Liam laughs one of those nights and refills me. He turns to the room, to the people shooting us curious glances. "They're not staring 'cause you're a freakshow."
"Thanks for stating it in such beautiful terms."
"My pleasure. You are a freakshow. But not because of this situation." He motions to my face. "Girls like guys with scars. Shows character."
"Does it?"
"Yeah. You need the photographic evidence?" He motions to the photo in the middle. Me and Danielle. Her naked body against my clothed one. "It's right in front of your beautiful face."
"Don't."
"Don't speak the truth? You know I'm not capable of that." He finishes his glass and refills it. "I haven't said anything, because I know you. I know it won't help. But you're gonna fuck up a good thing here. And I don't want to see that."
"How is that?"
"Maybe you're not ready to step into a room full of pretentious art assholes staring at you," he says. "But you need to be ready with her. Or you're gonna lose her. And nobody wants to see that."
He's right.
He's often right. But he always expresses his points in the most offensive way possible.
People miss the insight.
Liam nods hello to someone.
Danielle steps between a couple. She smiles at Liam, then her attention turns to me. Every molecule of it.
She bites her lip. Lets out a schoolgirl giggle. One that can only mean I really, really like you.
It brings me back to Earth.
I can feel my feet on the ground.
She crosses the room to us, wraps her arms around my waist, brings her lips to mine.
She tastes so fucking good, like red wine and Danielle.
Need overwhelms my senses. Nothing else matters. Nothing else has ever mattered.
She pulls back with a heady sigh. "Mmm. I'm glad you're here." Her palm curls around my neck. "I'm not used to this much staring. Are you okay? It's a lot."
"It is."
"You don't have to stay if it's—"
"You'll have to tear me away," I say.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
For once, I am. "Positive." I don't care how much this hurts. I need to be here for her moment.
"Liam." She turns to him and nods hello. "Where's Briar?"
"She isn't my shadow," he says.
"Couldn't bear to let her see photos of a more attractive man?" she teases.
"Danielle, you gotta know you're daring me with that," he says.
"Am I?" she asks.
He nods and tugs at his tie. "One more word and this is coming off."
"What will that do?" she asks.
"Then the buttons," he says.
"You're just going to unbutton your shirt?" she asks.
"Just unbutton my shirt?" He feigns insult. "And you're just wearing a dress." He motions to her low neckline. "And you're just showing off photographs."
She smiles.
"What is that? Danielle! You're killing me here," he says.
She kisses him on the cheek. "Thanks for coming."
"She's learning your tricks," I say.
"I have new tricks," he says. "I never run out."
She laughs. "Thanks for distracting me. I need it. You're sweet."
"Sweet? No, that's not the image I'm curating here," he says.
She mimes pulling a zipper over her lips. "Our secret."
He mimes wiping the sweat from his brow. "You need to mingle more?"
She nods. "People always want to talk to the photographer."
"Especially when they can see her tits," he says.
She flushes. "Especially then."
"Any sales?" he asks.
"A few interested parties," she says. "If you want to put in a bid, I'd do it now."
"No, I'd never get anything done with those on my wall," he says. "Besides, Adam would kill me."
"Is he going to kill whoever buys them?" she asks.
"Just me," he stage whispers. "He's been waiting for an excuse for, oh, twenty-seven years now."
She laughs. "I really like you, Liam."
He has no idea what to do with the sincerity. He freezes.
"You're so much like Remy."
"Danielle!" He mimes being stabbed in the gut again. "Is he here?"
"He was. He's grabbing more wine for me." She beams. "It's busier than I expected. We're almost finished with our supply."
"You're popular," he says.
"Yeah. We are." Her eyes meet mine. She moves closer. Pulls me into another slow, deep kiss.
The rest of the world disappears. It's only the two of us, melting together, in some perfect place where everything makes sense.
Then she pulls back and we're still here, in this busy gallery, all eyes on the two of us.
It's strange.
But it's like the apartment. It's not as hard with her next to me.
"I do need to mingle." Her fingers brush my wrist. "Take care of him for me, okay, Liam?"
"He needs some sex tips. I get it." He winks at her.
She smiles, squeezes my hand one more time, returns to the crowd.
He watches her talk with an older couple in designer clothes. "She's in her element, huh?"
She is. Bright, animated, vibrant. Her passion fills the entire room.
"And damn, everyone looking at these pictures all night. I bet she's fucking soaked already."
"Fuck off."
He chuckles too easy. "You are planning on fucking her senseless after this?"