Leah and I walked in and made a slow circle around the gallery. But it was Leah who spotted Devlin’s work. She gasped and grabbed my hand. “Oh, my God.”
“What?” I said, looking around in alarm.
“Look,” Leah pointed.
I looked in the direction she was staring, and my breath caught as I saw my own image reflected back at me. The painting was a new one, however. I had never seen it before. Devlin had used every color imaginable to create my face. I was looking to the side like I was avoiding everyone’s gaze but the way he had captured me made it look like I was not of this world. I looked ethereal and mystical and the way my shadow was cast made it look like I had wings.
“Damn,” Leah said, as we approached the painting for a closer look. “I wish there was a man out there who saw me this way.”
I couldn’t speak. All I could do was stare up at my face, touched that Devlin had created something so beautiful in my image. If this was really how he saw me, then I couldn’t have been more flattered.
“You ok?” Leah asked me.
I nodded wordlessly.
“Do you regret coming tonight?” Leah asked, watching me carefully.
I smiled and shook my head. “No,” I said. “I’m really glad I came.”
I looked around, but I couldn’t see Devlin anywhere. I couldn’t leave now without seeing him, without saying something to him. At that moment I turned and caught sight of him. He was standing a few feet away talking to a posh looking couple that reminded me of the type of people his parents might be friends with. For all I knew, they probably were friends of his parents.
He was wearing a black suit, with a white open-collared shirt. He looked suave and cool and extremely handsome, and I felt my heart falter in my chest.
“Wow,” I heard Leah say in the background. “He’s even more handsome in person. Go say hi.”
I felt her nudge me, but I didn’t move. I was frozen in place, wondering what I should do. Just as I was trying to figure that out, Devlin looked up and caught sight of me. He stared for a moment, looking almost surprised to see that I had turned up and then a slow smile spread across his face. He excused himself and started walking towards me. It was like the world was fading away and there was nothing and no one but Devlin.
And that was when I knew… I was in trouble.
37
Devlin
“Fuck,” I said, breathing heavily. “Fuck me.”
“I’d rather not,” Zack said, giving me a cheeky grin.
“What do I even wear?” I asked.
“Um, you’re asking me?” Zack said.
“You’re the only one here,” I pointed out.
“This basement is dingy as fuck,” Zack said, looking around. “Honestly… fifty dollars is steep for this shithole.”
“It’s the best I can do ok… until I get a real job that is.”
“You can always stay with me,” Zack offered.
“I appreciate that,” I said. “But I don’t know how long before I can afford a place of my own, and I don’t want to put you out like that.”
“Well the offer stands if you change your mind,” Zack said.
I nodded gratefully, and for a moment I was actually tempted to take him up on that offer. The basement that was currently my hole was just as Zack had said: a complete shithole. It was a tiny space, made smaller by the sofa that doubled as my bed and the boxes that I had placed everywhere with all my stuff and most of my paintings. I had actually stored a few with Zack because I didn’t have room for all my work in this basement.
There was no natural light coming in either, only two bulbs on either side of the space that shone a pale, sickly yellow light down on us. I did have a small bathroom to myself however, and there was a separate exit on the side, which meant I could come and go as I pleased without having to interact with anyone who lived in the actual house.
I had moved in only two days ago, and I was already depressed. Which was why I was really hoping that the exhibition would go well today and someone would show interest in my paintings. Then at least I would have something going for me.