Living Doll Boyfriend: Lancelot 2 (special preview)

“Get me at least three, and the kids and I will take them to Muna.” Lancelot says this and the kids all bounce and cheer. “Have you always liked drawing, Emberlie?”

I hug the sketch book close to my chest. I had never told anyone this before, but I want to tell Lancelot everything. “Even when I thought cleaning chimneys was all I was good for, I just wanted to draw.”

“I’ll go find you some colored pencils then. I think Mr. Faire may have some in his office.” He murmurs to himself and picks up Arty, placing him on his shoulders. “Why don’t you go to my tent?” He says and my insides start to panic again. “You’ll have more room there and you can work at my vanity.” He glances down to Ollie and Pepper. “Can I trust you two to get her there safely?”

Ollie and Pepper salute. “Yes, sir!”

“Then I trust you two, don’t fail me.” Lancelot smiles at them and beams up to me. “I’ll bring us some tea later.” He leaves with Arty, and then Ollie and Pepper help sneak me off to his tent.

Ollie and Pepper play cards on the bed while I sit at the vanity and sketch. I don’t know much about costumes. I barely know anything about clothes aside from some scarves and overalls. I go over to the rack of clothes I had crashed through when I first met Lancelot. I touch each outfit, feeling the fabric between my fingers, counting each button, and seeing how each piece went together. I sit back down, taking to the page.

I think about things that would make Lancelot shine, clothes I would want to see on him. Soon, I have several pages filled with sketches and ideas. Lancelot comes in, carrying two steaming mugs. He sets one down beside me and, instinctively, I move my arm to hide what I am drawing.

“Here,” Lancelot holds out to me a rainbow in his fist. “I found these. Will they help?”

I take the bundle of colored pencils, almost near tears at the sight of them. They are so beautiful, how am I supposed to use these?

“Yeah,” I gasp. “Thank you.” I gaze up at him, wondering what the small smile on his lips could possibly mean. I set back to work, coloring in the few sketches I had already done. When they are finished, I tear them from the book and pass them over to Lancelot. But when I do, I see him asleep with Ollie, Pepper, and Arty. I lay the pages back down and go over to the bed. I brush Lancelot’s hair from his face, admiring how lovely he is. He makes my heart ache. I want him so badly, but I know, with how I look, I will never come close.

I crawl into the bed beside him, snuggling with Pepper as she rolls over to me. I lay beside Lancelot, admiring him until I fall asleep with them as well. In the morning, I feel a cool breeze and, as I wake up, I see that I have curled into Lancelot’s side. His arm is around me and his fingers are in my dirty hair. I dare not move, terrified I will wake him and the kids with us. I don’t want Lancelot to wake up and I have to see the disgusted expression on his face.