Free Fangs And Fame by Heather Jensen Page B

I’ll do my best.”
    “ That’s my girl.” The line was silent for a moment and then he said, “Good luck at the university, and call me when you get a break tomorrow to let me know how it went.”
    “ Will do.... I love you,” I said.
    “ I love you, too.”
    I put my phone back in my pocket and turned the music back up. If I was going to get any sleep tonight, I was going to have to work myself tired. I picked up my brush for varnishing and set to work.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

                                          Chapter 12
     

     
    Aurora
     
    GOING HOME FELT STRANGE, a nd not just because that giant mansion of Trey’s – correction – ours, was empty. I half-expected Cowboy to bark and greet me at the front door, like he’d always done. It was late enough that I didn’t have to spend time hanging out and wondering what to do with myself, but sleeping in the king-sized bed alone was just weird . And I couldn’t decide whether I could actually smell Trey on the pillows, or if I was just imagining it. I’d slept for a few hours and climbed out of bed around eight to shower and get ready. When I’d told Kacie I wanted to get as much done as possible while I was back in Florida, she had taken me seriously. I didn’t mind being busy, especially since it help keep my mind off wondering what I was missing on the tour. First on the agenda was a trip to The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum to donate a painting. Then I was giving a lecture at the University’s art department. They were expecting me at one o’clock, and the drive was only about an hour, so I had time to meet Kacie at The Waking Moon and practice my lecture on her before I loaded up the painting and hit the road.
    I ’d been working on the lecture on and off for about a week, and although public speaking definitely wasn’t my forte, I was feeling surprisingly confident as I arrived. I credited Trey for it. Being with him, seeing him speak so confidently to every interviewer, radio DJ, photographer, and even paparazzi that he was constantly faced with made me realize that the key was just to be myself. I gave that a try, and after the initial nerve-wracking panic that hit me as I was introduced to the students, I settled into a groove and was able to deliver my lecture smoothly and without too many hiccups. I met with the head of the University’s museum after the lecture and presented him with my painting. He’d been gracious and professional, and asked me to please come back soon and visit the University again.
    I ’d called Trey from the Interstate on my way back to Clearwater and told him all about my day. He was really excited for me, and he kept reminding me that he’d been right when he’d said I was going to nail my lecture. We only chatted for a few minutes before he had to go, but it had been good to hear his voice, if only briefly. I called Kacie next to let her know the lecture had been a success. I went straight to The Waking Moon when I got back to town and spent the next five hours in the loft upstairs painting. Painting on the road wasn’t exactly ideal, but I’d been making the best of it. It was working, and it was the only way to be with Trey and still work at the same time. I was grateful that my career was one that I could take on the road. It would have been really hard to stop working for the length of the tour, so I was glad I hadn’t had to face that, but being back in my space was rejuvenating. We hadn’t been on tour for long, but I’d already been so many places, seen so many cities, and met so many people that I never would have otherwise.
    I found inspiration in the travel , and I was jotting down ideas and sketching quick reminders so I wouldn’t lose any of it in my head before I had a chance to get it down on canvas. I painted a cityscape with the moon hovering behind the tall