The Edge of You

by Theresa Dalayne

  Maya dug her heels into the Berber carpet. “What do you mean someone bought it? Who?” She frantically scanned the crowd for a face she recognized.

  “A tall lady with blonde hair up in a twist. She was one of the judges.”

  Maya’s eyes widened. “Adélie Bourg?”

  “If you say so.” Beth continued to drag her forward until they stood just outside the group.

  Adélie Bourg. Bought her painting. For—

  Maya’s throat went dry and her vision warped, the room spinning.

  “Come on.” Beth pushed their way through the crowd. Jake’s aunt and uncle stood to the right, and she found Mr. Stuart on the other side, chatting nervously to the lanky woman wearing a pair of dress slacks and a silk blouse.

  “Maya. There you are.” Mr. Stuart waved her forward. Adélie Bourg studied Maya as she slowly forced one foot in front of the other. “Maya, this is Adélie Bourg, one of the leading art dealers in New York.” Mr. Stuart extended his hands through the introduction.

  Of course Maya already knew. Adélie Bourg started her career as a model, not a painter. In fact, she was the, ‘those who can’t do, teach,’ type. Her nude, lean figure was used as a muse for countless artists, and the money she made from her years of experience only deepened her roots in the artistic community.

  With a natural eye for art, it didn’t take long for others to realize her talent. After a few million dollars in sales, and two major art studios in New York, Adélie Bourg stood in the Kodiak Art Museum, beside Maya’s painting.

  It was like a dream.

  “Maya Reed.” Adélie Bourg’s heavy French accent made her seem regal, and that much more intimidating.

  Maya cleared her throat as the crowd around them stilled. “Hi. Nice to meet you.” She extended her hand.

  Adélie Bourg shook her hand and nodded with a polite curve of her lips. “Bonsior.” She drew back her long fingers and shifted her attention to the painting. “This is yours.” Her words came out as more of a statement than a question.

  Maya nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Ma’am? She couldn’t have come up with something else to call her?

  Adélie Bourg sighed and tilted her head, examining the canvas. “I feel as if the young girl is watching me.” She gently rested her hand over her chest. “As if she sees through me. As if she can see my soul.”

  Maya joined her in admiring the painting. Gracie’s eyes were always so inquisitive. “She…” Maya wasn’t sure if Adélie Bourg would be interested in hearing the background of the painting, but when she nodded in silence, Maya continued. “She was my little sister, Gracie.”

  Adélie Bourg’s expression changed, ever so slightly. “Was,” she said gently. “I see.” There was a long stretch of silence before Adélie Bourg spoke again. “Very good.” the judge turned to a woman, who Maya assumed was her assistant. “Be sure to pack it, carefully. If it is damaged in transit I will be very unhappy.”

  Her assistant nodded hastily, wanting to avoid that at all costs. “Yes, Miss Bourg.”

  Maya’s swayed on her feet as she tried to process it all. Adélie Bourg snatched the price card off the easel and handed it to her assistant. “And be sure the young lady is paid immediately.”

  “Yes, Miss Bourg.” Her assistant flipped open her phone and backed out of the crowd.

  “Well then.” Adélie Bourg extended her hand once again. Maya didn’t hesitate in taking the gesture. “It has been a pleasure.” The judge glanced around the museum with a satisfied smile. “I almost didn’t come to this event, you know. In fact, I had no idea the island even existed. But as they say…” She withdrew her hand and laced her lean fingers together. “You can find the most outstanding talent in the most unlikely of places.”

  Maya couldn’t manage to say anything in response, her voice caught somewhere in her chest as the glamorous art dealer moved through the crowd.

  Two men lifted the painting from the easel. A moment later, Adélie Bourg, her assistant, and the painting were gone, and Maya was left standing beside Beth.

  “Holy. Shit.” Beth said softly.

  Maya turned to her best friend and blinked. “What just happened?”

  Beth laughed. “Uh, you just sold your painting to a huge art dealer for fifteen freakin’ grand. That’s what happened!”

