His Work of Art

by Shannyn Schroeder

  As soon as she was mid-store, she looked up and a smile blasted across her face. Then she held up a gigantic cup of coffee. He could kiss her. The thought brought unwanted images to his mind. It was an expression. He didn’t need to think about acting on that. It was the lack of sleep and the promise of good caffeine tossing him off balance.

  She handed him the cup. “You look like crap.”

  He took a long drink before responding. “I’ve been working a lot. I have the sketches done.”

  “Already? I thought we were meeting Friday.”

  “We can. If this looks good, we can move on to the next book. You said we have a tight timeline.” Another drink. It was smooth and rich and about as perfect as a cup of coffee could be. “What is in this stuff?”

  “A special mixture. I’m thinking of calling it the Goddess Blend. That way I can have men falling at my feet all day.” She tapped her gloved hands on the glass counter. “Well? Let’s see them.”

  Right. He was supposed to show her the finished artwork. He tilted his head toward his desk. “I inked and colored the first page. I couldn’t help myself. I really wanted to see it in color. But I used a copy, so no worries.”

  She ran ahead of him, taking off her gloves in the process. Sitting on his stool, she studied the pages. By the third page, her eyes were teary.

  Damn. He thought he’d nailed it this time. Reese set the pages on the desk and jumped up. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”

  Huh? This woman did nothing but confuse him. He stood, not reciprocating the hug and unsure of what to do with his hands. “You like it?”

  She stepped back, obviously feeling his awkwardness. “It’s exactly what I imagined and couldn’t describe. The way you show Alexis’s fear, the noise in the background, the subtle changes on the first page that you did in color. It’s amazing. I knew you were the right guy for the job.” Her eyes had cleared and she smiled at him. “Did you think I’d hate it?”

  “You did look upset.”

  She smacked his arm. “You dummy. I’m a girl. Sometimes I get emotional.” Then she rolled her eyes before sitting back on the stool.

  Adam went back to the counter to drink his coffee while she looked at the pages. “When do I get the rest of the stories? If this was the shortest, like you were thinking, I need to plan for how many hours of work I’ll need.”

  “You have the next one. I just need to revise it based on having her origin done. You know, fewer flashbacks and stuff. I’ll have more time to explore the subplot for that book as well as engage the overarching plot.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I could probably introduce the mentor in the next issue.”

  Nothing like a little prompting to go with his afternoon coffee.

  She set the pages back on the desk and hopped off the stool. “Come on, Cap’n. You know your guy is perfect as Lyrid’s mentor.”

  “I’ll consider it if you promise to stop calling me that.”

  She took off her jacket and laid it on the stool, the sleeves dragging on the floor. He picked it up and hung it on a hook on the storeroom door.

  “What, no witty response?”

  “I like my nickname for you. I can pretend it refers to Captain America.”

  He crossed his arms. “That’s a bullshit play on words. We both know you’ll be thinking about Captain Atom and that’s . . . awful. People don’t even like him. Other superheroes don’t trust him.”

  “Only in the latest versions. He’s a military guy and you have that look to you. All stiff and quiet. And serious. All. The. Time.”

  “I am not serious all the time.”

  She waved him off. “Deal. If it bothers you that much, I won’t use the name anymore.”

  Damn. He hadn’t counted on her agreeing. She enjoyed making him crazy too much. Did he just sign away his latest creation?

  Reese extended her hand. “Your hero is now a mentor.”

  He took her hand because he didn’t know how not to. In his gut, he knew Lyrid needed a mentor, someone to guide her. His gaze locked on Reese’s light blue eyes. A strange tension filled the space between them.

  Her hand lingered in his a little longer than was polite. Or maybe that was his grasp being late to let go.

  Adam slid his palm from hers. “He needs a name. We can’t keep calling him my guy. That’ll start to take on a whole new connotation.”

