Taming The Lockwood

Seventeen

I add a final brush stroke to the canvas, smiling to myself at the final result. It wasn't amazing, but it was a little better than what I had expected from myself.

I hadn't really had a particular vision for this piece, but once I had a colour palette set, my hands were seized by a power that guided me through. I'd gone for nude tones, with some strokes darker than others to emphasise the outline of a pregnant female. Her hands were clutched at the round bump of her belly, her head bowed modestly. She was sitting against the backdrop of a thousand other mirrored women with the same composure and air of gentleness surrounding them.

Thankfully when I had come back to my apartment, my art room was still in the same state I'd left it and was completely untouched. The walls were freshly painted white and dotted around the living area were new love sofas summoning the attention of everyone around. It was clear to see Gabriel had spent too much money on the interior, but when I had tried to mention it to him a couple of days ago, it had fallen on deaf ears.

I leave my paintings to dry, deciding to laze around for a short while until I can properly send them off to the charity event. Just as I lay down on the sofa, buried under a barrage of pillows, my phone lets out its shrill tone and I pick it up, forgetting to check the Caller ID.

"Hello?" My tone end up rising in a question.

"Nora!" Lilian's cheerful voice fills the line.

"Oh. Hi!" A warm smile crosses my face and I tuck my phone between my shoulder and ear for comfort.

"So what are you wearing to the charity event tonight?" She doesn't beat around the bush. I lift my legs in the air, moving my feet around in lazy circles.

Oh crap. I forgot. I had been too busy sorting out the plans that the prospect of finding an outfit hadn't been born in my mind.

"Erm." I let out a nervous laugh.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Her tone is all too knowing and I just grumble, unable to find a fair excuse to justify myself.

"Good thing I'm prepared," She responds smugly and I roll my eyes, though she can't see me, my smile twisting into an amused one. "There's a dress on the way for you. Well, there's two, but you can choose the one you prefer."

"Lili!" I exclaim, eyebrows furrowing. "You don't need to do that. I can wear that red dress from George's party, it's no bother."

"I already have. Besides it wasn't a bother. Now do you have a date?" This woman was my literal godmother.

There's silence between us for a couple of beats.

"Who?" She inquires, knowingly.

"W-well, I don't really know him well." I stammer out, her question forcing the words out of me.

"Nora Evans. Tell me right now, or I will come over there and throttle you." She sounds very demanding and I gulp nervously. I wouldn't put it past her to find a way to make her threat come true.

"I'm not sure. He works in the R&D department at work and we kind of just bumped into each other and got talking. He asked for my number and we've just been messaging back and forth since." I mumble bashfully, a red hue tinging my cheeks. We had accidentally rushed into each other and the contents of my charity event folder had fallen across the floor. He had helped me pick it all up and smoothly slipped in the question of being his date after seeing what was on the sheets. From what I was able to gather, he was an absolute gentleman with a boyish charm.

"His name?" She interrogates, not letting any of her thoughts free.

"Noah."

A picture of him roams into my mind. A mop of blonde curls sat atop his head enunciated by his dazzling hazel eyes which contrasted with Gabriel's green pair. He had dimples, slightly more prominent than Gabe's which only appeared whenever he didn't have his steely expression. I didn't know who I preferred more. Gabriel had a hard and sexy build whereas Noah's was more charming, gentile and slender.