Her usual way with words has me smirking. Before I hit her with my news, I want to find out how her night went. “How was your date?”
She groans exaggeratedly. “Ronan was a bust. But there’s an Aussie biker, Techie, here, though. He’s a babe, a total hottie, and that accent, plus bad boy. Oh my God. Can’t say I haven’t thought about—”
The guard looks at me and taps his watch.
I give him a nod and interrupt Alex’s tirade. “Alex, I don’t have much time.”
“Huh, what do you mean? Time for what?”
“To talk. I’m in a bit of trouble.”
Her voice softens and takes a serious tone. “Okay… what’s wrong?”
“Alex, you need to come to the police station and bail me out. I’ve been arrested.”
She’s quiet for a pause, takes a deep breath, snorts, then bursts out laughing. “Good one, Matt, you almost had me there.”
Exhaling, I let her laugh it out until she slowly stops, then pauses again. “Wait… Matt, you’re not laughing. What the hell is happening? Are youreallyat the police station?”
“Yeah, Alex, I’m really here. I need your help. Can you grab Nate and come down? I need to be bailed out.”
“Fuck! What thehelldid you do?”
Landing in jail shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the events that led me here.
Chapter Two
MATT
Three and a half months ago…
Making my way to Nate’s gallery, I’m slightly nervous. This is the first time I’m seeing this place—his passion other than the band—and I feel kind of like an asshole for not knowing this place even existed.
I know he’s passionate about his art, and I understand that he often leaves the house to paint. But I never realized just how far it goes—or that he has his own dedicated space to fully immerse himself in his creativity. It bothers me that Nate felt I wouldn’t have supported him, and even more so, he was alone in this dream until Zaria came along. Now, with Zaria gone, I want to be the one to help him harness his energy into something productive for himself. Maybe then he will feel close enough to me to open up.
I’ve been told he has two staff members working for him at the gallery—his cleaner, Robert, and his manager slash curator, Alex. I don’t know much about Alex other than his name. Hiring a guy is a smart move, since I think it could get awkward with a chick.
Making my way down the street, my eyes are immediately drawn to the vibrant signage—an elegant combination of bold black lettering against a rich cobalt blue background framed by gold accents that shimmer in the sunlight. Below it, the entrance beckons with its oversized glass doors, framed in sleek, matte-black steel, offering a glimpse of the curated treasures inside. Potted ferns on either side of the doorway add a touch of lush greenery, softening the modern aesthetic. It’s impossible to miss—Alex has done an exceptional job of creating curb appeal thatnot only catches the eye but practically invites you to step inside and explore.
My hands are shoved deep into my pockets as I approach the doorway, a nervous energy buzzing through me. Nate has no idea I’m coming, and the thought twists my stomach in knots. More than anything, I want today to go well for him. This is a big moment—a milestone—and I need him to know I’m here, standing in his corner, ready to support him in any way he needs.
As I approach, I catch a glimpse of a tiny, framed woman standing in the doorway next to Nate. Her hair is a mixture of white blonde and aqua. As I get closer, I notice she has a surprisingly cute little nose ring and two lip piercings that give her that extreme edgy grunge look. But despite all that, she’s dressed immaculately and professionally. It’s a stark contrast to her face and hair. Although her outfit has a slight sixties feel, it’s still very professional-looking and doesn’t match her overall ‘look.’ It’s like she’s dressed for work. But the thing that does catch my attention is her eyes. They’re stunning. Not the color, as they’re quite dark—almost black—but the size. They are huge doe eyes that resemble a cartoon character. They light up her face while her lashes curl up, giving her this totally innocent look, even though everything screams hardcore badass. This chick’s a walking contradiction, and I’m slightly taken aback as I step up to the gallery while taking in every detail of her cute face. I can’t help but wonder,who the hell is she?Maybe she’s another artist. She looks the type.
Her stunning eyes lift, and when she notices me, they widen even more, if that’s fucking possible. My heart skips a beat, and my breath catches, which takes me by surprise. It’s weird. She’s not the normal type of woman I’d be attracted to, but there’s something about her that’s sparked my interest, and I don’tknow what it is. She doesn’t meet any of the requirements on my checklist, but I can’t deny that sheisrocking.
As I pull the door back, she looks me up and down with a smirk while standing next to Nate.
“Whoa, dude, this is trippy,” she notes as she smiles widely and proceeds to shove a flyer straight into my face. “Welcome to the gallery of Artist Anonymous. We hope you enjoy your time here today. I’m the curator, Alex. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”
Swallowing hard, the sound of her voice is husky and yet somehow angelic.What the fuck is with this chick?She’s an enigma.
She stands there, flyer out, and stares at me with the cutest of smirks. I gawk at her, completely awestruck.
Then it hits me.
She saidhername’s Alex…
As inNate’sAlex? The manager and curator that Ria hired for him. The woman I thought was a man?
