“Try a brownie. They’re amazing.”
I picked up the baked good, the brownie cut in a one-inch square, and popped it into my mouth. The rich flavors of chocolate and coffee melted on my tongue.
I held my hand in front of my mouth as I said, “Wow.”
“I know.”
Without asking, Davide set another brownie on my plate before he filled his own. I waited until I was done chewing before I spoke again.
“What’s going on?” I asked, picking up my cappuccino for a sip.
“I wanted you to be the first to know…” He smoothed down his shirt. “I have a showing in New York in six months.”
My eyes widened, and I set cup aside so I could throw my arms around my boss. “That’s great! Congratulations!”
I knew Davide sculpted. He’d even sold a few of his pieces here at the gallery. They were beautiful. But because he was always so busy with running the business, he rarely had time to work on any sculptures.
He hugged me back, squeezing tightly. “Thank you. I’m nervous as hell, but it’s time.”
“It’s amazing news!” For the first time in over a month, my smile was genuine.
“It is.” Davide cleared his throat and took another sip of his cappuccino. “But it means I have to make a big change in my working hours. I thought about hiring someone to manage the gallery, but…” His words trailed off, and I knew by the way he was looking at me that I wasn’t going to like what he had to say next.
“Just tell me,” I whispered.
“I got an offer on the gallery. Not just the business, but the building itself, too.”
“What?”
“I told them the only way I would sell is if they kept you on at your same salary and benefits until you either found another job or decided you wanted to keep working for them, and they agreed immediately.”
I realized what he was saying. “You sold the gallery?”
He winced. “I didn’t want to, but then I got that showing and I knew there was no way I could meet my deadline if I was still working here full-time.”
I nodded, but my entire body felt numb. I’d finally found a job I truly enjoyed and a boss I loved working for, and now he was leaving.
“I’ve avoided pushing my art career because I’ve been afraid,” Davide admitted. “But I realized that my life is passing me by because I’m not taking any risks or trying new things. And that’s not how I want to live.”
I nodded again, my heart in my throat. I understood what he was saying. I truly did. But I couldn’t ignore the faint whispers in the back of my mind reminding me that everyone left me. My biological parents. Foster parents and siblings. Elijah. And now Davide.
I shut those thoughts down. It wasn’t true, and it wasn’t fair to Davide.
“I understand,” I finally said.
He took my hands in his. “I’m not moving away. I’ll still be here. And we’re still going to meet for happy hour, or I’m going to make you go to lunch with me. We just won’t be working together.” He squeezed my fingers gently. “And, once I’m a famous artist, I can afford to hire you as my personal assistant, and I’ll act like a complete diva until you’re ready to throw one of my own pieces at my head.”
His sculptures were chiseled and carved from marble, granite, and other types of stone. There was no way I’d be able to pick one up and chuck it at him, but the image made me laugh.
I took a shaky breath. “I really am happy for you, D. I’m just going to miss you.”
He pulled me into another hug, and tears gathered in my eyes.
Dammit. Why was I such a crybaby all of the sudden?
“I’m not abandoning you,” he stated. “Like I said, we’re still going to see each other all the time. You’re one of the few people I can tolerate on a daily basis, so I need you.”
I snorted at his words and popped one of the mini cookies in my mouth. The flavors of orange and shortbread burst on my tongue, and I bit back a moan. I needed the name of the bakery so I could buy treats there all the time.
