“What?” I asked.
He only handed me my drink and turned to tip the bartender.
“Hey, you must be Bill,” I heard from behind us. David turned and stared at Greg’s hand as it hung between them. “Incredible,” said Gretchen’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. “You are exactly as I pictured.”
“That is most definitelynotBill,” Gretchen muttered as she walked up.
I introduced them, and David finally shook Greg’s hand with a firm pump and a curt nod. His mood was noticeably dark and edgy, as if he might explode any moment. It mademefeel edgy and slightly out of control; I wanted to know exactly what it would take to make him snap—and what would happen when he did.
“Ugh. Great.” Gretchen’s sarcasm wormed its way into my thoughts. I followed her glare to Brian Ayers, who escorted a pretty girl our way. “What’shedoing here?”
Brian adjusted a patterned bowtie and pushed a hand through his blond locks as he approached.
“What happened between you two, anyway?” I asked quietly.
“Absolutely nothing. I only needed one date to see that he was just another self-absorbed artist trying to cram his shitty photos down everyone’s throats.”
“Whoa.” I asked with an arched eyebrow. “You went and saw his photography?”
“I didn’t have to.”
“So nothing happened at all?” I asked. “Not even a teeny-tiny kiss?”
“No,” she insisted, but she fidgeted with her purse. “Give me some credit. Like I said, he’s a prick.”
When I looked again, Brian was at my side with a scowl that told me he’d heard Gretchen’s last comment.
“Hello again, lovely Olivia.” He kissed me on both cheeks. His mouth drooped. “Gretchen,” he acknowledged before looking away.
“Isn’t there some fabulous, pretentious art exhibit you should be at?” she asked, batting her eyelashes with exaggeration.
“Yes. This is my work.” He motioned to a series of black-and-white photographs displayed on the walls of The Revelin’s lounge. They were entirely different from the ones I’d seen in his apartment. In the one nearest to me, a nude woman leaned against a doorframe, her body curved like an “S” and her head resting against her raised arm. She stared at us with all-knowing eyes, amusement dancing on her parted lips.
“You took those?” Gretchen asked skeptically.
He nodded. “Sure did, princess.” She responded to his endearment with a frown. “David recommended my work,” he continued, “being the good friend that he is.”
“It’s just business,” David replied stoically.
“Well, you certainly are a lovely crowd this evening,” Brian said with obvious sarcasm, throwing me a wink. “But if you’ll excuse us.”
“So where’s Dani tonight?” Gretchen asked David as Brian walked away. She sipped her drink through a tiny straw, avoiding my glare.
“Lucy’s sister?” Greg asked, turning to David. “Are you two dating?”
“No,” David said.
I raised my drink to hide the smile that was forming.
“Oh. I was under the impression that you were?” Gretchen’s tone pitched at the end, conveying her piqued curiosity.
David shrugged. “We’ve been out, but we’re not really looking for the same thing.”
“Which is?” Gretchen prodded.
Irritation marked his face, though I knew better than to think that would deter Gretchen. “She would prefer something more . . . permanent.”
“Oh, hmm,” Gretchen said, nodding. She smirked at me as she spoke to David. “Well, gosh, that’s really too bad. Dani is a catch. She’sdefinitelyworth becoming exclusive for.”
