Secrets and Lies 2 Read Online Free Page B

and lust, the craving for human touch. If I’d gone to school in New York, models wouldn’t be a problem. There are tons of them, but down here, people don’t consider posing nude to be art. They consider it a one-way ticket to Hell.  
    The classroom is dark, but I push open the door and step inside. “Dr. Jax?” I call out hoping he’s in the back storeroom, but there’s no answer.  
    At the front of the classroom there’s a barstool on a small stage. I’m guessing that’s my spot. I get to sit on a stool for three hours. Fun. Not to mention it’s going to make my body look like a rectangle and obliterate every curve I have. Screw this. I’m not sitting on a stool. If I’m doing this, I’m doing it right. I toss my bag on a desk and head to the back. Flipping on the storeroom light I blink, adjusting to the shaft of yellow that cuts across the dark floor. I dig around in boxes looking for something that would pass as a Grecian robe, but no luck. All the scraps of fabric are scraps, and too skinny or too narrow to hide much.  
    “What am I going to do?” I put my arm on the shelf and lean into it, burying my face. I’d been telling myself to take things one day at a time, one problem at a time, and I could handle things. But now everything is threatening to bubble up. I didn’t cry over Matt and Mom, over Mom and Dad. Last night I stared at the ceiling for hours, unable to sleep. Now it’s late and I’m exhausted. Maybe this was a bad idea. I can’t tell anymore. I want them to take me seriously, but each new challenge, each old wound makes it increasingly harder for me to think.  
    With all the thoughts echoing in my head, I don’t hear him approach. “I was wondering the same thing.”
    That voice makes me jump. I whirl around and come face-to-face with Nathan. I’m so startled, I screech and girly slap him on the arm. “Don’t sneak up on people! What’s wrong with you?”
    He grins. “Sorry, I was looking for Jax, but to my surprise I found you.” All the amusement slips off his face. “What’s wrong?” He’s wearing ripped jeans, boots, and a tight, dark shirt. I’m wearing the girl version of his outfit, but I doubt I look that hot.
    I don’t want to tell him what’s up, but he’s going to find out if he’s here for the class. I’d rather he knew now. “I’m the model. I’m just not sure I can pull this off.”
    “Having second thoughts?” He’s serious and the normal teasing tone of his voice vanishes. I nod. He looks me over and then steps closer, lowering his voice. “You know you’re beautiful, right? Is that the problem?”
    I can’t help it. I smile at him. My eyes dart away. “Thank you, but that’s not it.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and try to find the right words. “They put a stool up there for me. I thought it would be more of a little vignette, not naked girl perched on stool.”
    Smiling he walks toward the stool and lifts it. “So, let’s change things up and make it something you’re more comfortable with.”
    “We can do that?”
    He nods and heads toward the little stage. “No one will mind. I mean, seriously, how many times can you happily draw an old naked guy on a stool? A set change would be great and Jax won’t care as long as there’s a model.” He offers a supportive grin and touches my arm lightly. “Come on, let’s make you look like an old masters’ model, set and all.”
    I agree and follow him around, pulling out things we can use to make it more interesting. He explains that I’ll end up in this pose for a few weeks, so it should be good, and most of all, comfortable. “I think you should use this.” He’s all the way at the back of the closet, tugging on something taller than he is.  
    “What is it?”
    “An old chaise lounge. Help me get it down. I don’t want to drop it and break off one of the legs.” I stare for a second. “Come on. It’s better than the stool.”
    “Agreed.”  
    We manage to get the