Page 34 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Blake

T he house was too quiet. I'd snuck out of my room when the shower was running and made myself toast and brought it back to my room. I was a chicken. I didn't want to talk to Dalton, so I was avoiding him.

I wasn't any closer to finding a solution to my problem.

Sometime later, I opened my door, and when I didn't hear any noise, I tiptoed to the kitchen where there was a note on the counter.

We went to my parents' house. D

My heart sank because I hadn't been included.

I asked for space, and he was giving it to me.

But a part of me wished that he'd stuck around.

That it was a typical Sunday morning where he made me breakfast, and we sipped our coffee while we watched Lilliana play with her toys.

I'd usually break off at some point and paint on the patio.

Then Dalton would bring Lilliana out to swim so that we could be together. My heart ached at the change. My phone buzzed.

Elena: What's going on? Why didn't you come over with Dalton?

Blake: I asked him for space.

Elena: Want me to come there? You need to talk?

Blake: I don't want to take you away from your family.

It might not have been her family now, but it would be when her and Hudson got married.

Elena: Give me a few minutes, and I'll be there. Trust me, no one will notice that I'm gone. All they care about is that food is being served.

I smiled at her comment, wishing I was there in the middle of the chaos that was a Kingston family get-together.

I jumped in the shower so that I could get the door when Elena arrived. When the doorbell rang, I padded to the foyer to let her in.

She immediately hugged me. "Is everything okay?"

She let go of me, and I closed the door behind her. "Ashton called on the drive home yesterday." I moved to the kitchen where I poured fresh coffee for me and one for Elena.

Elena frowned. "What's going on with Dalton's case?"

I grabbed the creamer from the fridge and set it on the counter. "Oakley requested a mediation which is great news, but Ashton wants me to pretend to be Dalton's fiancée. He thinks it could help his case."

Elena poured creamer into her coffee, using a spoon to stir it. "You're not okay with that?"

"Not at all."

Elena sat on the stool at the island. "Why not?"

"It wouldn't be right to lie about our relationship. I don't feel good about it." But something about that explanation didn't ring true. It didn’t bother me in the beginning because we weren’t in a relationship. But now everything was different.

"It's a small lie though, right? And if it could help Dalton and Lilliana, wouldn't you want to do that?"

I chewed my lip considering her. "I'm surprised that you'd be okay with something like that."

She held up her hand. "I'm not saying that I would be; I'm just wondering what's holding you back."

I sighed, wishing the coffee was cool enough to drink. I needed something to do with my hands. There was no way we could discuss the situation without me telling her the truth. "Our entire relationship is based on a lie."

Her forehead wrinkled. "What do you mean?"

"The attorney thought it would help if we were already dating. That way, Oakley couldn't complain about me living with Dalton, and it would make him look more stable. The plan was always for us to be engaged before the custody hearing."

Elena gave me a look. "Are you saying that the relationship isn't real? That it's all for show?"

I sighed. "Not exactly. At some point, it became real. But now I want more. I want him to ask me to stay, to tell me he loves me.”

"It sounds like you need to talk to him about this."

"I tried yesterday, but he's so mad that I'm not going to be there at the mediation. I didn't even want to talk to him about how I felt." Or figure out what was going on in his head. "Lilliana comes first."

"That may be true, but you still need to feel like a priority in the relationship. Does that make sense?"

Maybe that was what was bothering me, what I couldn't put into words. "I want him to ask me to be at the hearing because he wants me to be by his side. Because he needs my support. Not because some fake designation will curry favor with the mediator."

Elena nodded. "That's the issue that's tripping you up."

"He also said something else yesterday. He said I should pursue my doctorate. It made me feel like he didn't want me to stay. Then my overactive imagination decided he didn't want to be with me anymore, and this was his way of pushing me away."

"I don't even know what to say to that. Are you sure that's what he wants? He wasn't just discussing options?"

"He said that's what I should do, and it's what my parents want. But if he knew me at all, he'd understand that I want to do what I want, not what anyone else wants for me."

"I wonder if he's just stressed by the custody case and not able to give you his full attention. I'm not saying it's right, but it's a possibility."

"Maybe I should let him figure it out. Give him the space he needs and wait for the custody case to be decided."

"It's up to you, but I think you should talk to him. Figure out what he meant."

We fell silent for a few minutes, and I checked my phone where there were still no messages.

Elena held the mug in both of her hands. "For what it's worth, he seemed upset at family dinner. Joy said he was the first to arrive."

"It makes me feel a little better that he's conflicted too." But it didn't mean that he wanted me to stay as something more than his fake girlfriend.

"Do you know what you want to do after that amazing first class yesterday?" Elena asked, excitement seeping into her voice.

I sat next to her on the other stool and said, "I loved that so many people were interested. I had such a good time teaching. I think I'd like to break the groups into different ages next time: kids, teens, and adults. But it was a great start."

"I thought so too."

"Hazel said something to me afterward that has me thinking."

Elena sipped her coffee. "What's that?"

"She said that I could record video of me teaching a particular skill and put it on social media. Maybe even teach online. I could reach so many more people that way. But I feel conflicted because I enjoy teaching in person too."

"You could do both. You could do whatever you want to do."

"Hazel mentioned something about the Bob Ross videos. Do you remember those from art class?"

Elena sighed. "He had such a soothing voice."

"I don't know if I can live up to his legacy, but it was a cool comparison.

It got me thinking about sharing my love of art with the world.

And I think it's something I'd like to do now.

I don't need an art therapy degree or certification to teach art.

I don't want to wait, go back to school, and start my life in a few years. I want to do this now."

