“Exactly. So, I started painting large-scale portraits of subway riders. They’re not posed. It’s a collection of realness. Like, there’s one of this woman sleeping against the window with her work badge still clipped to her scrubs. A teenager reading a paperback with the cover torn off. An old man holding a birthday balloon, alone, staring at nothing.” She gestures with her wineglass. “Each one is five feet, and I’m painting them in a hyper realistic style with bursts of abstract color bleeding out from them. It’s like I can see their emotions leaking onto the canvas.”
Chills run up my arms when I envision them.
“Wow. That sounds incredible, Addy.”
“You should come stop by the studio and check them out. I think it’s the most personal set of work I’ve ever done. But I still have three more pieces to finish by spring for the summer gala, and I’m terrified I’ll run out of time.”
“You’ll make it happen.”
She scoffs and smirks. “I’m not as conditioned to painting as you. You’ve been training like an athlete, painting entire portraits every two to three days. I’m lucky if I can finish one in a month.”
“Babe, you’re painting on five-foot canvases. The square footage is the same.”
Her eyes soften. “I guess you’re right. So, tell me more about Europe. Think I would’ve regretted turning it down?”
“I don’t think you’d have liked it. Some days, it was worse than training for the Olympics.”
A snort escapes her. “No.”
“Oh, yes. The hours were brutal—all work and no play. Painting ten hours a day for years. It was my entire life.”
“Should I apologize? Sounds like torture.”
“No. I’m glad I went. I learned a lot and feel like the hours I put in placed me ten years ahead. However, no one respected me because I was your replacement. Of course, I had to outwork them until they couldn’t ignore me any longer. The money was fantastic though. Thanks to you, I’ve got years of savings built up. It was a win-win, and I’m so appreciative.”
“I’m thrilled for you, Keke. How was dating? Any passionate affairs with sexy French artists?”
“I wish. There was no time for anything.”
“Seriously? Not one hookup? Work and sex are never mutually exclusive.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Wait. Does that mean the last person you dated was Jameson?”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for that reminder.”
“Speaking of which, what’s the deal with you and Damien Blackwell? I heard you were at Billie’s New Year’s Eve party together.”
“Who told you that?”
“Patterson. He was so mad today. Can’t explain it.”
A laugh escapes me. “There’s nothing going on between Blackwell and me. We’ve gone on a few dates, and we kissed at midnight.”
The kiss meant nothing to me, but Patterson doesn’t know that. All he saw was Damien’s arm around my waist, my hands on Damien’s neck, and my eyes locked on Patterson the entire time. I wanted him to watch, to feel something, anything, after years of giving me nothing but silence and icy stares. It worked. I watched him crack, just like he did today.
After the countdown, I walked straight up to him while his model date tugged at his arm. I stood close enough to smell hiscologne, close enough to see his jaw clench. I gave him nothing. No words. No insults. Just my presence and the weight of everything unsaid between us.
Addison tilts her head. “Did you date Blackwell to get under Patterson’s skin?”
“No.” I tuck my lips into my mouth.
“Keke.”
“Upsetting Patterson was a bonus.” I shrug, not sorry about it. If Patterson wants to pretend I don’t exist, I’ll make damn sure he can’t look away. “Honestly, he makes aggravating him too easy.”
“Ignore my brother.”
“Oh, I am. And I’ve already told Damien that I needed to focus on my project. It’s easier for me to concentrate when there isn’t someone else to entertain. Plus, they still have tons of games to play. You know?”
“No, but I’ll take your word for it. Sex inspires me,” she says with a shrug. “Thefooling around and falling in lovepart is my favorite. I honestly miss the hell out of that.”
