He had stopped by a deli and picked up sandwiches as well as a bottle of wine. As I approached, he pulled out a long-stemmed red rose and held it out to me.
“Wow,” I said, taking the rose from him and holding it to my nose. “This is beautiful.”
“You are beautiful,” Devlin said. “And I wanted tonight to be… special.”
I smiled and sat down beside Devlin. He put his arm around me, and I leaned against the side of his body. I had to admit; this felt wonderful.
“Thank you,” I said. “This is really nice. What made you think of it?”
“I was with Zack today… my old high school friend, and he mentioned that there was going to be a meteor shower today and I just thought you’d enjoy seeing that. I really needed the distraction too.”
I paused and turned to him. His face was cast in shadow, but I could see his eyes and they were dull and thoughtful.
“Why did you need the distraction?” I asked.
“I went to my parents’ house today,” Devlin admitted. “To pick up some stuff I’d left there.”
“Oh…”
“I just… sometimes being around them just makes me feel… like a total failure.”
“Don’t say that. You’re not a failure.”
“No?” Devlin asked. “I’m not exactly a succes
sful artist.”
“It takes time,” I said gently. “You’re in a hard field. And anyway you’re going to be exhibited in a gallery soon.”
Devlin shrugged. “I’m starting to think that that’s never going to happen. Gordon keeps making excuse after excuse, and it’s making me think that he’s just trying to brush me off gently.”
“He saw you had talent,” I insisted. “No one can look through your portfolio and not think that.”
Devlin smiled at me and kissed my forehead. “Thank you for saying that,” I said. “But the fact is you’re one of the few people who’s looked at my work and fallen in love with it. My parents don’t even think I’m worth it.”
“Your parents are close-minded,” I said. “You said so yourself.”
“I was so looking forward to proving them wrong,” Devlin said, with faraway eyes. “I wanted to become this big household name. I wanted to… make something of myself.”
“There’s still time Devlin,” I insisted. “Don’t give up just yet. You’re too young and too damn talented.”
He looked down at me and kissed me gently on the lips. “I was pretty low today… and then I thought about spending the night with you, and that was the only thing that cheered me up.”
I smiled. “Well… you’re welcome.”
Devlin laughed. “Sometimes…”
He trailed off, and his eyes grew very soft and tender, and I just had to know what he was about to say. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, self-consciously.
“Come on, tell me,” I said. “You can trust me.”
Devlin smiled. “It’s just sometimes… you… overwhelm me.”
I was staring into his eyes and getting lost in them when a streak of light flashed past my peripheral vision. “Oh my God,” I gasped, turning to the night sky and Devlin did the same.
We watched in awe as meteors lit up the sky and painted the darkness in subtle color that left little vestiges of light in its wake. It didn’t last long… possibly only a minute at most but it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.