  “Let’s start building the rest of his backstory, get him a job, fill in the spaces. A name will come to us.” She gathered the pages and restacked them neatly. Her fingertips traced over the top image of Alexis.

  That moment filled him with the confidence that he’d chosen the right career for himself. He belonged doing this. He wanted to reach readers the way the greats had reached him: through story and art.

  He stared at Reese while she stared at his art.

  “Hey, I’m back,” his mom called from the door.

  Both he and Reese turned to her voice, like being startled from a dream. If his face looked anything like Reese’s, his mom would think they’d been making out on the counter, except they’d been across the room from each other.

  “What’s going on here?” she asked.

  “Hi, Bonnie. It’s been a while.”

  “Bonnie? You know my mom?”

  Reese slid from the stool. This was the moment of truth. Would she have a reaction like her mother did? Would she comment on his mom being white, while he clearly was not?

  “Well, I didn’t know she was your mom, but I know her. I have been in here before, you know. Did you think I only came in to see your ugly mug?”

  His mom laughed and tugged off her coat.

  Reese spun back to face him. “You totally have her smile. I should’ve seen it before.”

  Mom walked by to hang up her coat, still chuckling.

  Adam stood with his mouth hanging open. Not only did Reese not have a reaction to his mom, but she didn’t even offer up the usual incorrect assumption: I didn’t know you were adopted. It was like the thought never entered her mind.

  “Oh boy, Bonnie. I think I might’ve really hurt his feelings. He’s quieter than usual.” Reese waved a hand in front of his face. “Hello . . .”

  He swatted at her flailing palm. “Please. I was busy thinking. We don’t have time to compare smiles.”

  His mom came over and kissed his cheek. “What are you two doing?”

  “Reese asked me to work on a comic book with her for her senior project.”

  “Let me see.”

  Reese blurted out, “Sure” at the same time he said, “No.”

  He stepped in front of Reese to block her progress. “It’s not finished. It’s not ready to show to anyone.”

  Reese bumped her shoulder into his. “She’s your mom. Of course she’ll say wonderful things, even if it was crap. Which it’s not.”

  His mom chuckled again. He didn’t see what the hell was so funny.

  Reese handed his mom the pages and he swallowed the last gulps of his coffee before tossing the cup into the can behind the counter. He busied himself with getting Reese’s comics for the week. Anything to avoid watching the two women dissect his work.

  “Oh, baby. These are fabulous. I wish you’d let me see more of your work.” She huddled close to Reese. “He never wants me to see anything. Every time he’s working in here, he covers it all up before I can peek.”

  Reese shook her head at him.

  “You’re one to talk. You handed me the first story and expressly said I couldn’t show it to anyone else.”

  “That was different.” She tilted her head and crossed her arms.

  “Not really.”

  His mom handed the sheets back to Reese. “I can close up tonight if you have some place you’d like to be.” Mom’s eyebrows shot up. Subtlety was not her strong suit.

  “We’re just talking.”

  “Go talk somewhere else. Get some dinner. Go see a movie. Have fun.”

 
; “Talking about comics is fun.”

  She looked to Reese for help in her argument, but Reese shrugged. “He’s got you there. We both really like comics.”

  “Oh, the two of you. To be twenty-two again. I’d show you what life is supposed to be like at your age.”

  Adam covered his ears. “I don’t want to hear what you think we should be doing.”

  Reese doubled over in laughter as his mom smacked his arms and poked at his abdomen.

  “Get out of here. Go have fun. Or work. Or whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Adam smiled again. One word his mother hated was whatever, so the emphasis she placed on it was kind of priceless. He gave up. He wouldn’t force Reese to hang out with him. He could just as easily go home and crawl into bed. He handed Reese her jacket and her bag of comics.

  When they got outside he said, “Sorry about that. My mom can be pushy.”

  “I like your mom. She’s funny.”

  “Anyway, you don’t have to hang out with me. Your night is free to do whatever.” He tucked his hands in his jacket pockets, wishing he had gloves.

