The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2), стр. 66

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Emily

It’s Saturday night, and the girls have come over for girls’ night and to check up on me.

“So, I heard Daniel came over.” Ava fishes for information as she pours herself a wine.

My eyes narrow. “How would you know that?” I question her.

“Daniel told me,” she says quickly, not making any eye contact.

“And why would he tell you that? It’s not like you’re friends or anything. Are you?”

Ava’s cheeks turn a little pink. “We’ve spoken a couple of times since we got back. Basically, he’s been worried about you. He just wanted to check in while giving you some space.”

“I never got a message from him?” Georgia smirks.

“Me either,” Rosie adds.

Ava becomes flustered and gulps down her glass of wine quickly then pours herself another.

“Is something happening between the two of you?”

“What? No,” Ava answers way too quickly.

“Do you want something to happen?”

Ava doesn’t look at us, and we all smirk.

“He’s pretty hot,” Georgia adds.

“His accent is delicious,” Rosie chimes in.

“Ugh, you guys.” Ava rolls her eyes, which makes us burst out laughing.

I’ve needed this. I think this is the first time in weeks that I have truly laughed and meant it.

“So, I have a crush on him, okay?” she confesses. Ava never pursues a guy, especially one she has a crush on, so her pursuing Daniel is out of character for her.

“Ava has a cru-ush,” Rosie sing-songs as she teases Ava, which makes us all fall into fits of laughter again.

“I know. What the hell is wrong with me?” Ava complains.

“He’s a sweetheart. And that dimple…” I add, then sigh.

The girls are a little shocked at first at my comment then burst out laughing again.

“I’m glad me having a crush is so amusing to you all.” Ava pours herself another glass of wine.

“You were flirting with him in France. Did anything happen?” Georgia asks.

“I wish. He rebuffed all my advances.” Ava pouts.

“You made advances on the guy?”

Ava pokes out her tongue.

“Is he the first guy that’s ever said no to you?” Rosie teases.

“Fuck you, guys.” She laughs. “But yes, he is.” She folds her arms in front of her, pretending to scowl at us all like we have highly offended her.

“Aw… there, there, Ava. Welcome to the real world.” Rosie pats her on the head.

“So, what did Daniel want?” Georgia asks, changing the subject.

“Oh. Um… yeah, about that…” They all look at me with expectant eyes. “He wants me to join Louis in New York to showcase my art.”

The girls are all a little shocked, but once that information settles, they all jump up to congratulate me by jumping on me. It takes me a while to get them off, but the smile on my face is wide.

“Apparently, Louis asked Daniel about it before…” I don’t need to finish that sentence.

“And what do you think?” Georgia asks.

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I showed Daniel the art I have been working on in the studio, and he loved it. He actually took a painting I did of Louis and me to give to him.”

“Aw, that’s nice of you,” Rosie adds.

I shrug again not wanting to discuss that part of my life.

“I think you should do it,” Ava adds.

“That’s because it gives you an excuse to stay in touch with Daniel,” Georgia teases.

“Well, of course, but also because I think you deserve this, Emmy. You’re so ridiculously talented, and you haven’t had many, if any, breaks over the years. And if anyone deserves this, you do,” Ava tells me.

“But I’m only getting it because I slept with Louis.”

“What? No, you’re not. Do you seriously think Louis or Daniel would do you this sort of favor simply because they know you?” Rosie asks.

I don’t know. Maybe. Probably not.

“Why not take a chance?” Ava adds.

“We love you, babe, and we know what happened over the past couple of weeks has been hard on you, but in all this bad, maybe something good can come from it.” Georgia raises her eyebrows at me.

Tears well in my eyes, which brings my girls closer to me, and we all hug.

“I want to take a chance, but I’m scared, guys.”

“You have us,” Rosie reassures.

“We’ll help you get to where you need to be. If that means we have to get you coffee so you can work all night, or buy you paints, we’ll do it,” Ava tells me, and her words make me cry.

Far out! I am so lucky to have these girls right beside me.

“I’m sorry, guys. So sorry that I said those horrible things to you all. That wasn’t me, it was the situation, but it’s still no excuse. So, again, I am sorry.”

“Hey. No. Don’t think like that. What happened was disgusting, and you were in shock.” Rosie lifts my chin to look at her.

“But it wasn’t your fault, and I took it out on you all.” Tears stream down my face as they do on my friends’ faces.

“You needed to blame someone to make sense of it all. We understand, and we’re happy to take your angry outbursts as long as it helps you. We all love you, and we knew you were hurting. We’re all just so worried about you,” Georgia tells me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you all,” I tell them.

“You were processing, we understand that. You take all the time you need. We’ll always be here for you.” Ava squeezes my hand.

“I love you guys.”

“We love you, too.”

“One day at a time… that’s the only way for me to move forward,” I tell them.

“Then we’ll be there every step of the way. One day at a time if that’s what it takes, right beside you.” Rosie hugs me.

Fuck, I’m lucky.

“But I do have a question?” Ava asks. “What about Louis?”

My stomach sinks.

“Yeah, every day he sends you sunflowers,” Rosie reminds me.

I let out a heavy sigh. “I am going to work on myself, and I’m going to focus on my art.”

“But he’s going to be in