“I am.”
He snorts. “I doubt that.”
“I’m talking to an attractive and intelligent man. Why wouldn’t I be having fun?”
Corey rolls his eyes. “If you’re talking to me in the hopes I’ll change my mind…”
“I’m not that kind of guy,” I assure him.
I won’t say no to a fuck if he’s up for it, but he’s not, and I knew that before I sat down. Will I spend the whole night talking to him? Probably not. Idowant to relax tonight, but I’m happy for now.
“Who’s your favourite artist?” I ask.
“George Stubbs.”
I raise my eyebrows. “The horse painter?”
“Yeah. My favourite painting of all time is Whistlejacket. I used to go to the National Gallery just to see it. I’d spend hours looking at how Stubbs used brush strokes and colour to create light, shadow, and texture on the horse’s body.” He wipes a hand over his face. “Fuck, I sound like a total geek right now. I’m impressed you even know who George Stubbs was, by the way.”
I smile. “I’m an art geek too.”
Corey sits up straighter. “Really?”
“Yes.” Plus, Corey looked truly beautiful when he was talking about the painting.
“Who’s your favourite artist?” He’s more animated now, his eyes bright.
“Monet. I have a print ofWater Lilies - Yellow Nirvanaabove my bed.”
“Oh, I love the colours in that one. It’s one of my favourites of his studies of water lilies.”
“The combination of yellows and purples is just sublime.” I do a chef’s kiss, which makes Corey laugh.
I mean, really laugh—happy, bubbly, and light. It brings a smile to my lips.
“Do you paint?” I ask.
“I’d be a shit art teacher if I didn’t.”
“True.”
He smiles broadly. “I’ve got a fine art degree. I love watercolour and oil painting. I can use other mediums, obviously, but those are my favourites to work with.” His smile droops, and his eyes become sad. “But I haven’t painted for pleasure in a while.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve just been too tired and strung out after work to care. And…” He stops. “Never mind.”
“Tell me?”
He scrunches his lips in a way that makes me think he’s chewing the inside of his cheek. “I’ve got a little girl. She’s five, and she’s amazing.”
“But tiring?”
“Yeah. She runs rings around me. When I’m not at school or doing paperwork, I’m playing with her and trying to make up for all the time Idon’tspend with her.”
“Does she live with you or her mum?”
He stiffens. “With me and my brothers. Her mum isn’t around.”
