Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
KINSLEY
“I think I’m going to throw up.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
“It’s not dramatics. It’s a fair warning.”
This feeling has only grown as today has gotten closer.
Lily and Jace tried their best to keep my mind occupied and it worked for a while. But then I’d lay in bed at night, staring up at my blank ceiling and obsessing over every little thing.
Tonight my photos will hang in a real life gallery. They’ll be available for purchase by the attendees. Some of which will be curators for the most prestigious galleries around the world.
This is a big step up from the albums on my phone practically collecting dust.
“Okay. Okay. Look at me.” Lily turns me to face her, hands on my shoulders. “Let’s take a deep breath shall we?”
She leads me through four cycles until I can feel the tips of my fingers again and my heart isn’t threatening to beat out of my chest. “Thank you.”
She shrugs. “I sent out one email. You and your work did the rest.”
I lean my hip against the counter. “I couldn’t have gotten this far without you and you know it. So I’ll say it again. Thank you.”
Her lips tip up and she shakes her head. “You’re welcome. Now will you stop freaking out about tonight? Everything will be fine. More than fine. Your date is smoking hot?—”
“Wait, Jace is here already?” I ask, glancing at the bathroom door with wide eyes.
“Uh, excuse me. I wasn’t talking about him, I was referring to myself.”
I laugh. “Oh, how silly of me. Of course.”
She waves a hand through the air. “There’s no doubt Jace will draw many, many eyes tonight.” She smiles, wiggling her eyebrows and I hold back a laugh since only one of them has been filled in. “But so will you. Tonight’s your night to shine, Kins. We’re all here for you.”
“You do know that I’m not the only artist being showcased tonight, right?”
“Pft, details.”
Our laughter is broken by a knock on the door. “Twenty minutes until final checks,” one of the gallery assistants calls out.
My best friend claps, finger twirling around me. “Let’s get you dressed.”
My eyes dart to the black garment bag hanging off the back of the door. It’s another Lily Campbell original, made just for tonight.
She pulls out the floor length, black dress decorated with glittering jewels, almost as if the stars themselves are falling down the skirt. It has a low back—one I’m positive she lowered even more than the last time I saw it—and a slit so far up my left leg that I’m a little scared to take a decent step.
I carefully slip the delicate fabric over my hips and slide my arms through the sheer sleeves. Lily zips up the side and secures the clasp before adjusting the neckline to lay perfectly across my collarbone.
I stand in the full length mirror and twist.
It’s absolutely beautiful.
And I feel beautiful in it.
My thick chocolate hair runs down to the middle of my back in soft waves. Soft eyeshadow accentuates my golden brown eyes, and my lips are painted a muted pink to compliment the heels Lily surprised me with.
After finishing her makeup and changing into her own gown, we gather our bags. She slips them over her shoulder and picks up her keys. “I’m going to take our stuff to the car. Be right back.” The door closes with a soft click as she leaves.
I face the mirror and take a steadying breath. “You got this.”
I run shaky fingers through my hair. “You got this.”
I smooth out the front of my dress. “You got this.”
I place my palms on the counter and drop my head, closing my eyes. “You got this.”
“You do.”
I suck in a quick breath and my head shoots up, my eyes connecting with my favorite shade of blue in the mirror.
“You’re here,” I whisper.
“Passed Lily outside. She told me I should come in here and make sure you don’t try to make a break for it.” He smirks, stepping into the bathroom. “Little does she know, I’d be your getaway driver if that’s really what you wanted.”
I laugh, turning as he walks over. He cages me in with an arm on either side of me and leans down, brushing his lips against mine softly.
Pulling back, he lifts his hand and cups the side of my face, running his thumb over my cheek. “You look absolutely breathtaking, angel.”
I reach up and smooth my hands over his chest. He’s dressed in a deep blue—almost black—suit with the top three buttons of his crisp white shirt undone. His jaw is freshly shaved and his dirty blond hair is styled back with a few stubborn strands falling over his forehead.
“So do you.”
His lips tick up on the side, his eyes dancing over my face. “You doing okay?”
I nod. “Just a little nervous.”
About tonight.
About the looming deadline set by my foster parents and not knowing what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go.
About him and whatever is going on between us.
About basically everything.
His other hand comes up and he holds my face in both of his hands. “What can I do?”
I lean into his touch, feeling the steady beat of his heart under my palm. “You’re doing it.”
I press my forehead against his, breathing in his cologne. With every passing moment I feel the nerves and worries fade away. Because in his arms I feel safe. I feel wanted. Like nothing will ever harm me as long as I’m with him.
He shifts closer and I tilt my head, pressing my lips to his. Once. Twice.
