Every vase and pot in riotous colors is displayed perfectly. Every bowl, plate, and cup sings against the neutral background.
It’s my first solo exhibition, and up until now, I’ve been so busy preparing for it that I haven’t had a moment to reflect on what a big moment this is for me. All the days I spent scratching around for contacts, trying to get my work in front of the right people so that it would receive the recognition that I hoped it deserved, now feels so close. The days I doubted myself and my choices are still there like a shadow, but I try and push it all away because negativity is like a lasso, tugging backward.
“Be positive,” Tobias always tells me. He has such a passion for life and a can-do attitude. Maybe it comes from sports, where relentless optimism is the only way to succeed, or maybe it’s just his innate sunny personality.
So, today I’m taking a leaf out of Tobias’s book and focusing on how awesome everything is.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I reply with a broad smile.
“You’re going to sell out in a flash,” Molly says, beaming happily. “You better be ready to work your fingers to the bone producing all the orders you’re going to get tonight.”
“I was born ready,” I say, puffing out my chest.
Molly giggles and then approaches to pull me into a fierce hug. “You deserve it all, honey. All the success. All the adoration. All the love.”
“Love?” a voice says from the doorway. “What’d we miss?”
Tobias lumbers forward, followed by River, then Danny and Alden, and finally Mark. They’re all dressed in suits, and for a moment, my mouth hangs open at the overwhelming sight of so much unbelievable hotness. Molly turns to them and then looks back at me, using her hand to gently raise my chin. “Seriously, girl. They’re hot, okay? But you’ve got to get better about not fucking them with your eyes in public.”
“She can fuck us with her eyes any time she likes,” Alden says to his best friend, but he’s not focused on us. He’s staring around the gallery with utter fascination.
“This place looks unbelievable. Seriously, Cora, when did you have time to produce all this?”
“In between all the fucking,” I say seriously, and everyone splutters with laughter.
“It’s awesome,” Danny says. He’s the first to step in to press a kiss on my mouth. The first to taste the cherry ChapStick I smeared over my lips a few minutes ago. “You taste like a teenage boy’s wet dream,” he whispers against the shell of my ear.
“Later, if you’re really good,” I whisper so that no one else can hear. “I’ll make your cock taste like ChapStick too.”
“Fuck,” Danny mutters, his whole body stiffening. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about him, it’s that his favorite thing about sex is when I get on my knees for him. And believe me, nothing makes me happier than the look of surrender I see in his eyes as I stare up at him with my mouth full.
“Less of the dirty talk,” Mark mutters, taking my elbow gently and drawing me into an embrace, which is followed by a tender press of his lips to my crown. “You’ve done an amazing job,” he says. “We’re all so proud of you.”
My heart swells with an ever-expanding balloon of happiness as all my men gather around to shower me with affection. By the time River is seducing me with a deep and sensual kiss, Molly is clearing her throat.
“You know that some people aren’t that comfortable with public displays of affection?” she mutters, striding away with a flamboyant swing to her hips that I know is all for hilarious effect.
“So,” River smiles as he meets my slightly woozy gaze. “How long do we have to hang out here? Because we’ve got a big surprise for you, and I’m kind of struggling to hold it in.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Alden growls, his hand flying up as if attempting to stop traffic.
“Surprise?” I cock my head to the side and wiggle my eyebrows at River. “Tell me, baby. You know you want to.”
“Don’t do that to him!” Alden says, tugging River away. “You know he can’t resist your baby blues.”
“They’re my weakness,” River admits, shrugging as though he doesn’t care one bit.
“You know...” Molly calls from the back. “I could really do with some help pouring the champagne.”
“Champagne?” Mark says, and I can see how his eyes drift up that he’s already calculating the cost of such an expense.
“It’s a gift from your dad,” I say, and all heads swivel in my direction.
“Randolph sent champagne?” Tobias asks in disbelief.
“He sure did,” Molly confirms. “Enough to sink a small ship, and we’re going to drink it all.”
“Maybe leave some for the guests,” I laugh. “I don’t want to have to take you to the hospital to get your stomach pumped.”