  Mr. Stuart wove through the crowd until he reached Maya. “You will never believe what I overheard Miss Bourg’s assistant saying on the phone.”

  Maya’s eyes widened. That it was a mistake? Or a dream. Was she dreaming? God, please don’t let her be dreaming.

  Mr. Stuart pushed his glasses onto the bridge of his nose and rubbed his hands together. “Adélie Bourg didn’t vote for your painting on purpose. A strategic purchase from the largest art dealer in New York. That is quite impressive.”

  She outstretched her hands and gripped Beth’s shoulder as the room spun even faster. “I think I need to sit down.”

  Beth wrapped her arm around Maya’s waist and held her up. “I think we should go back to Jake’s and celebrate.”

  Maya gasped. “Oh no.” She had forgotten all about him with everything that happened.

  Beth followed close behind as Maya rushed through the room and pushed through the front door. She walked to the end of the first step, scanning the parking lot, now buzzing with people.

  “Where is he?” Beth asked, standing beside Maya.

  She had left him standing out there, waiting for her with his keys in his hands and his heart in his throat. She ran her hands down her arms, goose bumps covering her skin. Maya’s heart sank.

  “Gone.”

  Chapter Forty-two

  Jake

  Jake lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling as heavy rain fell outside.

  He couldn’t sleep. Not because of the storm, but because his mind wouldn’t shut off. It was amazing how a woman could turn him inside out, ruining his world. He just wanted to forget how much he cared about her so he could close his eyes and fall asleep without dreaming about the warmth of her skin and the taste of her mouth.

  She left him standing outside the museum in the cold, waiting for her to come back with Beth so he could drive them back to town. After a half hour of waiting, he faced the fact she wasn’t coming. It was probably better that way.

  A knock at the door jerked him out of his thoughts. Jake sat up and listened. Maybe it was the neighbor’s door.

  The knocking came again, louder this time. Definitely his door.

  Jake rolled out of bed and walked quickly through his apartment. He flipped on the light and peered through the spy hole to see Maya and Beth standing in the hall, drenched and clearly miserable.

  He gripped the knob and swung opened the door. Maya glanced up at him, her hair wet, stuck to her cheeks. She was shivering. His first instinct was to wrap his arms around her, but he forced himself to push down the urge. He stepped aside to let them in.

  Maya slowly walked into the living room, her arms wrapped around herself. Beth followed with heavier footsteps, glaring.

  “Beth.” Maya’s voice quivered, probably from the cold, though he couldn’t be sure. “I need to talk to Jake, alone.” Maya gave him a follow me kind of look, and walked into his bedroom.

  “Fine.” Beth grabbed her bag off his couch and clutched it against her chest. “I’m going to take a hot shower.”

  As Beth vanished into the bathroom, Jake walked into his room, where Maya stood beside the bed, wearing a pair of pink pajama pants and a bra. She fumbled for a shirt in her duffle bag as drops of water slid from her hair, down her back. She glanced over her shoulder at him, not saying a word. He waited until she slipped on a white thermal top, and then turned toward him, her cheeks burned red from the cold.

  “Did you guys walk here?” He hoped that wasn’t the case, considering it would have taken them almost a half hour to get home on foot.

  “Your aunt and uncle gave us a ride back. But we had to walk from their car to the apartment building, and it’s pourin
g.” She shivered again.

  “That’s Alaska rain for you.” He lifted the blanket off his bed and draped it around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you were coming back.”

  She nodded with a soft expression. “I know.”

  He was surprised she was so calm. Most women would be flipping the hell out right now.

  Maya had always been different.

  “Listen.” She pushed hair out of her face and gathered more of the blanket her hands. “I get it, okay? You need to be with your mom.” She slowly lowered herself to the bed. “I’m just pissed you didn’t tell me sooner.”

  “I thought it would be better to wait until after the art show.”

  She stepped toward him, resembling a drowned rat, but somehow still so damn beautiful. “So…did you really mean everything you said about not wanting me anymore?”

