“How grand to finally meet this ‘muse’ Sette is always going on about.” Joy sat across from June, her black Michael Kors tote hitting the bottom of a wiry basket. June had brought a white purse to hold her things. It currently rested right on the cement ground beneath her chair.Joy is probably having an aneurysm over it.She liked things to stay… clean. “You don’t look much like your paintings, though. Must be the glasses.”
Sette knew that was how Joy spoke, but something flashed across June’s mouth. “It’s because I’m not naked. If I were nude right now, you’d see the similarities.”
“I’m sure.” Joy cleared her throat. “Did Sette tell you about the gallery opening next month? Your nudity will be plastered for all of New York’s art snobs to appreciate. She’s assured me that you’ll be there, but I’ve had clients tell me that about their models before.”
Sette and June exchanged glances. “She’s told me all about it. I’ve already scheduled time off work to go.”
“What do you do?”
Sette wanted to snort into her ice water, but June kept her cool. “Let’s say I work nights and weekends.”
Whatever Joy took away from that, she kept it to herself.
Zara showed up fashionably late, after the second round of telling the waitress to please wait until their fourth arrived. Arrive she eventually did, wearing her usual marina duds of loose khaki pants and a white cotton shirt.I know this is a casual place, Zara, but come on…Sette wasn’t exactly dressed up, either, but new jeans and a collared shirt had to count for something. “Hey!” Zara slapped Sette on the back and nodded to Joy. She did not seem to be in a hurry to greet June, who sat behind her. Even when she sat down in the seat to June’s right, Zara did not acknowledge her much. “Sorry, I’m late. Lost track of time down at the dock.”
“The rich and their toys,” June quipped. “You sail?”
That got her attention. “Ever hear of thePriss & Moan?”
June caught a laugh in her nose. “No, sorry.”
“Good. I intend to keep it that way.”
June slightly cocked her head. Sette cleared her throat.Is she being an ass on purpose, or is she being humorous?Sometimes, with Zara, it was hard to tell. If she liked someone, it was humor. If she didn’t?Ass.
With Joy still there, no time remained to find out. The conversation, as soon as they finally ordered lunch, immediately jumped to work, not that anyone but Joy took it that seriously. Zara never took anything seriously. June was only along for the ride, even though she was the model. Sette should’ve taken it seriously, but she was too enthralled with having her beloved by her side, in the open air, shining in the sun, and looking like the million dollars she would make off of her, should Sette become her patron.
Zara knew about that. Joy, on the other hand, regarded June with nothing more than, “She exists, huh?” Joy never cared about her clients’ love lives, as long as they didn’t interfere with work. Sette hadn’t introduced June as her girlfriend, but it was pretty obvious they were sleeping together.Until last night, we hadn’t slept together at all. Tonight, Sette hoped to do it again. This time inherbed!
Joy only stayed long enough to have a salad and iced tea. As soon as the last leaf was gone from her plate, she shook June’s hand and insisted she come to New York. “I want everyone to see the actual inspiration for those paintings. It will sell them so much faster.”
June smiled. “Trust me, Ms. Cheung, I am also a saleswoman of sorts. I understand how that works, and would love to be there.” She brushed her fingers against Sette’s arm. Joy couldn’t help but stare, the cogs turning in her mind.Busted. “Sette insisted before you did.”
“Yes, well…” Flustered, Joy pulled her sweater off the back of her chair and hoisted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Only fair that everyone sees you’re the real deal.”
Both women exchanged a dark look. Sette looked to Zara for help.
“No offense,” she said, as soon as Joy left, “but she was talking about your breasts.”
June retained her smile. “I know.” Her lips parted. “Who hasn’t seen them by now? Fantastic, aren’t they?”
Even Zara couldn’t reply to that.
“Anyway,” Sette interjected, hand slapping the table. “What was going on down at the dock that kept you so long?”
“Some new hotshot in town bought the boat next to mine. You know. Schumacher’s old flotation device?”
“Yeah, that guy. Mr. Downsizing.”
“That’s the one.”
“Who bought it? Anyone I know?”
“I highly doubt it. She’s in real estate or something. Casinos? Something like that. Her family’s building one nearby, and she’s in town to oversee it. I only know her because she’s been down at the marina many times and drinks beer on deck with me.”
Sette snorted. “You’ve replaced me as your best friend, I see.”
“Hey, I need someone who will leave the dock with me. For a doctor, you sure get seasick a lot.”
