Chapter 21

Leslie pressed her lips together, focused as she put the final touches on her drawing. A slender hand next to hers lightly cupped the face of Broderick in the sketch, and finally, Leslie let out a quiet sigh. That one stroke Miles had messed up-she managed to fix it. A soft, pleased smile tugged at her lips. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the image of Broderick with an almost dreamy look. Broderick stood there, his eyes unreadable. After a pause, he softly knocked on the door. The sudden sound startled Leslie. As soon as she saw it was Broderick, her eyes lit up instantly, bright like stars. She jumped up and ran straight over to him, excitedly tugging him to the easel. "Ricky, look! I drew you." Back then, Broderick had wanted so badly for her to make a portrait of him, but she never did. Haunted by that regret, Leslie wanted nothing more than to see him smile now. "I spent five hours on it," she said earnestly. "It's my first portrait-I swear I'll get better next time." "Don