  “I don’t have anything going on. You want to grab dinner?”

  “Sure. You pick a place. I’ll follow in my car.” Friends traveled in separate vehicles. He didn’t want to give his mom any more ideas about Reese. Uncomplicated. It was a good way to live.

  He followed Reese to some hole-in-the-wall diner. She parked and waited on the sidewalk for him. Pointing at the restaurant behind her, she said, “It doesn’t look like much, but they have the best cheese everything here: cheese fries, grilled cheese, mac ’n’ cheese, you name it.”

  “Lead the way. Who doesn’t like cheese?” Christ, he sounded dumb.

  Inside, they sat in a booth and Reese wiggled out of her coat and squished it in the corner with her bag. A waitress stopped by and set down menus.

  Reese slapped her hand on them. “I got this.” She looked up at the waitress. “One order of cheese fries.” To him, she said, “It’s a huge order. We’ll split it. Burger?”

  He threw up his hands. “Sure.”

  “Two burgers, two Cokes.” Once the waitress left, Reese stared at him.

  “What?”

  “If I can’t call you Captain anymore, you’re gonna need a new name.”

  “I have a name. Adam’s good.”

  “But Cap’n just has a nice ring to it.”

  He shook his head. “Let’s talk about the comic instead. Give your characters all the nicknames you want.”

  She laughed. He liked the sound.

  They talked about story ideas and the waitress came with their food. Reese was right—the cheese fries were the best he’d ever had. The burger, not so much. But hanging out with Reese was worth it.

  When they were finished, Adam stood. “I’ll go pay the bill.”

  “You don’t have to buy me dinner.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “I’ll leave the tip.”

  He nodded and walked toward the register as she dug through her bag. While he waited to be rung out, the conversation of the women at the table across from the counter carried to him.

  “Like she couldn’t get a man of her own, so she had to poach one of ours?”

  Adam spun and looked at the woman speaking. She was glaring at Reese.

  “How was everything tonight?” the manager asked from behind the register.

  He glanced at Reese to see if she’d heard the woman before turning to the manager. “It was great. Thanks.” He got his change and hurried back to Reese. He maneuvered her down the other aisle toward the door. He didn’t want to invite any further comments.

  One sentence ruined his evening. At least Reese hadn’t heard. How much worse would it have been if he and Reese had been holding hands or kissing?

  For a moment, the questions in his head were replaced by memories of his childhood. Walking with his parents, he heard the remarks. He’d been too young to understand their meaning, but he knew they were hurtful.

  His stomach knotted. He couldn’t live constantly waiting for the nastiness to come out of people. That was why he needed uncomplicated. Being Reese’s friend was enough.

  Chapter 6

  For the next week, Reese and Adam spoke daily, shooting texts and e-mails back and forth, almost always followed closely by a phone call to argue their points. It was a strange game they played and she enjoyed it. The first book was complete, with ink and color, and she’d be handing it off to her friend Julie today for a final proofread and layout for printing. Julie was the business end of the operation. Her job was production, getting everything organized and to the printer and keeping them on track.

  When this whole project was finished, Reese was going to throw one hell of a party to celebrate. She’d asked Julie to pick up the book so she could introduce Julie to Adam. Up until now, Julie hadn’t had a role to play and Reese had been the go-between, but with as much as Adam had invested in her project, and in turn, her grade, he should probably get to meet the rest of the team.

  She was glad that Adam suggested they work at the shop this afternoon. Their weekend meetings were testing the limits of her control over her crush. They always sat close. How could they not? They hunched over the same pages and discussed character and story and how to portray them. It wasn’t something that could be done on opposite ends of a couch.

  She knew this because she’d tried. She knew Adam wasn’t interested because he didn’t react to any kind of flirtation she threw out. So she wasn’t his type. At least she got a pretty good friend out of the deal. And an awesome artist to work with.

