Page 13 of Calculated Risk
"We were working."
"At midnight."
In this quiet moment, with dawn breaking through the windows or darkness wrapped around us like a blanket, theworld narrows to just this. Just us. Everything else—all the complications, all the questions—fades to background noise.
"She works late. Artists keep strange hours."
"Uh huh." Carter grins. "You like her."
"I'm helping her recreate her thesis show. That's all."
"Right. And I'm just friends with Lennox." He skates away, laughing.
I finish practice distracted, thinking about last night. We'd been working on a sculpture, her directing, me following instructions that made no logical sense but somehow resulted in something beautiful.
"Hold this wire here," she'd said.
"It's not structurally sound?—"
"Trust me."
And I had. Held the wire where she indicated, watched her weave paper and found objects through it, creating something impossible and perfect.
"See?" she'd said when it was done. "Sometimes structural integrity is overrated."
"That goes against every principle of engineering."
"Good thing this is art, not engineering."
She'd been standing close. Paint on her hands, exhaustion in her eyes, satisfaction in her smile. I'd wanted to kiss her so badly my hands shook.
But I didn't. Because we're partners. Working together and adding physical attraction to the mix would complicate everything.
Except I'm already complicated. Have been since freshman year.
My phone buzzes. Text from Lilah.
Lilah:Emergency. Chelsea just showed up at my studio. Need backup.
I'm out of the locker room and running across campus before I finish reading the message.
I burst into Lilah's studio to find her and Chelsea facing off like fighters in a ring.
"—don't know what you're talking about," Chelsea is saying. "Why would I destroy your work?"
"Because you've hated me since I got the senior show slot you wanted."
"That doesn't mean I'd stoop to vandalism."
"No? Then why are you here?"
"To offer my help. I heard about what happened and thought?—"
"You thought you'd come gloat. See the damage firsthand."
I clear my throat. Both women turn to look at me.
"Marcus!" Lilah's relief is obvious. "Perfect timing."
