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But Ambri was leaving. That was the period at the end of every sentence.
Christ, I’m so fucked.
On the metro, I toyed aimlessly with my phone and realized I had missed calls and texts from Lucy from the night before.
Boarding plane now but just received an email sneakpeek thingy from the gallery for your show. WE HAVE TO TALK
“Not you too, Luce,” I muttered.
When I unveiled the collection to Jane and her people, I thought they were all going to need fainting couches and smelling salts. The barrage of compliments felt like too much, if not for the fact that more than one had tears in their eyes. They all teased me for being humble and modest, but the truth was, I didn’t believe it was my talent that was extraordinary.
It’s Ambri. You know…the one who’s leaving?
“Fucking hell.”
The Tube car swayed and rocked. I was about to put my phone away when it lit up with Lucy’s number. I answered, putting a finger in the other ear to quiet the rumbling train.
“Hey, Luce—”
“Cole? Cole! Are you okay?”
“Of course, I’m okay. Areyouokay?”
“I mean, are you safe? You’re not in danger? Or in a bad place or…being held captive?”
In the background came a masculine voice tinged with a strange accent. “Held captive?”
“I don’t know,” Lucy hissed at him. “I’m freaking out.”
“I’m not being held captive; I’m on the A-line. Almost the same thing. What’s going on?”
“Okay, listen. Your paintings seem very…um…realistic.Frighteninglylifelike. Did you, by any chance, have a model? A real person sitting for you?”
“Well…yes.”
“Oh, God, Cole. I don’t know how to tell you this. Ican’ttell you over the phone.”
“Tell me what?”
“I need to know first and foremost that you’re okay. Are you?”
“Yes, but I’m starting to get really worried aboutyou.”
“Listen, we’re about to deplane. We need to meet somewhere. Somewhere public. Just you and me and Cas.No one else.”
“Why Cas? No offense, but I haven’t even met him yet.”
“It concerns him too.”
“Okay, now I’m really confused.”
“Tell me a place we can meet.”
“Uh, La Marais? It’s a café near our flat.Hisflat. Not mine,” I babbled. “I’m just staying there temporarily.”
Until the show, because he’s leaving.
“You’relivingwith him?” Lucy screeched. “Sorry, sorry. La Marais. Got it. We’ll go straight there. See you in a few, okay?”