"I think it could be amazing."

"I already talked to Saylor about creating a website, and I want to start filming videos right away."

"Oh, I videoed some of what you did yesterday. You think we can use it?"

"Let me see," I asked as she got out her phone and showed me the clips.

There were many clips of me talking to students and teaching from my easel while I painted. "This is perfect."

"You want to do it now? We can create social-media profiles, and this could be your first video. We'll caption it My First Class or My First Love, something like that."

"I love it." I got out my computer, and we spent some time creating online profiles and debating what my online persona should be on the various social-media sites. Then we edited the video into several different clips that could be posted daily.

"You could do so many things. But it would be cool if you shared your inspiration too. Like, do you see sea glass on your walks on the beach, and the color inspires you to paint something?"

"I'd have to think about that. But it's a good option." Now that we'd made a substantial first step into this new business, I was excited in a way I hadn't been all summer. It was the combination of that class and Hazel's and Brady's encouragement that pushed me this far. "Thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome. I'm so excited for you. Now, when can Saylor get to your website?"

"She said she could do it in the next few days. But I'd be spending my savings on it."

Elena lifted her hands like a scale and said, "Which one feels better? Going back to school or starting this art business?" She raised and lowered her hands while she waited for me to answer.

"I want to do the art business. It might not be successful, and I could always go back to school."

"Or it could take off, and you'll be making tons of money and enjoying your life doing something you're passionate about."

"That feels like a dream right now." It was scary to think about my videos being viewed and shared, but what if they inspired someone? What if they made someone's life better? Wasn't that what I always wanted?

Elena got up and washed her cup in the sink, setting it on the drying rack. "I'd better get back before someone asks where I am. Hudson's covering for me."

"Does Dalton know you're here?" I walked her to the door.

"He doesn't. Hudson wouldn't tell him that." She hugged me tight. "Let me know how many views you get with your first post."

"I'm sure it will take a while for it to gain traction."

"You never know. Post one a day, and start making more. I'll send you a link to a stand you can get so you can film by yourself."

"Thanks for stopping by and helping me out."

Elena winked at me. "That's what friends are for."

I was creating a life here on the island, and whether things worked out with Dalton didn't matter. I'd be okay, even if everything inside me wanted to stay right here in this house. It might not be what Dalton wanted.

Elena was just backing out when Dalton pulled up.

Confused as to why he was home so early, I stepped toward the door, wondering if Lilliana wasn't feeling well.

When he opened the door, I asked, "Is Lilliana okay?"

"Yeah, she's with my mom." His words were clipped.

Now I was really confused. "Are you not feeling well?"

He threw a thumb over his shoulder. "Was that Elena leaving?"

"She helped me with a few things." I wasn't sure I was ready to share my plans with him yet. Yesterday, he hadn't seemed supportive of my desire to start a business.

"Are you moving out?" Dalton asked abruptly, and I startled.

"Do you want me to?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Of course not. I mean, I don't want to influence you one way or the other."

I shook my head slightly to clear it. "I don't understand."

"Let's go inside." Dalton moved past me into the house.

I closed the door and followed him to our spot on the patio.

He sat down, his elbows resting on his thighs. "If you don't want to attend the mediation as my fiancée, I'm okay with that."

"Okay." I wasn't asking for his permission.

He sighed. "But I'd like you to be there for me."

My heart skipped a beat. "You want me to be there to support you as your?—"

"As my girlfriend." He cradled my hand in his. "I want you to be my real girlfriend, and I want you to go to school…or not. I want you to do whatever it is that you want to do."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "I wasn't sure how you felt."

"I'm screwing this up. I even practiced in the truck on the way over here, and I didn't get it right. What I want to tell you is that I'm in love with you."

Hope surged through my body.

"I didn't want to influence your decision to go back to school. I'd never forgive myself if you gave up something so important for me."

"I came here to figure out what I wanted to do."

"And your decision shouldn't have anything to do with me."

"I don't know about that. When you're in a relationship with someone, you should consider how your partner feels."

"I selfishly want you to stay, but if you want to go to school, I'll support you. We'll come visit and cheer you on."

"You'd do that? You'd have a long-distance relationship and bring Lilliana to see me?"

"I don't want to be apart from you, so I'd want to see you as much as possible. And Lilliana's going to miss you too."

I pulled my hand from his. "I appreciate that you're willing to do all of that for me, but I don't think it's necessary."

His forehead wrinkled. "Why is that?"

"I know what I want to do. I want to stay here and see if I can get this business off the ground. I can go back to school at any time, but I have a feeling this is my next step. I want to share my art with the world and live here with you and Lilliana. I love you too."

He drew me into his chest. "I'm so sorry that I pushed you away. I thought it was selfish to ask you to stay."

My eyes filled with tears. "I wanted you to ask. I wanted a sign that this was the right thing to do."

He pulled me back so that he could see my face. "I want to be wherever you are. We'll make this work."

"I want to be with you too."

"We have to deal with mediation, but right now, I want to show you how I feel." He lifted me into his arms, and I threw mine around his neck. "What about Lilliana?"

"My parents have her for a few hours, and I know just how to fill them."

He set me on the bed and covered me with his body. There was nowhere else I'd rather be than here with him.

"Thank you for coming back for me. For telling me how you feel."

"I hate to admit this, but Hudson was right. He scared me into thinking that you might leave, and I might not be able to fix things. I didn't want you to leave, not without me telling you how I feel."

I smiled, happiness filling me. "Didn't you have something to show me?"

"And not much time to do it." He lowered his lips to mine, and I forgot about everything but what it was like to be with him.