Free Watercolor by Leigh Talbert Moore Page A

I was actually kind of afraid to tell him after how Jack had responded to the news. Jack had completely shut down and taken me home. It was about the most humiliating thing that had happened while we were together.
    “I mean, Mom and Dad are right there,” I finished softly.
    He looked at me for a second and then nodded, lightly kissing me again and resting his hand on my stomach. “I can wait.”
    I rolled so that my back was pressed into his chest again. He was softly stroking my arm, and I could feel his warm breath on my neck. It was the best I’d ever felt in my life, and I was just starting to drift when I heard him whisper. “What was your favorite part of the book?”
    My forehead lined. “What book?” I whispered.
    “ The Sun Also Rises ,” he said, nuzzling against my shoulder.
    Chills skittered down my arms, and I laced my fingers through his, thinking about my homework assignment. I’d forgotten he’d heard it.
    “The part where Brett leaves Jake’s apartment early in the morning, and he’s watching her walk away, up the street.”
    I could feel Julian’s brow furrow against my skin. “I thought he was impotent.”
    “He is, but they’re in love. She keeps coming back to see him, and they kiss each other and they want to be together, but they can’t. They keep trying to play it off like his injury should be funny.”
    Julian lifted his head, and in the darkness I felt him frowning at me. “That’s your favorite part?”
    “No.” I breathed a laugh. “Not that part. The part I like is when he watches her leave. He’s very sad, and he says something like ‘It’s easy to act hard-boiled during the daytime, but at night it’s a different story.’”
    We were quiet for a minute.
    “When was that written?” Julian asked.
    “Right after World War I.” My eyes were heavy. “A long, long time ago.”
    He nodded. “It’s still true.”
    “Mm-hm.”
    He hugged my middle and leaned forward to kiss me behind the ear. I pulled his hand up to my lips then I closed my eyes and fell asleep warm and not the least bit sad anymore.
    He was gone when I opened my eyes again. The alarm was sounding, and it was time to get ready for the day.

Chapter 9
     
    Summer was normal enough about getting her notes back in English class, and I avoided getting sucked into another bizarre cross-examination with her. No telling what she’d seen me do lately.
    We all turned in our assignments and had some discussion about them. I thought about my conversation with Julian last night and him sleeping over. I was tired today, but I didn’t regret letting him in. Falling asleep in his arms was heaven. He caught up with me on the way to math.
    “You look tired,” he said, lightly resting an arm across my shoulders as we walked.
    “I’ve had the strangest two nights,” I said, slanting my eyes at him. “Something keeps waking me up.”
    “Maybe you’ll get better rest tonight,” he said.
    I frowned. “I’m not complaining.”
    He grinned, catching my waist. “Hey, I was thinking I might borrow that book when you’re finished with it. You’ve got me interested.”
    I pulled it out of my bag. “Here you go, and I think you’ll like it. It ends at the bullfights in Pamplona.”
    He held the thin volume, studying it for a moment. “Let me guess. She takes up with a bullfighter.”
    “ A plus, Mr. LaSalle. That’s exactly right.”
    His mouth slanted down on one side. “I’m starting to not like our heroine.”
    I stopped, placing my hands on my hips. “Why? Because she’s honest? I’d think you’d be able to relate to her more. She has needs that must be met.”
    We were quiet for a minute.
    “I don’t see why his injury has to be such a problem,” Julian said. “I mean, they could use their imaginations.”
    I shook my head. “People were more conservative back then.”
    We were walking again, and he elbowed me in the side. “Were not.”
    “Well, either way, it wouldn’t have been such a