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“So,” I stood and slipped on my shoes. “Are we ready to get this over with?”
Teddy grinned as she stood and reached for my shoulders. “You mean are we ready for your art world debut? The answer is hell to the yeah!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious and I wore a smile all the way to the art gallery beside Moon’s art supply shop.
Stepping inside the crowded gallery, my smile dropped.
Chapter 19
Max
“Are you sure she’s gonna show?” Tate stood beside me in the doorway of the art gallery, which was right beside the store where we had class on Friday night. “I don’t see her.”
“She’ll be here. Jana wouldn’t do that to Moon.” At least I hoped she wouldn’t. I looked down at my outfit to make sure I looked all right and instantly I felt like a tool. Jana wouldn’t give a shit that I’d dressed up, and she seemed to prefer me in jeans and a t-shirt. When she preferred me, that is.
“Dude, is that a cock?” Tate pointed at a large blue statue that, yep, looked just like a cock and balls.
A loud laugh escaped, drawing the attention of several others inside the gallery. “Looks like it is, though I’d worry if the cock is blue too.”
Tate snickered again. “If it’s that blue, you’re beyond help.”
With a shake of my head, I pushed him forward to the next display as my head swiveled back and forth, hoping to catch a glimpse of that white blond hair I knew so well. She hadn’t arrived yet, or she was hiding someplace. It gave me time to look around at the gallery, it was sparse with mostly white walls and red brick separating the exhibits. Th
e large room was dimly lit and there didn’t seem to be any real order to the place.
“Max.” Tate smacked my chest with the back of his hand to get my attention and pointed at the exhibit we stood in front of, wearing a knowing grin.
I turned, and my gaze slammed into a familiar, deep brown gaze, only it wasn’t brown. It was damn near black from Jana’s sketching pencils. It was a self-portrait, which I knew she hated, and staring at the sketch I could see why. She was still the most beautiful thing in the world to me, but it was all undercut by the sadness swimming in her depths. But the sadness wasn’t all I saw, there was her strength, the tension in her clenched jaw served as a reminder that she hated the face that I loved. And in that moment, I knew that Tate was right, I did love Jana. It was all so clear, staring at her face and the detail from the little freckle on the bridge of her nose to the dolphin earring on the upper part of her right ear. “Damn.” It was all so beautiful yet painful.
“She’s got talent,” Tate said, staring at a set of long legs with a long zipper scar up the outside of one leg that I was sure belonged to Teddy.
Just as I was sure the nondescript torso with the ugly starburst scar right over the heart, was supposed to be me. The tattoos and gunshot wounds were missing, but the swirl of hair down the stomach was all me, as was the mole beside the left nipple. “It’s amazing.”
“It’s more than that, man. This shit is gold. Pain and beauty and scars, that shit is life.” He squinted at the mangled old hands that gripped a golf club that completed the series.
I had to agree but now, more than ever, I wished I could find Jana. Her series, this glimpse into her soul, told me that I still had a chance. Another quick scan produced Moon and I waved her over. “I’d like to buy the big one.”
Her eyes went wide, holding a million questions she had the good manners not to ask as she added a red dot beside the picture. “I knew you were a good man, Max. Whatever the problem is, I’m sure you’ll work it out.” She glanced around my shoulder at Tate and a wide smile bloomed on her face. “I’m so happy you’re free, young man.” In an unexpected move, she pulled him into a hug and held him for a long moment. “If you need help getting on your feet, your brother knows where to find me.” As quickly as she’d rushed over, Moon hurried off.
Tate grinned. “I like her. The crazy ones always love me.”
I smiled and shook my head, unwilling to move on in case Jana stopped to check out her display.
“Who in the hell is that hot ginger?”
I knew who he was talking about before I spotted them, but once I saw Jana and her friend, I smiled as relief drained the tension from my body. “That’s Teddy, Jana’s best friend.”
Tate clapped his hands loudly and, swear to god, licked his chops. “You know I have a weakness for hot girls with boys’ names. Wish me luck.”
My hand struck out and gripped his shoulder. “Me first.” I stepped in front of Tate, but I felt his presence behind me as I made my way to Jana, heart racing and thudding into my heart. “Jana. You look beautiful.” I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the sexy black dress she wore, hugging her hourglass figure deliciously.
She smiled at the sight of me, but her eyes were still sad. “Max. What are…how did you know about the show?” She glanced at Teddy who held her arms up defensively.
“Don’t look at me, I don’t even know how to get in touch with him.”
“Moon told me a couple weeks ago. In class.” Being so close to her for the first time in too damn long, had me shook. Her perfume was slightly different tonight, more musky than flowery but just as tempting. She had on makeup that made her brown eyes look bottomless. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Jana looked wary, nibbling her bottom lip before she nodded and fell into step beside me. “Sure.” We walked away from the crowds towards the back of the building before she spoke again. “How have you been, Max?”
