She laughs and raises her eyebrows insinuatingly. “Because your brother is so freaking hot.”
I can’t help it as I spit out the tequila in a shocked laugh. It sprays all over the bench and an unused canvas as Alex smirks, swallowing another shot.
“What the fuck?” I ask, and she laughs, shaking her head.
“No, just kidding. Your face, though… priceless! I’m nice because you’re a great boss, an incredible talent, and a wonderful man. I’m nice becauseyouare.”
“Okay, so I get why you’re single. You hate men because of your ex, right?” She nods. “But honestly, Alex, you’re a knockout. A little kooky but amazing. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”
She takes another shot of tequila and then hands me one. “So, Matt’s the older twin, right?” I nod. “And he’s a commitment-phobe, yeah?”
“I think he was, but he’s been more open to settling down lately. But he has this idea about hisperfectgirl. He has this shopping list of requirements. It’s so stupid. He’ll never find a girl who matches them all.” Nodding, she exhales. “He’s picky. He’s a douche. He’s so used to the sleazy rocker lifestyle. So much so, he now wants the exact opposite of that. I think what he’s looking for only exists in a nunnery.”
“Ha! The rocker and the nun! It could work. Stranger things and all that jazz,” Alex quips with a smirk.
I chuckle. “He’s a perfectionist. Everything has to be his way, exactly. I don’t think any girl other than a doormat would put up with him.”
Alex snorts. “Ha! Matt and his doormat.”
I chuckle and nod. “Exactly. I think any girl would be nuts to go out with him. He’s the crazy brother.”
Alex laughs. “Right ’cause you’re so fucking sane with your moody art and crying into your canvases every day through your paintbrushes, Mr.I-am-so-normal man.”
Shaking my head, I shrug. “Touché.”
“See, Nate, there’s no such thing as normal. I’m not normal. You’recertainlynot normal. Matt’s not. Ria’s not. None of us isnormal,per se.Not even Robert over there,” she says, pointing to Robert, the cleaner who has a nineties-style mullet and wears overalls two sizes too big.
She’s right. There’s no such thing as normal, and in this day and age, I guess that’s a good thing.
“So what are we doing tonight?” Alex asks.
“We?” I reiterate.
“Yes,we. You’re always couped up painting at night, and I go home and come back the next morning to see you already here. Like, do you even leave, or do you live here, sleeping on the floor, using your canvases as blankets and your brushes for pillows like a goddamn freak? Are you a freak, Nate?Are you?”
I laugh at her witty prompting and shake my head. “I’m not a freak, Alex.”
“Good, then we’re leaving now and going out.”
“We are?”
“Yes. C’mon, I have just the place to cheer youthefuckup.”
“You have such a way with words.”
She grins, pouring another round of shots, and raises her glass for me to clink. “Cheers, big ears. Drink that fucker, then let’s go.” She slams the shot down, grabs my hand with one ofhers, the bottle of tequila with the other, and yanks me out of the studio. I chuckle, trying to keep up with her fast pace, but she’s rushing, making my usual somber mood cheery. I manage a small yet genuine smile.
“Alex, slow the fuck down. I haven’t eaten all day, and this liquor is making me wobbly.”
She scoffs, shaking her head as we race toward the front of the gallery. “Okay, Grandpa, enough with the gloom. It’s party time. You’re off the clock. Tonight, we’re vibing. You’re drinking. You’re getting lit, and if that means getting absolutely plastered, then so be it. Now take the damn bottle, boss.”
I smirk, raising an eyebrow and shrugging.
It can’t hurt.
What’s the worst that could happen?
It’s not like I need to function tomorrow anyway.
