Page 135 of Left on Read

“Maybe chill mode?”

“Perfect.” I stood and made a shooing motion. “You go chill in the living room while I clean up.”

“I don’t mind helping.”

“I’ve got it.” I waved my hand at the door. “Go relax.”

He pursed his lips like he was going to argue with me.

“Out. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” He darted around the table and gave my ass a playful smack as he ran into the living room.

Laughing at his good mood and antics, I cleaned up the rest of our mess. When I was done, I joined River in the living room.

He was bent over his sketchbook, his pencil scratching over the paper. He looked up as I came into the room, a big smile on his face. “All done?”

“Yup.” I perched on the couch next to him. “Do you want to draw for a bit?”

“No.” He slid his pencil into the coil at the top of the sketchbook. “I was just doodling.” He went to put the book on the coffee table.

“Don’t put that away yet.”

He paused, his arm hovering in midair.

“Come with me. And bring that with you. I want to show you something. I have a surprise, and a project I’d like you to help me with.”

“Okaaay.” He stood, shooting me a puzzled look.

Taking his other hand, I led him upstairs to my den.

I’d spent the last few days working on my surprise. I hoped he liked it.

“Ta-da!” I said, sweeping my free arm around the room theatrically.

River bit his lip, his eyes on the desk and cabinet I’d set up across from my bookshelves.

“It’s an art corner. You said you’ve never had a dedicated space where you can work or keep all your supplies. I want you to have one. And I thought it would be nice if we had a space we could use together.” I pointed to the matching desk I’d put in the opposite corner. “I’ve needed a proper work area for ages.”

“You set up an art corner for me in your house?” he asked, his voice soft and a bit thready.

“Yeah. I want you to be comfortable when you’re here. Your art is important to you. You should have a place that’s just yours where you can do what you love.”

“This is.” He cleared his throat. “This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“I have another surprise.”

“Another?”

“Well, not really a surprise. But remember when you told me you haven’t been able to find that brand of sketchbooks you like for the past few years?”

He nodded.

“I asked the art teacher at my school if he’d ever heard of them or knew if there were any still for sale. He tracked down an art supply store that still had some in stock.”

“You got me a new sketchbook?”

“More like all the sketchbooks.”