Page 57 of Uriah's Orbit
Shaking his head, he said, “No. I can’t. Not tonight. I have to be at the studio in the morning for another session.”
“Damn,” I whispered.
“Take me to dinner,” he said. “Just you and me.”
“I can’t,” I said. “Not yet.”
Pausing for a moment, and fiddling with the portfolio, he nodded. “I understand. So then, drinks on Sunday night?”
“Uri—”
“Nope, not going to talk about this now. I need to go home and sleep.”
“When can we talk?”
“Sunday. Drinks.”
I slumped a little. Point taken. No more than I deserved, really.
Tossing a look over his shoulder, he could see we were alone in this room. He grasped my chin and pulled me close. “No public displays, remember. But don’t think for an instant that I don’t want to kiss the shit out of your mouth.”
I wanted that too. I wanted more than that. But he was right. He had a job to do that had him getting to the studio early in the day. It was probably way past his bedtime, and my dirty thoughts would have kept him up later.
“Your brother showed me your art,” I said, in what was the lamest attempt ever to keep him in my apartment.
“I don’t paint anymore,” he said.
“Yeah, but your brother has all the pictures on his phone. You’re talented, Uri.”
He blinked at me and grabbed the folio. “I know. This is my work now. I have to go. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
He leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the lips and then ghosted out of the room.
I looked up and through the tears in my eyes, I saw Noah shaking his head as he followed his brother out of the apartment.
We’d barely talked all night.
* * *
I saton the barstool next to Uriah and smiled at him. He had his hand wrapped around a drink of some kind, and he looked tired.
“Hey,” I said, trying to be as upbeat as possible.
He glanced over and gave me a half assed smile. “Hi.”
“How was the session?”
“Long.” He sighed.
Two barely legal-drinking-age girls tittered next to me, and finally leaned over. “Can we get your autograph?”
I could see Uriah out of the corner of my eye, watching me with them. Once I nodded the brown haired girl pulled out the newest ULDR album from her purse and held it out.
“You guys are all just so amazing,” she whispered. “Your new music is just dreamy. I am so happy that you all can really play. It’s like a fairy tale.”
Her friend pulled out the Playbill from the show. She flipped it open to where my picture was and handed me a marker. “You were amazing up there, I swear I must have had an orgasm atThe Messenger.”
Now I had questions that I didn’t want in my head. That song was a eulogy to their love and she was getting off on it? Er…
