Page 37 of Puck Drop
“Not for lack of trying,” he huffs. “Aunt Kathy’s making it worse for me, I think. Gives girls the impression that I am some momma’s boy.”
I let him talk for a while, buying myself some time before he asks me again about Elizabeth. While he goes on and on about his aunt and the life he left behind in New York, I go over my situation with Elizabeth. I understand why she’s worried about losing her job. At the same time, she doesn’t even like what she’s doing, so who cares if they let her go.
But she told me that she couldn’t afford not to have this job. Her father is not paying for her life here, in Texas. She should focus on her art, I think to myself. She could sell her pieces. She’svery talented, and if she hits the ground running, she could be very successful selling her creations.
“Do you know of any art galleries?” I ask Sebastian.
He stops rambling on about his lack of a relationship and just stares at me.
“That’s got nothing to do with what I was just saying,” he informs me. “Is this about the girl?”
I have no idea how in the hell he connected the dots so easily. I guess I am a lot more obvious than I thought. I might as well tell him what I got in mind.
“She hates this job she’s doing,” I explain to Sebastian. “She loves painting, I know that for sure.”
I expect him to give me a hard time at first, but I am surprised when he nods pensively.
“What does she paint?” he asks.
“Uh, paintings.”
“Like what?” he insists. “Abstract painting? Portraits? Acrylic? Watercolor?”
He shoots all these questions at me, and I have no idea how to answer. I try to think back to when Elizabeth showed me a few of her pieces when we first started seeing each other. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much.
“I’m not sure,” I tell my friend. “I don’t know anything about art.”
“And you want to do what?” Sebastian teases. “Buy her a gallery?”
I snort in laughter at hearing his tone. “No, fucker. I was just thinking how I could help her. I hate that she’s not happy at her job.”
He stares at me for the longest time. “Are you actually in love with this girl?”
My mouth goes dry and sweat instantly breaks down my spine. After that night in New York City when I told Elizabeththat I loved her, I never said those words to her again. I see the disappointment in her eyes every time she thinks I’ll do it but for some unknown reason pull back.
Sebastian starts laughing. “Can I just tell you how fucked up this whole thing is?”
“In what way?” I manage to croak out the words.
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “You have a fling in New York that almost finishes your career before it could even take off properly…”
I nod at that although, I don’t quite agree with the fling part. It was more than that.
“You end up in Texas, and she follows you here,” Sebastian continues. “She doesn’t even give you a heads up,” he laughs again. “Now you’re sitting here telling me you want to buy her a gallery so she can show her art that you’re not exactly sure what type it is.”
“I’m not buying her a damn gallery,” I snap at him. “I only asked if you knew of one. I didn’t ask how I can buy one.”
Sebastian waves me off. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re even saying anymore. Besides…” He turns more in his seat so he could stare me down. “Why did you just pretend like you didn’t know her? And right after you about ran right to her.”
“Because she asked me not to tell anyone,” I whisper yell at him as I look around to make sure no one is listening to us.
“What?” he laughs some more. “So you didn’t want to tell anyone before, and now it’s her who wants it to be a secret? After you changed your mind and want to make it official?”
I roll my eyes. “I know how it sounds…”
“Fucked up,” Sebastian cuts me off. “It sounds fucked up. And that’s not how normal people date.”
“Says the guy who can’t get a date to save his life,” I deadpan. He seems to take offense to that.
