“If you come across any other stories that might be worthy of some newspaper time, give me a call.”
She handed me her card, and immediately, I started thinking about Bryan and his homeless projects and his community outreach and how it was all fueled by the death of his brother and how John had died. The newspapers and media around town would eat him alive to produce that story.
But my gallery had many media-friendly angles showcasing John’s work. How John connected Bryan and me. How the same inspiration for my art gallery and the passion I had to showcase his work was the same inspiration Bryan used for his community outreach. Two businesses connected by one philosophy that stemmed from one person.
It was one of those stories that made national headlines.
But all of them involved Bryan and involved his cooperation, and I knew he wasn’t into boasting about what he was doing. It was one of the many things that made me fall in love with him. Even if I could get him on board for it, I still didn’t know if he would go for it. I couldn’t tell this woman any of the wonderful things he did or how his brother inspired all of this without betraying Bryan further.
He’d never forgive me if I did something like that, and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t give the story to a reporter who felt compelled to go through my shit and ask shady questions before introducing herself.
“Thank you, Miss Skyles. If I hear of any, I’ll call you,” I said.
“Wonderful. Have a nice day, Miss ...?”
“Ryan. Hailey Ryan.”
“Have a nice day, Miss Hailey Ryan.”
A few people were walking around the gallery and checking out the price tags on the paintings. They were smiling and enjoying themselves, and a few kids were running around the floor and asking if they could buy some stuff while they were here. At any other moment in time, it would’ve put a smile on my face, but all I could think about was Bryan. I missed him, and suddenly my heart was slipping to my toes.
I wondered what he was up to and how his business was going. I wondered how those homeless men who worked on this gallery were doing and if they’d gone on to find other jobs. I wondered how he was doing at night, and I wondered if he had hung the painting I gave him.
But most of all, I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him.
He doesn’t miss you. You’re a liar. No one misses liars.
For once, I succumbed to the voice in my head. I plastered a smile on my face and started answering questions that customers were slinging my way, and I made three sales in the thirty minutes I was out on the floor. I ushered them all out of the gallery, wishing them a good day while the kids cheered and ranted about their new paint colors. Then, I sat back down on my stool and picked up my brush.
I almost had the finishing touches done on this portrait of Bryan, and then it would be ready to stash in the storage unit with the rest of them.
Chapter 5
Bryan
“So, how did this gig with us switch?” Drew asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this whole thing where you spend more time in the office than I do. How did that happen?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Just did, I guess.”
“Still got Hailey on your mind?” he asked.
“Seriously? You’re gonna say her name, just like that?”
“I’ll take that as a hard ‘yes’. Dude, I’m really sorry about all that shit. It’s messed up as hell. You really had something good with her, and I really liked her sister.”
“Yeah, we all know you did,” I said, grinning.
“Hey. I’m a gentleman. None of that stuff happened.”
“Wait, you didn’t sleep with Anna?” I asked.
“Nah, dude. That night when we split ways after the fireworks, we just went back to Hailey’s apartment and had wine and talked. She isn’t ashamed of drinking the cheap stuff, man. It was awesome. I enjoy a woman who owns up to her stuff without shame.”
“If only the apple didn’t fall far from the tree,” I said.