Page 89 of For the Love of Art

Lianne’s tongue darted out, wetting her lips as she pulled some cheese from the cooler. My eyes narrowed on her, suspicious of her suddenly going quiet.

“What’s going on, Li?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Li.”

She blew out a breath, then opened a drawer beneath the til. She dropped a magazine on the counter and pointed at a small corner picture. I gasped.

The paparazzi had captured an unflattering photo of me and Nathan together after we had visited Han. I looked visibly upset, which wasn’t surprising considering how I’d felt that day. The headline read: ‘Nathan Manning Settling?’ I quickly flipped to the article and groaned when I saw three more photos. They were the night of the gallery’s grand opening after I’d vomited and show Nathan handing me gum, then leading me down the alley. The article was a bunch of speculative journalism about how it seemed Nathan was finally settling down, but they’re surprised he’d pick an—

“Urban house-mom!” I exclaimed. “They think I’m a single mother?”

“You certainly dress like it,” Frankie said nonchalantly. “Not to mention you’re of the age that–”

“Stop.”

I wanted to vomit, and tears stung my eyes.

Lianne’s dark hand reached across the counter and covered mine. “Sweetie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to trigger–” She stopped. She knew what I’d gone through with Don, well, most of it. “I’d hope you wouldn’t see it since those aren’t your type of magazine.”

“So the whole city knows?”

Lianne shrugged. “People who read that particular magazine might be suspicious.”

I groaned.

“The urban-mom comment will only worsen once they find out I live in a small studio apartment that smells like stale Chinese food and has a serious black mold situation.” I grabbed a piece of cheese Lianne cut and popped it in my mouth.

The bell over the door of the shop chimed. We all turned our heads to see an impressive-looking man walk in.

When he saw three sets of eyes on him, his tan skin pinked as he said, “I have a delivery.”

“You know where the packages go, Juan,” Frankie said in his flirty voice.

I widened my eyes at Lianne, who nodded apologetically like something horrible was about to happen.

Frankie smoothed his hair. “I better go sign for that package.”

I shook my head while Lianne muttered under her breath. Once we were alone, Lianne’s gaze grew serious as she looked at me.

“What?”

“How are you feeling about everything between you and Nathan?”

A small smile spread across my lips, and my heart warmed at his name. “Happy.”

Lianne nodded. “Well, then, fuck New York tabloids. You deserve happiness.”

“Thanks.”

The sound of footsteps approaching made us look to the door. Juan waved before disappearing out into the busy street. Lianne and I looked at Frankie, waiting.

He punched his fist in the air and exclaimed, “I got a number.” He held his hand out. “Give me the twenty bucks.”

Lianne glared as she walked over to her purse and pulled out her wallet.

“Twenty dollars? Do I want to know?”