His eyes open wide, and he exhales. “Shit! No. As much as I’m going to hate seeing that, the band needs you. And if you pulled out because of me, I’d never hear the damn end of it.”
“Okay… but only if you’re sure.”
“Yeah, just don’t French kiss him. No tongues.”
Nodding, I laugh. “Well, that was never going to happen anyway. But yes, I can promise you… no tongues. And I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”
“Better be…” He quickly changes the subject. “Hey, can I take you somewhere?”
“Like on a date?”
He grins. “Yeah. I wanna show you something.”
I lean in, kissing him before we slide out of bed to get dressed and head out to his car, where my security waits for my direction. He doesn’t tell me where we are headed, so they followat a safe distance, far enough away not to be a nuisance but close enough should I need them.
On the way to wherever we’re headed, we stop at a drive-through to grab some takeout to eat.
Just as we’re finished with the last of our food, we pull up down a back alley, and I furrow my brows, wondering where the hell we are.
“Just ’cause we’re dating doesn’t mean you can now kill me in a dark alley,” I tease with a smile.
Nate rolls his eyes as we get out of the car and start walking down the lane. Security follows closely behind, watching cautiously. I’m sure the dark alley, with only a single streetlight casting a low glow, has them on high alert.
The walls are covered in graffiti, and it’s really dingy. Although I trust Nate, this bristles my skin. He walks me up to a green door marked fire escape, and I try to hide my nervousness. My eyes dart around the area, taking in the brick walls and noticing their cracks. If I didn’t know any better, this looks like a drug dealer’s hideout.
He looks at me and smiles. “Trust me, Ria. I’d never hurt you or let anyone hurt you.”
I nod, and he opens the door. I follow him inside, wrapping my hands around one of his arms with a firm grip. His words were meant to settle me, but I can’t help my body’s reaction to our surroundings.
Security casually follows, keeping their distance and standing back against the wall, giving us space. Inside is a giant warehouse with white walls and art canvases everywhere. It’s a gallery, and I stand here in complete shock. I had no idea something so beautiful and clean could be behindthatexterior door. Releasing my hold, I walk in a little further, checking out the artwork.
It has an edge to it I recognize.
I turn to Nate, opening my eyes wide, gasping as recognition takes hold.
“Oh my God, Nate. This gallery, all these paintings, they’re yours, aren’t they?”
He smiles and nods.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I swing around, looking at the moody artwork. It’s somber yet so amazingly artistic.
I’m in complete awe of him.
“Nate… I’m speechless.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I knew you were good, but hell, I didn’t know you wereamazing.”
He shakes his head. “I’m notthatgood—”
“Stop it! You really are. Can people come here and see these?”
He shakes his head adamantly. “Nah, you’re the only one who’s been here besides Robert, the cleaner.”
I scoff. “What? Not even Matt?”
“Nope, not even Matt. He doesn’t care about my art. You’re the only one who’s shown an interest in it. So much so that I sneak in here when the band has downtime, or I can’t sleep, leaving no one the wiser.”
