Page 26 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

A flush tinted her pale cheeks. “You’re just saying that because you’re my stepmom.”

Stepmom, wow. That felt like a promotion from their earlier conversation. “I mean it. I’ve seen your backpack, all your doodles.” Zoey nodded toward the framed hillside speckled with flowers. “Personally, I’d much rather come to a museum with drawings of turtles and cupcakes.”

“That would be so much more fun.” Amelia glanced over her shoulder, to the museum guide and the rest of their class farther down the hallway. “Why are the paintings in museums sometimes so…boring?”

“Art is subjective.” Zoey shrugged. “A lot of people like this style. The good news is there’s plenty of room for all kinds of art.”

Amelia squinted at the hillside, tilted her head. “Even mine?”

Oh, but she wanted to give this kid the moon. Make her believe in herself. Zoey nodded, her throat tight. “Especially yours.”

And if she felt that way about Amelia, how much more must Linc feel it?

Guilt nudged. She was expecting too much from Linc during a time in his life when he was least capable of giving it. She knew what she was getting herself into from the beginning—an arrangement of convenience, not love. She had no right to want more.

“Maybe you could take art lessons one day.” Zoey wished she had the money right now to sign her up.

But surely Linc could figure that out eventually.

He’d had several more tours book in the last few days.

Now if Zoey could just get the claims department to come through, or have the time to figure out some decent recipes, she could help too. Pull her weight. Earn her spot.

“I don’t like starting stuff.” Amelia twirled a lock of hair around her finger, casting a glance at her classmates laughing in front of a sculpture. “It never works out.”

Zoey frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Anytime I’ve joined a club at school or whatever, we’ve moved.” Amelia shrugged. “It’s pointless to try.”

For a woman she’d never met, Zoey was really starting to hate Kirsten. She fought the urge to scoop Amelia into a hug. “I think this is different now.”

She didn’t look convinced. “But I’ve done this so many times. I can’t even imagine feeling like this place is my home. Odds are it won’t be for long.”

No wonder the kid held back. Zoey frowned. “Well, getting involved is a good way to make friends, meet people. You should take the chance.”

“Maybe.” She studied the painting again, a frown creasing her young face.

Poor girl. Zoey couldn’t promise her that she would be in Magnolia Bay indefinitely, not with things with Kirsten so up in the air—though she did know that Linc would never give her up without a fight.

But how could she convince Amelia she was wanted…that she had something to offer right now, exactly as she was?

Zoey took a chance. “You know…I’m not the only one who thinks you have talent. Your dad commented on your backpack the other day too.” Granted, he’d been complaining she’d left it in the middle of the kitchen, but technically, it was still a true statement.

“Yeah?” Amelia frowned, but her chin lifted a little with interest.

See? The girl cared what her father thought, despite pretending not to. “We both believe in you.” That part Zoey knew was true.

“Linc doesn’t seem to.” Amelia looked back at the landscape.

“Your dad”—maybe if Zoey said the word dad enough, Amelia would start thinking of him that way—“isn’t always great at saying what he feels.”

“He sure says what he thinks.” Amelia huffed.

“That’s different.” Zoey shot her a sideways glance. “Pretty sure you get that from him, by the way.”

Amelia rolled in her lip. “He doesn’t include me in a lot. I think I’m just like a pet at this point. Someone he has to feed and water because it’ll make him a bad person if he doesn’t.”

Zoey’s heart ached. “Amelia…that’s not true.”

“Maybe not, but we never do anything.”

“It’s not been long.”

“He hasn’t invited me on the boat, or to the gym or fishing.”

“He doesn’t think you’d want to go.” Zoey raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you tricked him into coming today? Because you assumed he wouldn’t come otherwise?”

“Yeah.”

Oh, Linc. Zoey drew a deep breath. “Keep giving him a chance, okay? You guys actually have more in common than you think.”

She smirked. “I doubt that.”

Linc approached from the other end of the hallway, then, as if they’d somehow summoned him.

Their eyes met, and Zoey’s stomach flipped, and suddenly she was back on the bus in close proximity.

Noting the way his shirt sleeve cut into his bicep as he braced one arm on the back of the seat.

Feeling the weight of his stare at he suggested maybe he wouldn’t change things after all.

He stopped in front of the landscape portrait, gave it a once-over, and then scowled. “Why are museum paintings so boring?”

Amelia snorted. Zoey covered her mouth with her hand. Nudged her. “See?”

“See what?” Linc frowned.

Amelia pursed her lips, and then they both burst out laughing.

“Women.” Linc shook his head. “I better get back to the boys.”

Zoey watched him walk away, then shared another secret smile with Amelia. Her heart warmed, and she even risked slinging her arm around Amelia’s shoulder as they headed to join the rest of the class.

If she could break through and connect with Amelia, surely Linc would be next. Zoey swallowed, heart thumping. And then maybe… maybe …he would be in a place to want the same things Zoey wanted.