Free His Work of Art by Shannyn Schroeder Page A

end of the cave.”
    Lee said, “I draw my broad sword.”
    Reese added, “I have my arrows ready.”
    They each rolled their dice and then Reese slid hers over to Adam again. He rolled a five.
    Frankie laughed. “You just fell into a pit.”
    â€œBut we defeated the ogre,” Reese said.
    â€œHe didn’t complete his part of the mission,” Frankie said, pointing at Adam.
    Adam asked, “How deep is the pit?”
    â€œEight feet.”
    Frankie wanted him out of the picture. Adam knew there was something going on there. Lee and Chris didn’t seem bothered by his presence, but Frankie was a different story.
    â€œSo we rescue him,” Reese said. She winked at Lee. Seriously, a flirtatious wink. “Lower me down, would you?”
    Frankie wanted to argue with the unorthodox plan. It was like he had a picture of how things were supposed to go and if someone deviated from his concept, he got pissed off.
    It took three tries, but they rescued him. The game went on, and over the next couple of hours, Frankie had tried to kill Adam no fewer than four times. He’d only completed his mission to find the potion because Reese had been looking out for him.
    Adam waited by the door as Reese said her good-byes so he could walk out with her. Over the course of the night, he’d seen another side to her, but what he found interesting was that she was the writer everywhere. Even here, her purpose was to build story. She had fun and got caught up in the details, details that had been lacking in the first written story she’d given him.
    She gave Lee a huge hug and whispered something to him. Adam felt like a voyeur, but at the same time, he wanted to be close enough to eavesdrop. What did she have to say to Lee that she couldn’t say loud enough for everyone to hear? She hugged Chris too, but it was shorter, and when she pulled away, she told him to wish Kim good luck on her final. When she turned to Frankie, she just nodded and said good-bye.
    Adam held her coat out for her to slide into. “All set?”
    â€œYep.”
    They walked in silence down the flights of stairs. At the bottom, before going out into the cold, she said, “I should apologize.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFrankie.” She heaved out a sigh. “I really thought it’d be okay by now. He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
    That explained a whole lot about how his night had gone.
    Reese pulled her gloves on. “It’s been a long time, and we’ve continued to play the game every week. I’ve known these guys for years, and I didn’t want to leave the group because of my failed relationship with him.”
    â€œI’m guessing you’ve never brought another guy to the game, though.”
    â€œNo. And I should’ve thought of that. I figured we’d be okay since you and I aren’t . . . I mean, we’re friends. It’s not like I’d ask my new boyfriend to hang out with my ex. But Frankie’s Frankie.”
    â€œI had fun anyway.” He held the exterior door open for her.
    â€œYou did?”
    â€œYeah.” It was true. “I didn’t think I would, but watching you create a story on the fly like that was pretty amazing.”
    Her cheeks were pink and he didn’t know if it was the cold or if she was blushing, but it was cute.
    â€œCan I ask you something?”
    â€œShoot,” she said.
    â€œLyrid’s origin, well, Alexis’s story. How much of that is autobiographical?”
    They’d walked past his car and were nearly at hers. She bit her lip, but when her eyes met his, they were clear and sure.
    â€œIf you want to talk, get in the car. It takes forever for this beast to warm up.” She unlocked the doors and climbed in. He got in on the other side and waited.
    She started the engine and stared out the windshield at the brick building in front of them. “How’d you know?”
    â€œThere