Page 60 of HEARTSTORM

First, I asked Maya how work went.

Hopefully, we can start soft before things get complicated...

She shrugged casually, opening the passenger door for me. "I didn't get thrown out. Didn't throw a tantrum. And my father gave me a marketing role. Pretty solid start."

Her words were nonchalant, almost dismissive—but I could hear it in her voice. She cared more than she'd admit. And she was smiling.

"My baby," I said, holding her hand tight. "You did amazing."

Her eyes flicked to mine and softened. "Thank you, Gracie."

"I knew you'd nail it," I added, my voice dropping, sure and steady. "I had no doubt."

As soon as we slid into her car, I let out a soft sigh, my stomach twisting with nerves. Maya started the engine, her hand settling naturally on my thigh.

"Something happened to me today too," I murmured.

Maya turned to me. "Do tell."

"It's no big deal, really," I said.

Suddenly, a wave of self-consciousness washed over me, not because of Maya, but because of this whole New York situation.

"Let me decide if it's a big deal. What happened, Grace?" she asked, studying me.

"Um... I might have the opportunity to work in New York," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Maya gave my thigh a gentle squeeze. "Why don't you tell me more?"

My voice trembled a little as I quickly recounted everything the supervisor had told us, barely able to keep up with my own racing thoughts.

Maya's eyes softened as she looked at me. "That's amazing, baby. Why are you acting like it's nothing?"

"I mean..." I started, my fingers fidgeting in hers. "Out of all the people, they probably won't pick me. Why would they? I just... I don't think I'm that good, and—"

Maya suddenly turned the steering wheel and pulled into an empty parking lot, bringing the car to a stop. Before I could ask for an explanation, she interrupted.

"Why do you do that?" she asked, serious and concerned, her eyes fixed on me.

"Do what?" I furrowed my brow.

"Underestimating yourself."

I stayed silent. She could tell. As always.

"Grace, listen to me," Maya said, cupping my face in her hands. "You're not just anyone. You're talented, and more capable than you realize. Don't ever underestimate yourself like that."

Something warm and safe settled deep in my chest at her words. "I—I'll try not to," I whispered, meaning it.

"You're not alone in this, no matter what happens," Maya said softly, eyes steady on mine. "You've got me."

I let myself lean into that belief, into her love, letting it calm the trembling inside me in a way that only she can.

"One more thing," I said, comfortably leaning into her. "Martha's gonna be there too..."

I decided not to laugh—though part of me wanted to.

Maya's grip on my waist tightened. "Marsha-cheesecake, huh?" she said, her tone teasingly irritated.

I couldn't help a quiet chuckle, kissing her cheek. "You know there's no one else I'd rather share everything with but you, Maya."

Her gaze held mine, unwavering. "Good," she said. "Because looks like I'm not into sharing."

"Yeah, I suspected as much..." I murmured.

Before I knew it, she pulled me close, her hand at the back of my neck. Our lips met—desperate, unrelenting—as if we were trying to claim every last trace of each other.

I let myself sink into the moment, aware of every movement, every shiver, every breath we shared.

Nothing else existed, not even for a second.

And that was exactly all I wanted.

~

The following days blurred together.

Between the nerves and the whirlwind of emotions, it was already the night before the meeting with the recruiters.

I ended it right where I needed to be: wrapped in Maya's arms, in our bed, our legs tangled beneath the sheets, her warmth pressed against my back like a shield from everything I was afraid of.

"I don't know," I whispered into the soft darkness. "What if I mess this up?"

Maya leaned closer, her arm slipping tighter around my waist. "Grace," she whispered, nudging me gently until I turned to face her. "I think you're going to nail it."

I sighed, heart fluttering as I processed the honesty in her words.

"You owe it to yourself to at least try, Grace," she said, her voice calm and steady, a confident smile on her lips. "Take that one step forward."

We stayed like that for a while, exchanging sweet nothings and small kisses in the hush of the night.

And somehow, wrapped in her arms, I drifted into the most peaceful sleep.

The next morning, I woke before the alarm even went off. Maya stirred beside me. I took the biggest breath of my life and told myself: This is just an opportunity. Stay calm. Act normal.

