Daphne licked her lower lip and nodded. “Okay. Right. This is…We can…”
But she wasn’t exactly sure what it was or what they could do right now.May the best artist winfelt a little trite, but that was essentially the situation. If Nicola chose her, Daphne’s whole life would change. Artists who showed at the Devon didn’t fade into obscurity. Artists who showed at the Devon went on to be working artists. Meaning, they sold their work, they were guest lecturers and artists-in-residence in prestigious art programs, they were sought-after and lauded and emulated.
Even Elena salivated over the Devon and had tried to collaborate with them more than once, to no avail.
If Daphne could get into the Devon…she could do anything. Go anywhere.Beanyone.
“You know what I think?” Daphne asked, hitching her bag over her shoulder.
“I’m on pins and needles,” April said drolly.
“I think we should get that drink now.”
April blew out a breath and nodded. “Yeah. I think that’s a damn good idea.”
Daphne felt dizzyas the two of them walked in silence down the hall and through Cloverwild’s lobby. The bar was situated just off the dining room, all shiny lacquered wood, glowing bottles in every color on the backlit wall, and tan leather stools with bentwood seats and oak legs.
Daphne slid onto a stool with a sigh. She hadn’t been to a bar—or a restaurant, a grocery store, the post office, or any place outside of Vivian’s apartment—in over a month.
“This is nice,” she said as April sat next to her.
“It’s decent,” April said, checking her phone, then tucking it away again.
“Has your best friend texted?” Daphne asked brightly.
April side-eyed her. “What?”
“Earlier today. You said you and your best friend weren’t talking very much.”
“Do you remember everything I say?”
Daphne smiled beatifically. “I’m observant and have a memory like an elephant.”
April shook her head. “I guess I’ll have to be careful with my words from now on.”
“Don’t be ridiculous—tell me everything.”
April laughed. “So you’re also a gossip?”
“Horribly so,” Daphne said. “After keeping secrets my entire life, I’m hungry for other people’s drama.”
“You and Penny Hampton would be two peas in a pod,” April said.
“Who?”
“Town gossip. Kind of like Miss Patty and Babette.”
“Who?” Daphne repeated, laughing a little.
April leaned her elbows on the bar and clasped her hands together, like she was about to pray. “Please tell me you’ve seenGilmore Girls.”
Daphne grinned. “I haven’t seen anything.” She pointed her thumb to her chest. “Suffocating religious upbringing, remember?”
April blinked at her as though she was a rare exhibit in a zoo.
“Well, hey there.”
Daphne’s head swung toward the silky voice behind the bar. Cloverwild’s bartender pressed her palms to the glossy bar top, cerulean eyes glittering. Her skin was pale and smooth, and she had a silver name tag pinned to her black button-up that readSasha, she/her.Her white-blond hair was short on the sides and tall and messy on top, and she flashed a crooked smile that Daphne was pretty sure could disintegrate cotton.
