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“No! I mean . . . it would be very unprofessional of me.” Ugh, that was an even lamer excuse, and I could tell Millie thought so too. “Hey, I’m professional when it comes to clients!”
She sighed again. “Just call the buyer and tell him it was a mistake, Lira.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Why?”
“It just isn’t,” I insisted. “Now let me think.”
“What is there to?—?”
“Ugh, you just can’t help it, can you? Quiet, Millie. I can’t think when you’re constantly asking me questions.” With a dramatic wave of my arms, I walked out of her bedroom and into the living room, shutting the door behind me.
Sitting on the couch, I let my face fall into my hands. What was I going to do? Why hadn’t I asked Bruno for his number? Why had I given him Millie’s? I had really messed this up.
I was sitting there, deep in thought, when I felt the sofa dip next to me. Not focusing on who or what it was, I kept thinking about Bruno and how I was going to get Millie’s painting back without looking like an idiot.
“Lira—”
I jumped, almost falling off the couch. “Oh! Don’t do that!”
“Do what?” Millie asked, looking confused.
“Startle me like that.”
“All I did was say your name.”
“I know!”
“Lira, what is going on with you? You’re starting to scare me.”
“I don’t know!” I burst out.
“Ever since you came back last night from the gallery, you’ve been acting weird. You didn’t say anything at all the whole drive home.”
“It’s just . . .” What could I say that didn’t sound crazy?
“Did something happen at the gallery?”
“Yes! I mean no! Nothing happened.”
Millie’s forehead scrunched. “Yes and no?”
I winced. “I . . .”
“Who was it that came in, Lira?”
I really wanted to tell Millie everything and have her take care of this situation for me, but for once I couldn’t. I wanted to keep Bruno to myself for a while. He was special, and I didn’t want anyone raining on my image of him. “He said he was interested in buying some paintings. I said that was great. We did the paperwork, and he took the paintings and left.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Did something happen after that?”
“No!”
Millie threw her hands up in the air. “I’m so confused, Lira. It’s not like you to not ask for help. You’re keeping something from me, I know it.”