After a shower and a bit of light makeup, I stood in front of the mirror, fixing my cream suit. A white blouse peeked out beneath, and my hair fell in soft waves behind my ear.

I blinked, realizing I'd been so lost in my thoughts I hadn't noticed Maya moving behind me.

She emerged from the bathroom, and my breath caught. She wore black skinny jeans that hugged her just right, a silky shirt, and a blazer slung casually over one shoulder. Her hair was perfectly straightened, framing her face.

"You're so pretty, Grace," she said softly, stepping closer. "You didn't think I'd let you go alone, did you?" She teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.

I tilted my head, trying not to grin too wide. "Oh, I wouldn't have imagined that for a second... you're beautiful."

Maya smirked, leaning in just enough to whisper, "Besides... just imagine being stuck in a room with Marsha all by yourself. I couldn't let that happen."

Her lips brushed my neck in a lingering kiss, sending goosebumps racing across my skin.

I leaned deeper into her, wanting to be pressed as closely as I could against her warm body.

"I don't do sharing, remember," she murmured against my ear.

I knew she was joking—but not entirely, so I turned to face her, locking eyes.

"I'm yours," I said.

"Repeat that," Maya said, a subtle curl playing on her lips.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm yours."

Her gaze darkened slightly, and she leaned closer, her fingers traced the line of my jaw, thumb brushing over my lips.

"I love to hear that, baby." Her voice dropped lower as her lips hovered over mine, teasing and slow, before finally closing the distance in a kiss.

Before things could get any hotter... we headed downstairs and slid into her car.

Maya started the engine and turned the stereo up loud. A familiar pop song filled the air, melting my nerves for a moment.

When we got to the museum, Maya parked with calm precision, her hand immediately finding mine as we stepped out. She walked us to the entrance with a confident stride.

Martha was already there.

"Grace, finally—" she said, her smile faltering just a fraction as she noticed Maya.

"Long time no see, Martha," Maya said smoothly, her tone polite but carrying a faint edge.

So she knows her real name now...

Martha tilted her head, her lips barely twitching. "Actually, I did expect you to come, Maya," she said dryly.

Maya's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I'd never miss anything that involves my girlfriend," she said earnestly, letting her hand rest on my waist.

I couldn't help the small, warm smile that tugged at my lips, feeling a rush at her words.

Maya turned her attention on me. "You nervous, Grace?"

"A little," I admitted, melting into her comforting touch.

Martha's smile curved into something almost imperceptibly strict. "I don't think you can come in, Maya," she cut in.

Maya raised an eyebrow, still looking at me. "Is that so?"

Before any more could happen, our supervisor appeared, interrupting us. "Misses, the recruiters from New York are here. You two need to come inside," she said, and it was clear Maya wasn't allowed in.

Martha hummed with a subtle smirk. "Shall we?" she said, gesturing toward me and the entrance.

I turned to Maya instead, pressing a soft kiss to her lips and wrapping her in a brief hug.

"Don't worry. I'll be right here if you need me," she said.

I nodded a few times, barely able to contain the conflicted emotions inside me.

Maya smiled, eyes softening, the mischief gone. "Just be yourself in there, Grace. I love you."

Then, with Martha watching, Maya was the one to open the door for me—steady, unbothered, like she was making it clear this was our moment and no one else's. Her hand lingered on mine a second longer, and I caught the soft, unwavering look in her eyes before stepping in.

Inside, the air felt cooler, more formal. The hum of activity was subtle, but I could still hear the murmur of staff moving in preparation.

Shit.

Why do I suddenly feel like I'm about to throw up?

"Let's sit," Martha said, gesturing toward the chairs.

The waiting room slowly filled. About twenty people came in—sitting, talking quietly, flipping through their resumes.

A half hour dragged painfully by. I just stood there, heart pounding. Everyone seemed so calm and collected, but I felt like I was about to explode any second.

"Are you okay?" Martha asked, leaning in, her hand settling on my knee—friendly enough, but lingering to make me wonder.

"Uhm, yeah. I'm trying," I replied, forcing a calm tone.

"Just don't stress about it too much. Honestly, it's really not a big deal," she said, making it sound simpler than it really was.

