Page 71 of I Don't Need Your Love

“But really, I think you should just paint what you feel.”

He nods slowly, eyebrows dipping even more. “What if I don’t feel anything?”

“Pick something that means something to you. Like maybe football or your injury. You shouldn’t be afraid to be vulnerable. That’s the point of this class. You’re free to express yourself however you want.”

He gives me a crooked smile. “You sound like Coach.”

I laugh. “She has said it once or twice or a million times.”

He chuckles, too, the sound so pretty I can’t help but stare at him. For the past few days, he was so gloomy and aloof. It’s great to have the old Ryder back. Though I can’t help but notice he still carries a lot of pain in his eyes. It’s more than it was in the past.

Miss Moreno enters the room and instructs us to continue our paintings. She heads to Ryder to publicly welcome him to the class, then returns to her desk. Girls wave, smile, and squeal at him because he’s in this class. He gives them his typical, charming smile that just makes them squeal more. Then his eyes land on me and his smile drops.

Clearing his throat, he says, “Sorry,”

I wave my hand. “No, by all means enjoy your fans. I know they make you happy.”

I turn to stroke my paintbrush on the canvas and feel him frowning. Not at me, but at himself. I don’t know why he cares how I feel about him and his fans. He’s free to do whatever he wants. Even though it annoys me that the girls are always chasing him, it’s really not my business.

“Look, Carly—”

“I think we should focus on your painting.”

His lips snap shut and he nods.

“Choose a topic that means something to you,” I tell him. “It can be something fun, serious, whatever you want.”

“Right. Football.”

“Okay.”

He eyes his blank canvas like it’s a death sentence. “So I draw a football field…?”

“You’re the artist. It’s only your first time, so no one expects you to delve deep, but maybe one day you will. We’re not graded in this class and you’re free to paint or draw whatever you want. But most importantly, have fun.”

He bends close to me, waggling his brows. “I sure am going to have fun because I’m sitting next to the awesome Carly who’s going to take us to nationals with her amazing dance routines.”

I snort. “I barely got us past the first round, but thanks.”

“Maybe, but this new routine is sick. We’re going to make waves for sure and everyone will wonder who the heck are these Harrington Bay Academy Eagles and how are they demolishing everyone?”

Laughing, I playfully shove his chest. “Yeah, right. Maybe in your dreams.”

He catches my hand. “Why just in my dreams? You’re so talented, Carly, you can do anything. And I mean literally anything. That includes transforming our inexperienced dance team to the top of the top. No one will know where we came from. Baaam! We’ll be like dynamite.” He waggles his brows again, a wide grin on his face.

I push away some hair that’s curled around his forehead and getting in his eyes. Then, after I realize what I’ve just done, I quickly drop my hand. We’renotthat close!

“It’s really great to see you smiling again,” I say. “You know, you kind of worried me.”

He searches my eyes. “I did?”

“Yeah. You were so down, I didn’t know what to think. But I’m really glad you’re in a better place now.”

“Thanks, Captain. Means a lot that you actually care.”

“Well, yeah. We’re friends, right?”

He smiles warmly. “Yeah.”