“Yeah, that,” I force out.
Chase chuckles warmly, running his hand up and down my spine. “There’s no going back now. Might as well enjoy it, Chaos.”
I’m sure about that part. “I will. Eventually.”
“It’s just a three-year lease, lovebug. If it doesn’t go your way after that long, just don’t renew.” Blakely adds, “But it will go your way.”
It felt right, having it be the four of us get the keys for this place together. After everything we've been through, walking into the next phase together just kinda fit. Thanks to a friend of a friend of Blakely’s, she found out about this spot before it hit the market. I wouldn’t have had a chance to grab it if it had made it to listing. Brady fell in love with it instantly. Chase didn’t hesitate in throwing his full support behind me. Surprise, surprise there. I think I got wrapped up in the excitement. The location is everything—right on the pier so I have nothing but ocean views. Well, that and the boats coming and going.
Today, the sky is cloudy with the typical Seattle drizzle. We’re all so accustomed to it that we feel no need to hurry inside. I’m trying to make an effort to soak this in.
Leasing a gallery space wasn’t exactly something I thought I could achieve for myself. It was one of those too far away dreams that crept up every now and again, but never seriously enough to pay any real attention to. But after three years of consistent commission pieces, it suddenly became a realistic risk. Or so I had convinced myself of until about ten minutes ago.
Now, I’m standing here with the three people that mean the most to me in the world, holding the keys, and even despite the shock, I know I’ll want to remember every detail of this one day. They’re in no hurry either. Blakely is on the other side of Chase, happily sitting on the railing and swinging her feet. The bright colors of her sneakers remain in my peripheral vision. Today, it’s bright fuchsia. Her favorites, though she only wears them on special occasions that need a little extra pink. I guess today was worthwhile to bring them out.
Brady is standing close enough to my side that I can feel the heat radiating off his arm. He’s already gone misty eyed a coupleof times this morning, and I doubt we’ve seen the last of it. My brother never fails to tell me how proud of me he is, but I’ve heard it at least a dozen times since he showed up at our house bright and early, ready to get the gang back together for the momentous occasion.
Chase, my anchor in the storm, has been saint since this wild idea took hold—helping me decide which pieces to showcase, which was an absolute endless battle. Setting up all the back end stuff that I did not have the capacity for. Calming down in the middle of the night when it all seemed to be stacking up too high for me to deal with.
Three years later, and I still have no idea how I got so lucky. There are times where life may be hard, but our relationship never is. Our arguments are never more serious than him pretending to hate my whiny music taste or debating Chinese or Indian takeout for dinner. The love and faith he pours into me on a daily basis is astounding.
I try every single day to give him what he gives me. With as happy as he obviously is, it’s way easier to turn down the volume on my doubts. They still show up every now and again, but therapy helps me manage them. That, and having the most wonderful circle of friends and family to build me back up when I try to tear myself down.
The only thing that brings me down is that we don’t see Blakely nearly enough during the season. I know she’s always a phone call or text away, and we go to Los Angeles to see her when we can, but it’s never as much as any of us would like.
But if one thing has remained true, our bond is unbreakable. Hell or high water couldn’t separate our little foursome, and that’s just the way I like it. I’m stronger with them. Because of them.
“Let’s go in,” I decide, pushing out of Chase’s arms. It’s time. They all move behind me as I pull the keys out of my pocket and unlock the door.
The space is perfect. Beyond perfect. Plenty of room to display prints and canvases. The excited chatter of Brady and Blake discussing what could go where washes over me in a calming wave.
This is it. I did it.
Despite all the odds stacked against me, I made it out okay. Achieved dreams that I didn’t think were possible. I didn't let myself be broken forever.
It’s too good to be true, but somehow it is.
The thudding in my chest gives him away long before he speaks. Only one person can make everything feel more significant like that. The way my skin prickles with wonderful awareness, and each beat of my heart feels stronger, like it suddenly found its purpose in his proximity. “What do you think, Chaos? Should we go back to the realtor and plead insanity?”
From the teasing lilt to his voice, he already knows I’ve made my mind up, but maybe I need to hear it out loud. “Nope. I’m going to make it mine and it’s going to be amazing.”
“I have no doubt,” Chase tells me, burying a kiss on the top of my head.
He never does. Not when it comes to what I’m capable of. If I told him tomorrow that I wanted to be an astronaut and be able to look down on earth from the international space station, I’d find applications to NASA on the dining room table just waiting to be filled out.
Since Aaron hung himself in that little jail cell, I’ve laid to rest a lot of the skeletons in my closet. It hasn’t been easy, but now I’m proud looking back at all the work I’ve had to do to get here. The massive amounts of support I’ve received havebeen essential, and as much as I struggled with admitting that I couldn’t do it alone, I’m so glad I didn’t.
The door swings open, a stream of Adlers pouring in like a flood. The congratulations and we’re so happy for yous overlap to make it hard to tell who said what. Just the siblings so far, but I don’t imagine Margeaux and Alan are very far behind. Having them in my space really seals the deal. This is where I’m meant to be and who I’m meant to experience it with.
“Dude, this is so fucking cool,” Parker tells me with that charming, goofy grin on his face. I thought he lost it there for a while, but some of us just need some extra help to find our spark again after it almost goes out. I know all about it.
Looking around, I can’t say I disagree. “Not half bad.”
Chase and Brady have a roll of painter's tape and are deep in argument about “where this will go” and “well, we need room for that.” I’ll have the final say, of course, but why on earth would I interrupt such an entertaining show?
My brother ends up laying on his back with his phone out while Chase marks the space up in blue in between glaring at him. “Hey, Easton, do you know this person?”
Brady gestures for me to come sit by him, so I do, and he hands his phone over. “Is this my business email account? Have you always had this logged in?”