  Jake furrowed his brows. He wanted her so bad, his fingers tingled to touch her flushed cheek. But he was determined to let her go without any regrets, and if that meant making her believe he was done, so be it. He shifted away. “I meant it.” Maya took a step back. He nodded, pain shooting through his gut. “I’ll drive you home if you want.”

  “Jake…” Maya rested her hand on his chest, making him wince. “You don’t have to do this.”

  Memories flooded through him—all the years of wearing secondhand clothes that didn’t fit. Buying a used, beat-up backpack for the first day of school. Feeling out of place. Being called a bastard by his neighbors. And worse, his mom always ran to his rescue, but only because she loved him so damn much.

  He never had anyone except his mom.

  Until Maya.

  He finally gave in and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “I don’t have a choice. Goddamnit, I wish did…” He tightened his grip around her.

  She ran her fingers down the back of his neck. Her skin was like ice. “We deserve to be happy.”

  Her hair smelled like stale hairspray with hints of her shampoo still lingering beneath. She squeezed him tight. “I’m so sorry about your mom.” He buried his face in the curve of her neck. “If I were you,” she continued, “I’m sure I’d do the same thing. I’d leave…if I had to.” She nodded, as if convincing herself she wasn’t lying. Or maybe trying to convince him.

  Jake pulled back and trailed his fingers down her cheek. “What the hell did I do to deserve you?”

  She rested her hands on his chest and stretched up on her tiptoes, hovering her lips in front of his. “Just go with it.”

  Chapter Forty-three

  Maya

  With her fingers spread over his warm chest, she realized how cold she was, and how much it would hurt when he was gone.

  Jake wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She savored the way his sleek metal ring slid across her tongue. The pressure sent a shiver through her.

  Maya raked her fingers through his hair. His eyes seemed to brighten when they were together like this, the blue of his irises flecked with light.

  Jake gently led her onto the bed. He was always so careful with her, so tender and attentive. A deep sense of sadness streaked through her, and she couldn’t stand the reality that she would soon have to let him go.

  Jake stripped off his shirt. Tattoos jumped over his muscles. On his chest was the image of some kind of big cat, drawn in bold lines. She traced her fingers over the tattoo. “What is this?”

  He gently pulled her hand away from his skin and placed a kiss on her palm. “It’s the Mayan symbol of a jaguar.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It’s their symbol for strength.”

  Maya’s heart ached. She examined the rest of his tattoos, and read the script stretched vertically over his ribs. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. The rest of his tattoos probably held as much meaning, with even more pain and bitter memories behind them all.

  “You really do wear your heart on your sleeve, don’t you?”

  “Most of my tattoos are there to remind me to be a better person.”

  “You don’t need anyone to remind you of that.”

  He lay beside her with his elbow propped on the pillow and his head rested in his hand, tracking his finger in small circles around her belly button. She tried not to squirm when he tickled her skin. “What if I’m inked up to keep myself in check. Do you think that makes me a bad person?”

  Maya furrowed her brows. “A bad person?” She lazily ran her fingers through his hair. “No. It makes you a better person.” He glanced up at her, and for a fleeting moment, she could have sworn she saw humiliation in his eyes. “Only people who are okay with hurting other people are bad,” she continued, hoping her words would reassure him.

  “I just…” He shook his head. “I’ve been trying so fucking hard to make things better for me and my mom. To get us out of this, maybe give her a life she would actually like. Why can’t I get it right?”

  She turned on her side and ran her thumb over his brow. “You will. I know you will. And until then, don’t think for one second you’re anything less than amazing.”

  He smiled softly, yet somehow a little sad. “You’ve been through a lot, and you still have hope. I guess that means I shouldn’t give up either.”

  Jake pushed up on his forearms and hovered over her. She stripped off her shirt and tossed it to the floor, eager to feel him bare against her, and savor the scent of sandalwood that always lingered on his skin.

  The silence between them was comforting.

