Chapter 22 XADEN
Chapter 22
XADEN
I have a secret.
The last person I expected to walk through that door was the only person I have been dying to show this place to. Sloane. I don’t know how she ended up here and I should be pissed and really offended but somehow, I just felt relieved.
She stood by the door of my studio, hands on her phone, eyes flickering as she took a video of me, shirtless, covered in paint, with my painting joggers. My studio is filled with canvas, paint brushes that are hard to find in the country or even in the world.
Her eyes kept flickering, her lips parted in awe as she stepped closer and closer, to the point that she stopped recording and just looked around my studio.
It took me seven months to design it the way I wanted. Filled it with colors and the canvas for my painting, cameras I was obsessed with, and lights that were used for only professional occasions by professional photographers.
“What in the world is this?” she gasped, jaw dropped, literally drooling.
Remember when I said, Sloane was the one person I was dying to show this place to? I wasn’t lying and part of the reason is that Sloane loves to paint, her current major is in painting and pottery…so seeing this, I am pretty sure her mind is blown away.
But still, I can’t just smile and hold her hands and show her around. Even if I am happy to see her, it doesn't change the fact that she followed me and took a video of me, which would be hot if my back didn't have tattoos that my mum hates. Which I am sure is the reason she took the video. She is taking revenge on me because I have a video of her.
Does she actually believe that’s i’d show the video to Jasper? I took that video for my eyes and my eyes alone. That video is literally one of the hottest and deadliest images of her, why would I show that to anyone, and my brother at that?
“What are you doing here? How did you find this place?” I blurted, pretending to be pissed and I think I aced it because her brows arched with worry.
“Oh, I.. Uhm… ugh… fine, you blackmailed me and I had the idea… No wait, Daisy gave me the idea… no wait, it was more like a suggestion, Ah whatever, all I am saying is, well, I, followed you down here…This is all your fault, you should not have taken a video of me and threatened me with it.” she pouted, eyes flickering, cheeks flushed, not sure if it was because she was caught or because her eyes would not leave my tattooed body.
“My eyes are up here, Sloane.” I teased with a straight face, once again, she was totally, red, her face was like a freaking tomato.
“Sorry, I didn't know you… Uhm…” she stuttered.
She must have realized that this place is a secret. A very big secret. My mum doesn't know about this place. Kyle doesn't know and Jane doesn't know. No one knows.
There is only one person who knows how crazy I am about art and pictures and it’s Sloane. We spent most of the time together in her mum’s training room, she'd watched me sketch and told me how delicate my hands were, and rubbed that Muffin name over my face again.
But now I am running the highest investment company in the country which is nothing close to what I enjoy doing.
“You took a video.” I muffled, hands wrapped around my chest. “What do you want to do with it?” My voice darkened and I glared at her.
Her eyes flickered and she took a step back, “If… If you promise to delete mine then I’ll… I’ll delete yours.” she pouted, her voice barely audible. Her head was buried, fidgeting with her fingers.
God, teasing her is so cute.
“Will you delete my video?” she asked.
“No.” I turned around, facing the painting I was working on.
“Then… then, I’m keeping this too,” she grumbled.
I didn't respond.
My back still turned on her, I couldn't see what she was doing but I could hear her feet move around. I could hear her mumble and whisper to herself.
“I… I’ll go, I know you don’t want me here.” she muffled.
“Okay….but you can stay if you want, I have an extra canvas and paint brush.” I muffled.
So yes, when Sloane popped into my life again, I knew for a fact that we’d both sit in this room painting someday so I bought more paints. I got an extra chair. I got an extra table, and many more.
“Really!” she cheered, her voice so loud, it rang in my head. I held back my laugh so bad, “Can I really stay and paint? Can I really?”
“Yes… You have a video of me and my tattoo, I can't let you out of my sight, what if you show it by accident to your best friend, Jasper… I need to keep an eye on you, so come here often and if you want to practice your molding here too, let me know, I’ll get the things ready… this is all to keep my secret, so don’t I am doing this because I am dying to spend some time with you.” I muttered, eyes glued to my painting.
Silence. I didn't hear a word from her so I turned to look at her, her lips curled into the widest smile I had seen on her since we met again. She was glowing, biting her lips as she looked at me with those eyes…. Those eyes from five years ago.
Oh…
A few minutes ago I was sure that I wanted Sloane to be here with me, to paint with me, mold and sing along in the same space but now I am not sure that is a very good idea.
How am I supposed to keep my hands to myself if she is smiling at me like that? As she did five years ago except this time she is not a kid that I have to be careful not to violate.
How am I supposed to look at those beautiful pink lips and not kiss her?
Oh God… help me… I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself around this woman.
“Thanks for having me, Muffin.”
Oh… this is going to be hard…. This is going to be fuckig hard!
I think I’ll fail at keeping my hands together.