His tongue teases the seam of my lips on the third kiss and I open willingly. His hand trails my neck, over my shoulder, and down my side. I shiver when his warm palm slides across the bare skin of my back and he moans.
“This dress,” he growls, using his hand on my back to press me against him as he kisses me with unabashed hunger.
My head tips back as he drags his lips down, nipping and licking where my neck and shoulder meet. I suck in a breath at the sharp bite of his teeth, whimpering when he chases the sting away with his tongue.
I turn my head, catching his lips with mine and we both groan. I throw my arms over his shoulders as his hand trails down my side, his fingers finding the top of the dress’s slit.
We pause and he pulls back, our eyes meeting as our chests rise and fall on heavy breaths. His eyes dance between mine and I drop my hand over his on my thigh.
Without looking away, I slowly guide him farther down until the fabric covers his hand before moving it back up. I pull away and clutch his arm as he takes over, slowly skating his fingers up my leg.
My hips instinctively press forward when he traces the lace of my thong at my hip, following its path towards my center. I close my eyes, dropping my head back when his fingers ghost over me and bite my lip to contain my moan.
His ragged breath fans over my heated skin. “Kins?—”
A bang on the door cuts him off and we freeze. “You better not be in there ruining all my hard work.”
He removes his hand from my thigh, a smirk playing on his lips. “Still nervous?”
I laugh and he leans in to steal one last kiss before walking over to the door. I bite my lip when he adjusts himself before cracking it open.
“Lily.”
“Romeo.” She squints up at him in amusement. “Don’t think that’s quite your color.”
He looks at his reflection in the mirror next to the door and smirks. “I don’t know. I kind of like it.”
She snorts and glances at me. “You ready?”
I nod, grabbing my clutch and walking over to them. Reaching up, I brush my thumb over his bottom lip, wiping away the smeared lipstick. He turns his head, kissing my palm as his other hand slides across my lower back.
The three of us walk down the hallway and I rush over to join the other artists in our pre-opening meeting. Five minutes before the doors open, I find Jace standing in front of one of my photos.
I took it the night we watched the floating lanterns in the park. He’s sitting on the ground, leaning back on his hands with his head tilted to the sky. The soft light casted by the lanterns highlight the soft smile on his face.
I titled it ‘More Than Just a Man’ because that’s what he is. He’s more than the driver the world sees. More than the son his parents raised. More than a friend. He’s just… more.
“Do you like it?”
He twists, watching me as I slowly step up next to him. “It’s incredible, angel. Truly.”
“He is.” I lean my head on his shoulder.
He chuckles. “I’m serious, Kinsley. You’re so talented.” He shakes his head. “If I knew it wouldn’t mortify you, I’d scream it from all the rooftops in London.”
I lift my head and we turn to face each other. A single tear runs down my cheek as my chest constricts. His thumb catches it and his eyebrows furrow.
I reach up, placing my hand on his chest. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For wanting to shout it from the rooftops.”
For making me feel like I’m enough.
He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “I can go right now? I’ll start on this one. Think I saw the stairs around here somewhere.”
I giggle, grabbing his arm when he takes a step away. “No. No. This is definitely one of those ‘it’s the thought that counts’ moments.”
“Doors are opening,” someone calls from the front of the gallery.
My smile drops and he steps closer, cupping the side of my face. “You got this. I’ll be right here all night if you need me.”
That’s the thing though.
I’m beginning to feel like I’ll always need you.
I nod and he kisses my forehead before linking our fingers. I follow him over to where Lily stands by the open bar and we watch as people filter through the open doors.
A familiar head of blonde hair and deep blue eyes catches my attention seconds before Sydney pops up on her toes and waves.
“Is that?—”
“I may have shouted from one rooftop.”
I laugh as his entire family emerges from the growing crowd. His mum walks over hand in hand with his dad as Sydney drags a grouchy Lawson behind her, Ryder and Nikolai talking behind them.
I blink rapidly to keep the tears at bay as his mum pulls me in for a hug. “There she is. Congratulations, Kinsley.”
We pull back and I glance at everyone. “Thank you all for coming.”
Eleanor smiles. “We wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Is this what it’s like? To have people in your corner, cheering you on. To have unconditional support? Is this what I’ve been missing out on all my life?
Hours pass as we float around the gallery. I hold onto Jace, onto his mum’s words, onto this night. And as the last of the guests leave, instead of packing up and going home alone, he and his family are there to celebrate the purchase of all my photos with me.
With his jacket draped over my shoulders, a tray of ice cream between us, and his parents bickering over where to hang their new prized possession, I know this is a night I don’t ever want to forget.
Don’t think I’d be able to even if I tried.