Walking in, the bright, sunny light cheers me up, but not to the extent I was hoping. Most of Nate’s artwork is somber and moody, so looking at the art brings my mood down anothernotch as I glance at the walls. Sighing, I look over at Robert and dip my chin in a gesture of good morning, and he stops mopping the floor to look up at me with a bright smile.
“Morning, Alex, my sweet. You look particularly beautiful this morning,” he says, and to be honest, typically, I would find those words from an older man to be kind of sleazy, but from Robert, I know it comes from a good place. He’s a great guy. Looking down at the two-piece dress suit I am wearing, I wipe my hands over the silky fabric.
“Oh, this old thing! Nah, but thank you. How are the wife and kids?”
“Oh, Lord, keeping me insane as ever.” He chuckles as he goes back to mopping.
I giggle as I pat Robert’s shoulder and pass him, moving into the studio. Nate’s hunched over a canvas, looking disheveled with a day’s growth of beard on his face, which is unusual for him. He’s actually becoming a little unhinged. Sighing, I walk over and take up the stool next to him as he continues to paint, almost as if he didn’t even see me come in.
“You’re taking this moody artist thing a bit far, don’t you think?” He shrugs, continuing to paint. “Nate, I know you miss her, I know you’re sad, and I know it’s working for your paintings, but you gotta look after yourself. Are you eating?”
Still, he doesn’t say anything. He just tips his head, gesturing to the granola bar that’s half-eaten on the bench next to a full cup of coffee.
I exhale. “And did you have any dinner last night?”
He points with his brush to the trash can, where a pizza box sits.
I chew on my bottom lip and nod.Well, that’s something at least.
“Okay, I can see you’re in the zone, so I’ll leave you to it, oh, master painter extraordinaire,” I tease, and he lets out a stifled chuckle.
“Thanks, Alex. Appreciate your concern, but I’m doing fine. I promise. No need to send a shrink in just yet.”
I puff out a gust of air from my mouth, which flicks my hair from my face. “Good to know. But I have one on standby if you need him. Just say the word.”
“Thanks, and I love that you care so much. Now go… do some work.”
I salute him exaggeratedly. “Yes, boss.”
Stepping out, I move to open the gallery and start my day by selling a few paintings, working on the accounting, and making sure everything flows smoothly, which includes checking in on Nate.
He stayed in his studio and didn’t come out once, which is concerning, but keeping him distracted is good, at least for the moment. Each time I checked in on him, he was always too lost in his canvas to even notice me.
During the day, Logan messaged me a few times, which helped make the day go quicker, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Matt and how he’s doing with Jaci. I really want to message him to find out how things are going with her after last night, but at the same time, I don’t want to crowd him and ruin our new friendship by being that clingy friend.
After selling a few paintings, I close up shop. Walking into the studio, Nate’s still busy painting, and I huff slightly. “Right you, go home!”
He looks at me and raises his brow. “Excuse me?”
“Get off your ass and go the fuck home. You look like shit. You’re running yourself into the ground, and to top it off, you stink. Go home. Shower. Eat. Have a good sleep. Come back tomorrow refreshed to start again. This will all still be here, I canassure you. I’m not taking no for an answer, Nate. I’ll kick you in the nuts if I have to.”
He takes a deep breath. “Okay,” he replies before putting down his brush. “I’m pretty tired, so sleeping will be a plus.” He chuckles.
“See, Alex knows best. Now get off your pretty little ass and get the fuck out of here. Robert and I will lock up. Go on, off you go, little rocker boy.”
Nate stands, moves to the sink, washes out his brushes, and rinses his hands. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“You don’t, you really don’t. I’m totally awesome and deserve a raise,” I tease.
“I don’t even know what you’re being paid,” Nate replies.
“Well, with what the gallery is making, it’s enough to keep me on after my year’s payment is up. So you’re stuck with me.”
“I have a feeling I’d be lost without you, Alex. Even if the gallery weren’t making money, I’d still keep you on,” he says with a smile, and his eyes sparkle.
My stomach does a little flutter, and a tear forms in the corner of my eye, but I quickly blink it away—that’s the nicest thing he’s ever said to me.
“Wow! Thank you. That’s so sweet of you to say.”
