Chapter 15

Tessa watched in alarm as Munchie, the mischievous kitten, knocked over a bucket of paint. She quickly scooped the kitten up and gave its head a gentle bop with a soft, mock fist. She said, "You're disrupting the great artist's creativity!" Munchie let out a defiant meow, and just like that, the two were bickering like old friends. Edison set down his brush and watched them, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips. The once quiet and empty studio was suddenly filled with life. Tessa placed Munchie outside the studio door and let out a long breath before crouching down to organize the scattered buckets of paint. "I've got it," Edison said, kneeling down beside her to help. Suddenly, both of their hands landed on the same paint bucket. Tessa's face flushed red instantly. She pulled her hand back quickly, but his long, slender fingers pressed down on hers before she could move. Years of painting had left a fine callus on Edison's fingertips, and she could feel every ridge