My friend grinned, and leaving Jack behind, she sashayed over like some catwalk model. Ray was tall and so gorgeous in her straight-legged black pantsuit, teamed with a white, lacy top.
“And she ditches me,” Jack grumbled, but his expression was tender as he followed her.
Ray’s laughter burst free. She glanced back. “You can have me all to yourself later.”
She pivoted, her wide smile back, dimples popping, and hazel eyes radiant with happiness. “God, you’re stunning in all that red,” she said, looking me over. “War must have been drooling, right? I’m surprised you managed to leave the apartment at all.”
“This is for Ila, so we did.” I attempted a smile as Jack and War shook hands, and they followed us into the trendy four-story glass-front building with bright lights.
“So.” Ray hooked her arm through mine. “I haven’t seen you since the club. What’s happening?”
Explain what a mess my life was? “Nothing much,” I murmured, aware of War behind me. “Been busy, trying to meet my deadline for work. They changed the venue to showcase Ila’s work here?” I asked as we headed for the elevator.
“Yeah. Newly acquired building. It’s on the fourth floor,” Ray said. Then she lowered her head and hissed, “Now, while all this red and your cool expression is genuinely eye-catching and meant to distract, I know you. What’s wrong?”
The smile refused to form this time. I simply shook my head. “Nothing, just a little headache, and working on getting the drafts for the illustrations ready for the publisher is tough.”
“Oh, I have faith in you, Char. Your work’s amazing.”
I cast her a little grimace, wishing it was about my work. Yes, I knew how to show the world a cool facade while inside I was unraveling.
No guy wanted his girlfriend’s mother talking about trapping him into marriage with a hefty prenup deal. Just remembering that confrontation, and my stomach heaved. Christ.
Ray jabbed the elevator button, and it dinged open.
As we rode up, War stood opposite me. It was hard to keep my gaze off him and pinned on the ascending number as we headed to the fourth floor. I hung on to my composure by the tips of my fingers. Chances were, if I did look at him, I’d disgrace myself and burst into tears.
The doors rolled open. We stepped out into soft music and chatter. Tonight was my friend’s showing, so I pushed my troubles aside for now, because thinking of what later could bring was just too hard.
* * *
The hours passed painfully slow as Ray and I strolled around the massive gallery with its many maze-like dividers and spotlights highlighting Ila’s incredible paintings.
“She worked on this for months, even with the wedding looming,” Ray said. “Debra’s a star, giving her a grace period to do the show after the wedding.”
Debra was the gallery owner and the woman who’d discovered Ila. Of course, she’d considered Ila’s personal life when scheduling the event.
I nodded, studying the canvases. She’d merged an abstract theme into her own signature, lifelike works this time. Drinks in hand, a soda for me, we stopped at the beach painting again, one that had caught my attention earlier.
“This sure is something,” Ray said, staring at the canvas. “Reality fading into the abstract.”
“It’s compelling,” I agreed. “I quite like it.”
Taking another sip of my soda, I let my gaze drift to where War had remained with Jack and Max after the first walk-through. My lungs constricted at the truth I didn’t want to accept—the knowledge that settled like a vise, compressing my chest.
War was done with my insecurities, my mother.Me.
“Hey!” Ila glided over, her eyes shining with excitement.
I longed for what my friends had—that happiness—and for a moment, I thought I had it, too, but now it was all falling apart. Pain slammed me in the chest as if my heart had splintered into fragments and lay scattered inside my ribcage. I choked back a whimper.
“Charli, what is it?” Ila whispered, and Ray’s eyes narrowed.
“Nothing. I need the restroom.” I rushed off, except Ray stuck to my side like duct tape, her arm hooked through mine. No sign of Ila.
The moment the restroom door shut behind us, she planted herself in front of me, her stunning wedding rings flashing as she folded her arms beneath her boobs. “What’s going on, and don’t say nothing?”
I rubbed my burning eyes, and the door opened again. Ila hurried inside. “Okay, I left Debra handling things, for a short break. Now tell us what’s wrong.”
