Page 154 of Rivals

“Yeah, it is.”

“I think you’ve got this, Revna. But if not, you know where to find me.”

I nod and look up at the golden cross with Jesus hanging from it. I’m not sure what this dude is getting at, coming for someone like me, or even Lachlan, for that matter. Though, He is a little bit better of a person than me. Who am I kidding? Of course, He is. But I guess I have nothing to lose. So, I’ll stick to the plan and finish these paintings with Lachlan. We will take it one day at a time.

Rising from the pew, I look down at Pastor Chris. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

I turn and walk down the aisle towards the doors. “He sees you, Revna. You just have to open your eyes to see Him.”

Or maybe this guy is a quack. But like I said, I have nothing to lose. If he’s wrong, then I’m right back where I started. But if he’s right, and he’s on to something, then maybe I’ll win a lot more than a contest. And maybe I’ll have someone to love me how I’ve wanted to be loved my entire life.

You do.

Chapter 90

Lachlan

Inspirationisbrimminginmy bones for the first time in a long time. I don’t have to search for it because it’s already there. It feels like I could paint for days without stopping. I don’t know what happened there, but I feel lighter, like we could have a real chance at this. Not just the paintings, but I think Revna and I could flourish together. That hope feels good in my chest.

There has been a lot of change, and I’ve struggled to keep up. My father texted me back while Revna was talking to Chris. It said, ‘You are not my son’.

I stared at it for a while, letting the stabbing anxiety wash through me, surprised it didn’t hurt more, but part of me already knew I wasn’t his son. I had already accepted that my father would never be the father I needed him to be. My mom and sisters were cannon fodder. I’d find a way to talk to them to see if they are interested in a relationship. I’ll get their phone numbers somehow. Dad changed them after he cut me off. There are days when I regret not coming home. I wondered if I made the wrong decision. My family was the cost of pursuing my dream. No dream could be worth that price, right? I thought maybe I was being naïve. Looking back, I know it was right because I wouldn’t have Revna if it weren’t. I didn’t respond to the text. I deleted it and blocked him. If I ever see my father again, it will be by default. We’ll see if my mom and sisters want to see me.

“What are you thinking about over there?” Revna asks. I look down at her. Her long, black hair blows in the brisk fall wind. Her eyes are sad, but there is a little light in them that I haven’t seen before, not like this.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her. She makes a face and purses her lips. I love those lips.

“That’s a loaded question,” she says.

“Yeah, it is, I guess. I meant physically.” She shrugs.

“The stitches are starting to itch, but I feel good. The nurse told me I needed to eat more and drink more water because I was dehydrated when I was there.”

“Well, we can work on that,” I mumble as our building comes into view.

“What does that mean?” I glance at her again, electricity zings through my veins, and my steps quicken.

“We need to start painting tonight, and I have an idea for one of mine,” I say suggestively.

“Um, ok. I guess I do, too?”

“My idea involves hot pink paint.” I grin and wiggle my eyebrows. Revna bites her lower lip and walks a little faster.

“That sounds very…inspiring,” she says in a smoky voice. I throw the door open to the building, and we hurry towards the elevator. It dings, and we are blessedly the only ones in the steel box. I push her against the metal and take her mouth.

She whimpers, and I immediately take a step back. Her eyes spring open as my eyes dart to every part of her body, checking for where I hurt her. “Why did you stop?” she asks.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No, Lachlan. That was adon’t stopsound,“ she says. I stay where I am as the elevator stops and the doors slide open. We stand there for a second, caught in the moment. My heart is beating out of my chest because I thought I hurt her. It makes me feel like I failed her again because I didn’t notice.

She goes first, and I hop out before the doors slide closed. She unlocks the door and walks in without a glance over her shoulder. I stand in the empty hallway, trying to gather myself. Everything is different now. It’s not all bad. A lot of it is good. But I am so afraid of hurting her or saying the wrong thing. Telling her about Dad was hard to do. Her reaction to it was not what I expected, but her response was exactly what I needed.

I blow out a breath and push through the door. Revna is sitting cross-legged on the couch, apparently waiting for me. “Lachlan, come here and sit down,” she commands quietly.

I lower myself to the cushion and watch her carefully. Then she surprises me and throws her knee over my legs to straddle me. She grabs my face between her palms and leans in, smashing her lips to mine. She kisses me so deeply it makes me dizzy. Our mouths duel for dominance, and then she rips her lips away. “Listen to me very carefully,” she says, rolling her hips. My hands fly to her sides and grip her tightly. If she keeps doing that, I won’t have any blood left in my brain to think with.