Page 64 of Various Intentions
“Why don’t I go upstairs and run the bath? There’s room for both of you, if it’s all right with Juno,” I said.
“Hmm. Can I trust Vincent to keep his hands off Charles?”
“I don’t have a problem taking a bath with Charles, and yes, I can keep my hands to myself. You know I’m not a huge slut, right?” Vincent said to Juno.
“I’m so sorry. All I’ve been hearing from Nic is how much of a slut youare, Vincent. And I mean that in entirely a flattering way. I think all boys should be sluts, at least in their twenties. I certainly was—back when I was a ‘boy’.”
Charles gazed, fascinated, at Juno. “Really, Juno?”
“But of course I was. I highly recommend it. Although I’d prefer you to only be slutty with me.”
I took Vincent and Charles upstairs while Matteo and Taylor entertained Juno. We had moved the real coffee table back into place, and Matteo had said something about tea. I kissed Vincent and gave a salute to Charles.
“Soak as long as you’d like. You did very well down there.”
Once I got back to the living room, Juno was engaged in a discussion with Matteo of abstract art. The teapot had been brought out and teacups distributed. I poured myself some tea and listened.
“So, what makes one painting art and another one not art?” Matteo asked.
“Well, that is the tricky question. As long as a work is created by a human being, with the intention of expressing some kind of feeling or idea, it is considered art.”
“So it doesn’t matter how long an individual spends on a particular piece or project, it automatically becomes art when they create something?”
“Yes. Of course, that doesn’t mean it isgoodart.”
“Well…yes. That’s the thing. Who gets to decide if something is good or not?”
“That, I’m afraid, is a question that hasn’t really been answered yet,” Juno commented, sipping from their glass of sparkling water. “It could be the market, but we know lots of art that is now considered to be good was not valued highly when it was created. Like Picasso, for instance. People thought he was mad.”
“Bipolar, I thought,” I said, sitting down and grabbing a chip out of the bowl that had been returned to the wooden coffee table.
“Sometimes a dash of mental illness can add to the creativity, don’t you know.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t have guessed.”
Chapter Eleven
Daphne had gone out with Alexander a number of times, and I knew their relationship was progressing well. I couldn’t believe Daphne had found someone who could tolerate all her quirks and peculiarities, but Alexander seemed to thrive off her unstable energy. I think it turned him on, that she was a whirlwind of adventure and experience.
From what Daphne had said the last time we’d spoken, they had resumed the Dom/sub dynamic that they’d had when Alexander had been Daphne’s client, except that now he wasn’t paying her—at least, not directly and not with money. He’d lavished her with material things, and it seemed she was enjoying that part of the relationship. I couldn’t blame her. She was living her best life, and I was happy for her.
But I didn’t expect her to call me up three days before our gallery event and tell me they were getting married.
“What?”I shouted into the empty house. Taylor was with Riley, and Matteo and Vincent had gone to pay a quick visit to Juno and Charles. I was tired from an intense day at work, so I’d begged off. I’d been sitting with my feet on the coffee table, but after hearing what Daphne had said, I sat up and planted them firmly on the floor. “Repeat, please. What are you saying?”
“Alexander and I are getting married. Aren’t you happy for me, Nic?” Daphne was breathless with excitement.
“Well, I—um… I guess?” Her announcement had caught me off guard. They’d only been officially together for a couple of months. “It seems a little quick?” I ran my fingers through my hair and decided it was long overdue for a cut.
“Yes, I know. It is quick, I admit that. But, Nic, he’s perfect for me. And I’m perfect for him. We fit, you know? Like you and Vincent and Matteo.”
I laughed. “Butwe’renot married.”
Daphne hesitated. “Would you marry them if you could?”
Wow, that was not a question I thought I’d be answering tonight.When I considered what Daphne was asking, I had to give her an honest answer.
“I don’t know.”
