Page 57 of Privilege

Well, then …

“They’re not going to send the dogs out looking for us,” Renzo said, only half-joking, “right?”

There.

He asked.

What more could he do?

Lucia’s teeth abused her bottom lip as she flipped her phone over and over in her hands for a moment. Then, she pressed the button on the side until the phone blinked out entirely before she shoved it into her purse at her feet.

Her gaze turned on him again, and he was struck silent by the intensity he found staring back from her. “I want to be here, Ren.”

It sounded simple.

True.

“I know,” he returned easily.

“It’s other people who might not want me to be doing this. They also don’t get a say.”

Well, that was a matter of opinion. He really didn’t need that kind of trouble, either. At the same time, he liked Lucia right where she was, too—at the moment, that meant she was with him.

“We’re almost there,” he said, changing the subject entirely.

Renzo would deal with whatever this was another time. If her family—or her father—had an issue with him, then he would just have to deal with it when the time came. If it ever even did come, he supposed.

Who knew if it would?

Lucia picked up on his desire to drop the conversation, and peered out the window. “One more stop, actually.”

Renzo smirked. “You know exactly which school my sister is in, don’t you?”

She shrugged and winked.

“You did say a private school for the arts in Brooklyn. There’s only one of those. I have a friend who attended but graduated last year. This time of year is when they do their annual gallery and shows. It draws quite a crowd. People trying to get a glimpse at the next great artist.”

Renzo made a noise that came out like a dark scoff. “Mmm, who they won’t give a shit about until they’ve worked themselves to the bone, are left poor, and are dead in the ground. Only then will they care to spend way too much money for things like paint on a canvas that makes a pretty picture.”

Lucia gave him a look.

“What?” he asked. “Where is the lie?”

“There isn’t a lie,” she murmured, “but there is more to art than just being an artist. None of that matters, though. Don’t tell your sister what you just told me, Renzo. Why crush her dreams because you’re a realist with a bitter streak, and she just wants to make beautiful things for people to enjoy?”

Huh.

“Yeah,” Renzo said quietly, turning back to keep an eye on Diego again. “You’re right. I won’t.”

• • •

Diego bounced on the balls of his feet as Rose finished chatting with one of her instructors twenty feet away. Renzo had to practically grab Diego by the back of his jacket just to keep the boy from running to his sister.

“Wait a second, now,” Renzo said.

Lucia laughed. “He’s excited.”

“Yeah, he always is whenever he comes to see Rose.”