Page 98 of For the Love of Art

I felt terrible. We’d just patched things up between us from the day before, and once again, everything felt uneasy.

Nathan walked to the door, and my stomach dropped when he didn’t stop to touch or kiss me.

“The opening!” I said loudly and suddenly.

Nathan turned to me. “The opening?”

“The papers should be through by then. We’ll go public at the next opening.”

I could see relief on Nathan’s face. “Really?”

I nodded, walking to him and placing my hands on his chest. “I just think it’ll be a better look for both of us if I’m truly single when we announce it.”

“I don’t care how it looks.” Nathan ran his hands along my arms. “The only thing I care about is you being mine.”

I leaned up and kissed him gently. “I am.”

“Do you celebrate the Fourth of July?”

I giggled. “That’s a weird question to ask.”

“Is it, though?” He kissed my nose. “I really am curious.”

“Well–” I didn’t want to bring up Don, but considering we hadn’t been apart a full year, it was hard not to.

I used to celebrate with Don. He usually would grill hotdogs and burgers. Lianne, Frankie, and a few other mutual friends would come, drink beer, eat, and then go to Brooklyn to watch the fireworks.

Nathan must have figured out what I didn’t want to say because he hung his head and said, “Dumb question. Okay. Let me rephrase that.” He tucked some of my long hair behind my ear. “Would you like to come to the Hamptons with me?”

“Oh my God. Could you sound any more like a New York billionaire?”

“I’ll take you in my Land Rover?”

I made a gagging noise, and he chuckled.

“Any other Richie Rich things I need to prepare for?” Nathan pressed his lips together. “It’s a mansion, isn’t it? It’s not just a humble little house.”

Nathan’s face scrunched up. “Cape Cod style, though.”

I pressed my forehead into his chest.

“The nice thing about big expensive houses is they have great security, high fences, and private beachfront.”

“You know, there are moments where you seem like another typical American, like when you bring me take-out coffee and donuts. Then you turn around and talk about private beachfront.” Nathan laughed as I continued, “We couldn’t be any more opposite.”

“But opposites attract.”

“The poor one and the rich one?”

“The patient one and the emotionally stunted one,” he attempted. “You know. The Beauty and the Beast effect.”

I scoff-laughed. “Hard to tell which of us is which.”

“I can.”

Nathan kissed me again, then let me go. “So? Long weekend in the Hamptons?”

I sighed. “Sure. Long weekend in the Hamptons.”