"Mmmm. You know, he's got that fuck in his eyes for you," Lu says, admiring, almost envious.
"The what?"
"The fuck.The way he's watching you, that carnal get on your knees right now, I want you naked, I'll feast on your p—"
"Okay, stop."
"Relax," she singsongs. "I was going to say something cute, like peach, or papaya."
"No, you weren't."
"I wasn't," she admits just when Ben stops in front of us, smile cocked, everything about him impeccable.
He smirks like he's heard the whole exchange. "Did I interrupt something?"
"You always do," Lucy says and checks her nails.
Ben smirks at her. "Hi, Lu."
Lucy blinks, incredulous. "Did you justLume?" Her eyes flick to me—tame your boy—then back to him. "I guess you forgot I bite?"
"No." He gives her his careless smile. "Lesson learned. Won't point a finger at you again."
She smirks with dark eyes.
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh. Those two have always been a disaster whenever Ben stopped by, bickering over things no one else would remember. I can't even place the finger incident, but they clearly can.
That's not my main focus, though.
I turn to him, my face flat. "What are you doing here? Thought you needed a nap."
"Came to see some beautiful art," he says easily, eyes dragging over me.
I fold my arms. "Is that a euphemism for me? Because last time I checked, you couldn't stand the sight of me."
"I just needed sleep to reset my vision," he says and steps closer, his arms around me before I can protest, pulling me into him.
I let him squeeze me tightly before I step back, forcing a bitter smile. "Or did you come to see how much of a liar I am, ifI really didn't take Richard with me? Go on, scan the rooms. You might find him somewhere."
Ben shoots me an unimpressed look and turns to Lu instead. "Would it be too much to ask the artist for a tour?"
Lu's gaze darts from him to me, reading the tension. Then she shrugs and strides off toward the wall, calling at him over her shoulder. "Come, Doctor Bedroom Eyes."
Ben arches a brow at me, curious. "Doctor Bedroom Eyes?"
I give him a shrug that's supposed to look worn out, but doesn't. "Just go with it. Better than all the other unprintable versions."
He snorts amusedly, and then he's after Lucy, discussing everything she shows him with genuine interest.
He fires questions, one after another, and his cadence is smooth enough to trick even Lucy into playing along. Meanwhile, I trail them silently, deciding if I like him here or not.
When we get toThe Anatomy of Eurydice, Ben halts.
Lucy eyes him sideways. "Like that one?"
"Yeah," he says immediately.
"What do you see?" she asks, tone neutral, not giving anything away.
