Page 9 of Stroked
“I’ll drop the attitude. And thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Let me finish eating, then I’ll go do it. May as well get it done so you’ll leave me alone.”
“You like this man? Really?” I asked as I leaned toward Lucy. She tucked her lips in to keep from laughing but shook her head at me to stop. “Just kidding, you’re a fine specimen of the male species.”
He finally cracked a grin without an eyeroll, so I’d accept that as a win.
After we all stuffed our faces, they both took a few minutes to shower and change, so I looked around. I had only ever been inside the door briefly and that was pre-cohabitation.
Luce had already sprinkled her touch around the apartment. It was a one bedroom, but it was much bigger than ours and in a nicer building. Not that ours was bad. Mine.Myapartment andmybuilding. This would take getting used to. But her pictures were spread around, some of her books, CDs, and knick knacks around various tables and nooks. This was her new home.
I walked over to the side table in the living room, and there was a pic of the two of them from the night they got engaged at the club. Both of them looked so happy. He looked at her like she walked on water. And she looked at him like he was the sun shining down on her. I took that picture. I remembered that night. Suddenly, all the bad feelings I had the last few days melted away.
This was right. They were right. I was happy for them. I guess I just needed a reminder that she wasn’t leaving me, she was starting a life with him.
The crazy girl that I practically lived with since we were sixteen, the first one I came out to, the one who decided we would go to the same college and be roomies, the one who was there when I was assaulted and took care of me, the one there after my crazy college girlfriend, all the nights partying, all the nights laughing, all the nights snacking at midnight when I brought home appetizers from the restaurant, the one who told me never to give up on my art gallery dream job, the one who never judged me for my non-relationships, the one by my side for ten years, that girl was growing up. I didn’t want to stand in the way of that.
I heard the door and they both came out, holding hands. He was still looking at her like she walked on water, and she still looked at him like he was the sun shining down.
I rolled my eyes, then said, “Okay, gross, let’s go before I see something I can’t unsee.” I was still me, and they were gross, happy or not.
We walked back to my apartment; they were hand in hand. So much PDA all the time. I may have been happy for them, but it was still too much. I had to distract myself.
“So, last night was pretty awesome at the club.”
Lucy looked over at me with a renewed brightness in her eyes. “It was! That band started in a garage, then posted to Youtube. And they have a cult following. Best part, they’re local! I told Val we need to get them back soon. I need to move fast. When they get huge, they may not return.”
The mention of Val made my pulse speed up some.
“Hey, you okay?” Lucy asked.
I shook my head and snapped out of my trance. Why the hell did I keep doing that?
“Yeah, sorry. Just tired.”
“How’s the gallery? Any new exhibits coming up? I keep telling Jason we need to expand our horizons. Do something besides the club.”
“And each other,” I cracked with a chuckle. Luce rolled her eyes, but Jason chuckled, too. “Actually, yeah. Thursday, we have a preview of the upcoming exhibit. It’s gonna be really beautiful. A ton of work for me, though. The artist has a lot to show. If you want, I’ll put you down on the list.”
Lucy looked at Jason and he asked, “What do I have to wear?”
“Don’t worry, you can be entrepreneur-chic. Plus, I’ll put you on my VIP list, so you can wear whatever you want. Just bring Lucy,” I said as I smiled. Jason was a businessman but he was also not very stylish, and art galleries weren’t his thing.
“Sounds fun. Iwilldress up. I assume there will be champagne?” Lucy asked.
“Champagne and tapas. Which means one glass and two itty bitty appetizers that look like flowers and grass. Doors open at six, so you may want to get dinner first so Jason doesn’t get hangry.” Luce and I laughed at that.
As much as I loved the glamor of my new job, it was funny how we could charge so much for so little. But the crowds the new exhibits attracted didn’t care about that; it was a status symbol for them. The fun part was after the opening, when people came to see new art with no pretension, just joy and wonder. Watching date night at the gallery had become a new pastime of mine. Watching people explore art and its meaning together could always give insight on how long they’d been together. And when field trips came, that was always a mix of excitement and nervousness. Kids saw the world through a different lens, but they also wanted to touch everything. Not good when the pieces were upwards of hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars. We hadn’t had any six figure pieces since I started, but a girl could dream.
Chapter 7
Amy
We made it to my apartment and, as suspected, Jason was easily able to move the desk. Although, it was a bit tricky getting it through the bedroom doors. Luce and I had to pitch in for that part, but it got done and the desk was placed exactly where I wanted it.
“We gotta run. I have a few things to handle in the office and won’t have time tomorrow because I’ll be at the station,” Lucy said as she stretched. Even though Jason did most of the work, I was feeling the effects of helping, too. I took a big stretch myself and Jason gently laughed at us.
“Hey, watch yourself if you want to finish what Amy interrupted this morning,” Lucy joked.
