“Look,” I said, pointing Zoey in the direction of my latest masterpiece.
She stopped short as she recognized her likeness on the large canvas in front of her. “You painted me?” she gasped, turning to me.
“I attempted to,” I nodded. “I don’t think I’ve done you justice.”
“Oh wow,” Zoey said, walking closer to the canvas. “You’ve used every color I can think of.”
“It felt fitting,” I said. “Two colors just weren’t enough to capture your beauty.”
“You’ve made me look like… something out of another world,” Zoey said, in awe. “Oh, Devlin… it’s amazing.”
“You like it?”
“I love it,” she sighed. “No one’s ever painted me before… and not like this.”
“Like I said, I don’t think I’ve done you justice.”
“Please,” Zoey said, turning around and walking into my arms. “You’ve made me beautiful.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at her incredulously. “You are beautiful,” I said fervently. “Why do you think I was so inspired?”
She shook her head at me. “I just don’t understand how you do it all,” she said, with clear admiration in her voice. “I thought I was juggling a lot but look at you. You’re a fireman, and you’re an artist. It’s amazing.”
I had to say something. I had to open my mouth and say something. I couldn’t let her keep thinking I was a fireman. I was lying to her. It was nothing more than a bald-faced lie, and yet my tongue wouldn’t loosen. I wasn’t strong enough to convince myself to do the right thing.
Zoey deserved better than me. She was good and kind and pure, and I was a liar, a con artist, and a fraud. But more than any of that, I was selfish. I wanted her, and I was willing to keep up the ruse in order to keep her with me.
Zoey kissed me softly on the lips and I let all my doubts and worries fall out of my head because it was easier. It was just easier to forget than it was to wrestle with the guilt.
20
Zoey
“Where on earth is your brother?” mom asked, looking towards the door.
“Maybe his shift ran a bit late?” I wondered out loud.
I had sent Seth a message about half an hour ago but still no news. I decided to give him a call to just check in, but he hadn’t picked up.
“Let’s give him another fifteen minutes and if he’s not here by then, we’ll start eating,” mom said, putting the fried chicken on the table.”
“Alright,” I said distractedly.
“So… how are things going with your new roommate?” mom asked.
“Oh… uh… good,” I nodded.
“You don’t sound too sure,” mom said, wrinkling her brows at me.
“It’s not that,” I said. “We get along great…”
Mom was looking at me carefully. “You don’t really like to talk much about him, do you?”
“Um… that’s not true.”
“Please, I barely know his name.”
“It’s… Dave,” I said, remembering the name I had told Seth.