“Okay.On it.”Delia heads toward the wall, and I turn and head toward the gaggle of hockey players.
When I reach them, I purposely keep my smile directed at Grady and Landon, but not at Callan or Theo, because I know my twin is the reason his d-partner is here.Callan has been asking me why I don’t just talk to Theo and tell him I’m miserable without him.He thinks it’s that easy.He acts like we’re both stupid.But I’m not chasing a guy.Any guy.Not even one that lights me up inside like this job does.Nope.
“Thanks for coming, you guys!”I hug Grady, then Landon, and kind of wave in the general direction of Callan and Theo.
“It’s packed!”Grady says, impressed.
“Yeah.I’ve been working really hard on promoting it on Instagram and TikTok, and I think it’s paid off,” I say.“And I mean, the artist’s work is great.”
“We will check it out,” Grady says.“Is Coach here?”
“He was earlier with his wife and his daughter, Mac and Conner,” I explain.“They left early because they had Violet with them.But Coach and his wife bought a piece from the artist.A big one.And his daughter Cassia is here somewhere.She volunteers with us.”
“I’m looking to buy some art,” Theo says, and I finally force myself to look at him.
He’s wearing a dark shirt with a sports coat over it and a pair of dark pants that show off his bubble butt.His hair is sculpted into a tousled style that has a reckless yet still professional vibe.I force myself to ignore all of it, including the pull I have to stand closer to him.“Well, lucky for you, this is an art show.Go nuts.”
I turn back to my older brother and Grady.“I have to check in with the owner about something.Feel free to wander.Don’t let Callan eat all the canapés.”
“There are snacks?”Callan perks up.
“No more than two per person,” I mutter back and merge back into the swirling crowd.
I find Lacey in the back office.She’s adding a receipt to a pile that is bigger than I expected.Her big green eyes are wide and bright when she sees me.“This is our best show yet, Lola!The artist is overjoyed.I’m overjoyed.”
“Awesome!”
I left the door to the office open, and Linda, one of our most dedicated collective members, pops her head in.She’s grinning, and her cheeks are flushed.“The Riptide are here!”
“What?The hockey team?”Lacey looks at me.
“Just the ones named Casco.Or dating a Casco.And Theo Richard, for some reason,” I frown.
“Oh, the hot one who fell off a roof when he played in Vegas?”Lacey asks, and I sigh.I wish Maine wasn’t a hockey town, but it is, and everyone follows the team and the gossip.
“Yeah.That one.”
“Lola, you need to get some photos of them.For publicity.”Linda says, and I cringe.I don’t want my brothers to be used as marketing material.Or Theo.“Do you know how many sports bros might consider coming to our next event?”
“Yeah but then they’ll get here and see there’s no hockey players or ice or, you know, hockey and they’ll leave,” I reply.“I don’t see them as a boost for this place.But feel free to ask them for pictures or whatever for personal reasons.”
Linda smiles.“Can I say you said that it was okay?”
“Yes.Because I am the all-powerful sister.They do whatever I say.Except Theo.”
“I would follow you into hell if you asked me to, Lola Summer Casco.”
Shit.
I see Theo step into view.He’s just outside the office next to Linda now.He smiles politely at Linda and Lacey.“I’m happy to pose for pictures.But I’d like to inquire about a piece first.”
Lacey stands straighter, and her face shifts into its Art Dealer expression, cool, serene, and professional.“Absolutely.Are you familiar with the artist?”
“Of the piece I want to purchase?Yes.Very acquainted.”He says, and I lift an eyebrow.There’s no way he knows of a forty-five-year-old African American-Japanese charcoal portrait artist from Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.That can mean only one thing.And then he confirms it.“I assume the student pieces on display are for sale, too?”
Damnit, Delia, you had one job!
“Yes.”Lacey says, at the exact same moment, I blurt out, “No.”