  Maya placed a kiss on his jaw, and then on his neck. She just wanted to be there, enjoy him, and create a memory she could go back to once he was gone.

  There was no forgetting. Not now.

  Chapter Forty-four

  Jake

  The week flew by. Beth had gone home to California two days ago, leaving Jake and Maya alone for the little time they had left together. It was obvious Maya missed her friend—especially since she still hadn’t talked to her parents at all. Maybe their relationship was just too broken to mend. She’d just have to fight through this part of her life, like she’d already done for so many years.

  Jake grabbed his duffle bag from the couch. At least ditching out on his apartment with another month left on the lease wasn’t a total loss. Maya would get to stay, and then everything would go to his aunt and uncle’s for storage.

  Maybe by then her parents would have come around.

  Maya wrapped her arms around him from behind. “You ready?” The sadness in her tone was unmistakable.

  Jake was determined not to make this harder for her than it had to be. Even if that meant swallowing his own pain. He turned and faced her. “Are you going to be okay here alone?”

  Maya hesitated, and then nodded. “Yeah. I think I’m going to take a break from school…maybe just paint for a while. My grades are slipping anyway. I can’t concentrate—”

  “Don’t drop out of school. Not now.”

  She nodded, a solemn look on her face. “Yeah. Maybe I’ll do that.” She glanced up at him. “What about you? Are you going to keep up with your classes?”

  “I scheduled some online courses. I’ll probably do the work at night. I have no idea how my mom’s going to be when I see her, so I think staying home will be for the best.”

  “You’re ready for that?”

  Hell no, he wasn’t ready, but he’d do whatever he had to do. He checked the time. “We have to go.”

  She turned away from the clock, as if willing it to stop. He’d give anything to make that happen.

  Maya tucked her hair behind her ear and took a few steps toward the door before pausing.

  “Maya.” He stepped toward her and rested his hands on her hips. “Everything’s—”

  “Going to be okay…” The words came out in a soft whisper.

  ***

  Jake grabbed his bag out of the taxi and walked with Maya into the tiny Kodiak airport. Aunt Sara and Uncle Mike stood in the center of the single room, focused
on each other. From their whispers, and the way his aunt looked deep into Uncle Mike’s eyes, it was clear they were having an intense conversation. When Uncle Mike noticed Jake and Maya, they glanced at each other, and Aunt Sara flashed a sad smile.

  “So, how are you kids doing?” Uncle Mike asked.

  This time Aunt Sara didn’t have any reason to gasp or slap Uncle Mike on the arm. His usual sarcasm was dampened, his features sober.

  Jake nodded. “Okay.”

  “Well.” Aunt Sara touched Maya’s arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll have her over as much as possible.”

  Maya forced a smile. “That sounds nice.”

  “And your mom?” Uncle Mike asked him. “How’s she doing? Have you heard anything?”

  “She’ll be in recovery for a few more days,” Jake replied. “Marco said they still won’t let her take any calls.”

  Aunt Sara nodded. “The extra couple of days will give you time to settle back down before she comes home.”

  “Yeah.” Jake made eye contact with his uncle and gestured to the ticket counter with a nod of his head. “I need to go print out my ticket.”

  “I’ll, uh, I’ll come with you—give the ladies a few minutes alone.” He was as smooth as ever, which Jake was thankful for.

  Uncle Mike walked beside him. “What’s going on?”

  Jake rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “I had my car shipped back home yesterday so I’ll have something to drive to mom’s doctor appointments and stuff. But Maya doesn’t have a car yet, and she’s crashing at my apartment for a few weeks until the lease is up.”

  “Oh.” His uncle nodded. “So she and her parents…”

  Jake shook his head. “Not a good situation.” There was a stretch of silence. “Just…” Jake paused beside the ticket counter. “Would you keep an eye on her? She’s alone. I mean, really alone.”

  Uncle Mike nodded. “Of course. Maybe we can let her borrow your aunt’s Toyota for a while. It’s not really being used—especially since we have to get a bigger car now that the twins are on the way.”