?” Becca moans.
“Collins Security,” he says, returning his attention to the two girls. “I own the company that installs those security cameras. And what do you think my two hundred employees are going to find when they review the footage from tonight?”
“Yes!” Maria yells. “Who’s theskank now, bitches?”
Chris straightens his cuffs. “First thing tomorrow morning, that evidence will be forwarded to the university chancellor. Can’t imagine
Daddy will be too pleased at his next board meeting. Kind of embarrassing to have his daughter expelled from a university that he apparentlyruns.”
I’ve never been one to enjoy the downfall of others, but my God, this is fun and long overdue.
Becca drops to her knees. “He’s going to get us expelled! I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you, Chrissie!”
“Dissension in the ranks!” Maria cackles. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
Chris chuckles and tosses a can of red paint to Maria.
“After three?” he says.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.