Chapter 166

Megan's POV

It was pleasantly warm inside the studio, but that vague sense of unease remained. I couldn't shake off the scene with Miles out of my mind and now, stepping into this entirely different environment, I was from my element. The colors were all overly bright, and the art/tat overly eclectic but I still felt out of place.

"Hey, Megan, right?" Max's voice sliced through my thoughts.

I turned to see him standing beside his canvas, a friendly smile on his face. His presence was reassuring and stood in stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside.

"Yeah, that's me," I said, trying to force a smile. "Just trying to get a lay of the land."

Max nodded, observing me in a glance that seemed full of curiosity and sympathy. "It's normal to feel that way. This place can be overwhelming at first."

It was actually rather endearing. "Thank you, Max. I suppose I'm just not used to being here right now."

Max chuckled just slightly. "