Yeah, that's not really working for me. It just doesn't hit right.

"I'm coming back," I said quietly, pushing myself up. "I need the bathroom."

There was only one person in this world who could truly understand how I felt right now.

But I can't just go outside.

I tightened my phone and quickly hit the call button once I reached the bathroom.

"Grace," Maya answered immediately.

"I need you," I said, voice cracking. "I need you, Maya. I can't handle this on my own."

I gasped for breath as I paced back and forth where I was hiding, each step echoing my racing thoughts.

"Just breathe, Grace," Maya said into the phone, her voice calm and soothing. "Where are you?"

"In the bathroom," I whispered.

"Wait on the line a second," she said.

For a moment, I didn't hear anything—I think she'd put her phone on silent. I tried to breathe evenly, like she'd told me, but I kept pacing relentlessly.

Minutes passed and still nothing.

I leaned myself into the sink, gripping the edges until my knuckles ached.

Then, I heard the click of the bathroom door opening, and I turned toward it—

And there she was.

My legs moved on their own, and before I knew it, I was running toward her.

Maya caught me instantly, wrapping me up in a fierce embrace, her arms almost lifted me off the ground.

"How... how did you get in?" I choked out, my voice barely audible.

Maya cupped my face in her hands. "Don't worry about that right now. Just tell me—how are you feeling?"

"Like I'm falling," I replied honestly.

"We'll get through this together. Just keep breathing," she said calmly.

"Okay," I replied, drawing in a deep, steady breath.

"Listen, Grace. I need you to do something for me, alright?"

"What?" I asked impatiently.

Maya squeezed my hands. "I want you to close your eyes and think of your favorite piece of art."

"My favorite—?"

"Yes," she cut in gently. "Whatever it is. Picture it in your mind. Think about the colors, the textures, what it makes you feel. Let yourself really take it in."

I did as she said, closing my eyes and visualizing my favorite artwork with all the feelings tied to it. Slowly, a small, genuine smile tugged at my lips, easing the tension inside me.

"I can feel it..." I murmured softly.

"Does it feel possible now?" Maya asked.

I blinked at her, speechless.

Her smile filled the room, and suddenly everything seemed alive with color.

"Yes," I managed to say. "It's possible."

I was stunned, but I fixed my suit, ran a hand through my hair, and let out one last breath.

"I'm going back in," I said confidently.

Maya nodded. "You've got this, Grace."

"Thank you, baby, for this," I whispered sincerely, holding her close just a moment longer. "But... how did you get in here?" I asked.

"Without anyone noticing," Maya said, her voice low but steady. "I'll make sure no one sees me leave, don't worry. Go now."

I froze for a second, a nervous laugh escaping me. "Sure... just don't get arrested."

"I'd do that for you," she said, and the certainty in her voice set my chest on fire.

"I love you," I said—the only thing that felt right in that moment.

She cupped my face again and gave me the warmest kiss I could ask for.

I walked back into the waiting room like a different person—shoulders back, breathing steady, my nerves tucked away behind the sound of Maya's voice still echoing in my mind.

Martha was visibly surprised. "You look okay now," she mumbled.

"I am," I smiled. "My girlfriend calmed me down."

Her gaze lingered on mine—more unreadable than usual, but I pretended not to notice—waiting my turn, calmer than I'd felt all morning.

I sent Maya a text to see what kind of trouble she was in:

Did you escape?

A few moments later, her reply came through, thankfully:

Safe and sound. No prison for me this time. :(

I had to stop and a laugh slipped out.

When they called my name a second later, I sat up, confidence settling over me as I walked into the room. Martha whispered good luck, and I nodded, already heading straight in.

A few pairs of eyes followed me as I entered. I shook hands calmly and took my seat while they started analyzing my resume—and my face... but I tried to stay composed.

"So, Miss Hart," one of them said. "What kind of artwork made you fall in love with art and why?"

And just like that, I smiled. It didn't even take a second for me to answer—the image had been in my mind since the moment Maya told me to visualize it.

I just knew she was going to say the right thing.

And I knew I'd been waiting for this moment my whole life.