  When she got to Comic Universe, Adam was deep in conversation with a couple of guys about a series she knew nothing about. She waved with the cup of coffee she’d brought him as she walked behind the customers and took a seat at his desk. She’d spent so much time here that it was starting to feel more like a home away from home.

  Adam walked behind the register and rang the guys out. They left saying they’d see him next week.

  “You didn’t have to cut it short. I would’ve waited.”

  “But then my coffee would be cold.” He picked up the cup at her elbow. “What’s the bribe for?”

  “It’s not a bribe. I know you like it and I worked the early shift.” She checked her watch. “Julie should be here soon. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

  “I still don’t see why we need another person. We’re handling it all okay.”

  “Publishing companies have entire teams dedicated to what we’re doing. I can’t do it all. I’m actually amazed that you’re doing all of the artwork. I would’ve been happy if you got me to the ink phase and I just had to hire someone to color.”

  The look on Adam’s face was priceless, like she’d just lobbed the biggest insult ever.

  “What? Everyone has his specialty. I knew you could draw. How was I supposed to know if you could color?” She shifted on the stool and her jacket slid out from under her butt.

  Adam bent over and tugged the jacket the rest of the way off the stool and hung it up. “So did you have someone else lined up?”

  She spun on the stool to watch him move. “I had someone in mind, but I never talked to him about it. There was nothing to say until I had actual pictures. And then you kept going.”

  In truth, she was ecstatic that Adam was handling all of the stages of artwork. The only other artist she was familiar with was her ex-boyfriend, Frankie. Although she still saw Frankie every week at their regular RPG night, she really didn’t want him to have a piece of her book.

  “Promise me that no one else will touch this.” Adam’s tone was more serious than usual, which she didn’t even think possible.

  “Julie’s it. If she finds a problem, she’ll bounce it back to us. With her handling the production end, I can focus on marketing and promotion.” She spun back toward the desk, taking in the length of the store as she did. She jumped off the stool. “Oh my God. This is perfect.”


  “What is?” Adam leaned casually against the counter by the register.

  “Would your mom mind if we filmed the campaign ad here?”

  “Huh?”

  “In order to set up my crowd source campaign to fund the printing of the comic, I need to have a video. Like a commercial. This would be the perfect location.”

  Adam shrugged. “I don’t see why she’d care, but I’ll ask.”

  The door opened and Julie walked in. Reese stared at her a minute. She was decked out in a long red cashmere coat that her boyfriend had bought her. Her blond hair was swept up in a way that Reese couldn’t imagine how to do and her cheeks were pink from the cold. She looked slightly older than Reese, especially since Reese still dressed the same way she had since high school.

  Not Julie. Julie always looked like she was on her way to a job interview.

  “Hi,” she said as she walked through the store, pulling her gloves off. “Cute store.”

  Reese stepped forward. “Julie, this is Adam, our artist. This is his mom’s shop. Adam, Julie.”

  Reese turned and looked at Adam, who smiled at Julie before taking her hand. She didn’t miss the appreciative sweep of his gaze over Julie’s body. A twinge of jealousy poked her chest. Hadn’t she just convinced herself that Adam was good to have as a friend? So what if he was attracted to Julie?

  At least she understood why. Reese just wasn’t his type. She turned away and grabbed the pages off the desk. “Here it is.”

  She held the stack out to Julie, who accepted it, but instead of putting it away in her bag, she laid it out on the counter. “This is really good work, guys. Not that I’m an expert in comics or anything.”

  “What are you an expert in?” Adam asked.

  Julie turned her brilliant smile on Adam. “While I love English, I knew there wouldn’t be enough money in it for me, so I turned to computers. I’m your publisher.”

  Adam nodded, but he didn’t look convinced that Julie knew what she was talking about.

  “Reese, I know you’re doing the marketing end, but I think you need to have a few of these panels for advertising. Like blown up bigger.” She turned to Adam. “Do you have a problem with that?”