My mom calls it a smashing success, which is not a phrase she uses lightly. I’ve watched her arrange these events for my entire life. Discovering artists and getting them into galleries is her greatest passion. She scours social media, smaller shows, and even the streets, looking for the next person who needs a chance. It’s even something she does when she’s not trying to, wandering around a new city making appreciative comments about the murals she sees or artists displaying their works in artisan markets. Always talking about what potential people have, how creativity is an unlimited resource.
As much as I know in my heart that he deserves every bit of this success, hearing her say it is another thing entirely. After the evening closes out, it’s just us and my family left. The excitement is beginning to bubble over, and it’s nothing less than a miracle no one has informed Easton of the news yet.
I clear my throat, and everyone is suddenly staring. “Brady? Would you care to do the honors?”
My best friend is beaming like never before, so bright it’s hard to look at. Easton glances between us, confusion evident from the scrunch of his nose and line between his brows. “What honors?”
“Well, little brother, congratulations are in order. At your first ever show, you sold out every single piece here and not a damn thing was picked up by any of us. It was all people who just discovered you tonight.”
The boys start cheering, and everyone else, including me, are not far behind. My poor sweet Chaos only stands there with his jaw hanging open. It’s like all this time he’s been charming all these potential customers, he never considered that they would actually be interested in buying his work. I could not be less surprised or more proud. What an honor it is to see such success for the most deserving person I’ve ever known, and to be able to say that I always knew.
Knew that he was incredible. Knew that his dreams would come true. Knew that he was made of magic and the sky was the limit since the first time I saw what he could do.
Back then, his creations were all black and white, little fantasies brought to life. Now Easton exists in screaming color, and his art has followed suit. He’s never been more himself than he is right now and it is a sight to see.
After more drinks and a birthday cake that seems to come from thin air, we all separate for the night, buzzed and thoroughly happy. Easton gets teary when he tries to articulate how grateful he is for tonight and all of us. Brady laughs at his clumsy attempt and grabs him in a bear hug. Blakely pulls her phone out and takes a grainy photo of the four of us with our faces shoved together.
It’s the happiest I’ve ever been.
Instead of breaking up to go to bed when we get home, somehow everyone ends up outside under the recently completed gazebo with more drinks. Brady orders enough pizza to soak up all the booze and we all eat like starving things.
The conversation transitions to stories from college, and Easton laughs wildly at our pieced together recollections. We watch the sunrise before it occurs to anyone how late, or early, I guess, it’s gotten. “Damn. That was our last night all together like this.” Brady sighs with a distant look in his eyes.
I don’t like that. Don’t get me wrong, going home and it just being me and Easton again will be amazing, but the admission still stings. “Landon already got me a flight for later today back to L.A.”
“I bet he hates us for taking you away for this long,” Easton says quietly, before leaning against me heavily.
She dismisses the thought with a wave of her hand. “Nah. Not even close. He’s happy that it all worked out. Definitely aggravated with me for being in danger, and just ready to see me again. Leaving always sucks, though.”
After a couple of swallows to get my voice to work, I say, “Every single time.”
In a perfect world, there’d be a team here that Landon could play for and we’d be able to be together all the time. This isn’t that, though. Blakely reaches over to squeeze my hand, everything I’m feeling reflected in her eyes. She doesn’t say anything, but I don’t need her to. We’ve done this enough times over the years to know the routine. It doesn’t get any easier, though.
She laughs as she wipes the tears from her eyes. “It was so much easier to sneak out when you were half asleep. This is dumb. I’m not even leaving yet. Can we put it off for a bit longer?”
“Holy shit. Please. I’m not cut out for this.”
The three of them laugh like I’m joking, but thankfully move on. “Did you talk to your brother much tonight?” Brady asks, looking at me.
“Which one?” Easton cuts me a look and, I add, “Okay, fine. I didn’t talk to either of them a whole lot. Why do you ask?”
He rolls his eyes fondly. “I was going to ask what you thought of Parker’s girlfriend but you probably know less than me.”
If I made myself, I could probably name three things he’s said about her which is more than I could say about most girls he’s dated. “Besides him coming up here to get out of a thing with her family, I know very little.”
“I’m kinda worried about him. He seems exhausted,” Blakely says.
Does everyone have opinions except me? “I’m confused because he seemed really happy tonight.”
Eastons shrugs. “He was happy. He did seem pretty worn out, though. He told me he got straight on a plane after being out late doing something with her.”
These people are insane. “Yeah. I’ve caught him a few times after all nighters too. Em’s been covering some of his babysitting.”
News to me. But I’m sure he’s fine. “Parker tends to get wrapped up in dating when he does it. He’ll balance things back out eventually.”
Maybe I should start checking in with that kid more, though. “So, Easton, how does it feel now that you absolutely killed your first—of many—shows and have your piece of shit ex-predator behind bars when it happens?” Blake asks.
He’s so relaxed in my arms, warm and content. I love him so much, I’m not sure I can stand it. “Unreal, honestly, but in the best way. Everyone is safe. The show was better than I ever imagined. I was dreading this birthday before I left him. Brady and I used to talk about what we’d do on my twenty-first.” Bradynods in understanding, reliving those daydreams from long ago. “If I could have skipped it entirely just to not be reminded how much it hurt to be away from my brother, I would have. But I didn’t know then that it could be this good. Nothing we tossed around all those years ago even came close.”
