I removed Gemma’s legs from my shoulders and forced myself to stand, swaying on the spot. Gemma’s eyes fluttered open and a tiny smile bent her lips.
“You look like you could use a drink,” she commented.
I laughed and tossed the condom in the garbage, then flopped back onto the bed. “You’re a drink enough.”
I hauled Gemma against my side and wound my fingers through her hair, letting out a happy sigh. For a moment we both seemed to forget that there had been any time between now and the last time we saw each other, never mind all the drama. I soon remembered I had things to say to her.
“I see you got my message,” I said.
Gemma snorted. “No kidding.”
I glanced down at her, tucking a stray lock of chestnut hair behind her ear, just like I had that first day in the park. “In case it wasn’t obvious, I ditched Valentina, gave my old man the middle finger.”
“You know, once I saw you I’m not even sure it would have mattered,” she mused. “The second you opened that door I couldn’t think about anything else apart from how bad I wanted you.”
“Tell me about it.” I blew air through my teeth and stared up at the ceiling, running my hand along her smooth back. “You know, I lost my job, my inheritance, my place at the dinner table, but all that doesn’t compare to how it felt to lose you.”
Normally I would advise myself to be a little more guarded when it came to matters of the heart, but it didn’t feel like that with Gemma. Plus, it was hard to be guarded after a dozen artists spray-painted my heart all over the city.
Gemma shuffled up until her face hovered over mine. Her lips curled in a lazy smile and she kissed me, long and slow. Warmth cascaded through my bones. It was a perfect, beautiful moment.
I couldn’t believe Dex’s kooky idea worked. We might have our differences, but he’d come through for me when it mattered the most.
“I feel bad,” Gemma said a moment later, suddenly sobering. She rested her chin on my chest and stared up at me through her lashes. “You gave up everything for this. That’s a lot to process.”
“It was worth it for my freedom,” I told her. “I would’ve never been happy with Valentina, especially knowing that there was somebody out there who actually could make me happy.”
“Who?” Gemma demanded. “I’ll cut the bitch.”
I chuckled and ruffled her hair.
Her face turned sad again. I sensed a bunch of different emotions in her. Happy to have me back, but sad for me all the same.
“You said you lost your job... Did your dad demote you or–?”
“Or,” I said. “I’m in between jobs right now, which I know all jobless bums say.”
“Oh, god.” She sat up in alarm. “What are you going to do?”
I ran my hands over her hair, smoothing it and trying to calm her down a little. “It’s okay. I’ve been interviewing around and I’ll find something soon. I hated that job anyway. For the first time in my life I’m completely free of my father’s influence. I can’t tell you how good that feels.”
“If you’re sure...” She dropped her gaze.
I held her face in my hand and drew her eyes back to mine. “I’m sure, Gemma.”
I kissed her, and if she had any further worries she didn’t voice them then.
I woke up slowly, basking in the glorious sounds of Gemma’s snores. They vibrated through my chest and I couldn’t help but smile. Her silky hair tickled my bare skin and a long leg tangled with mine. I pulled her closer, not ready to open my eyes yet. Just a few minutes longer...
A loud alarm blared from somewhere on the floor. Gemma sat up suddenly, ripping herself from my embrace. “Shit! I’ve got to get to work.”
I watched as she leapt from the bed and scrambled all over the floor to find her sweatpants, disabling the alarm from the phone tucked in her pocket. When she told me about her new job last night I was impressed but not surprised. I believed she could do anything she put her mind to.
“I’m going to leave you my new number,” Gemma said, hopping on one foot while she slid a sock over the other.
Another thing I’d learned last night—that she’d changed her number to avoid Niles and her brother finding her, though they did anyway. Just thinking about that asshole barging into her apartment made my blood boil. If I ever saw him I’d make sure he never bothered her again, though it seemed like she’d done a fine enough job of ensuring that outcome herself. My little warrior.
“I’ll give you mine too.” I shuffled to the edge of the bed and grabbed my phone to take down her number.
Five minutes later, Gemma pressed a chaste kiss to my lips and sped out the door. The elevator doors were barely closed before I started missing her again.
Soon, I rationalized. I’d see her again soon. There was nothing that could get in the way of us now.
I called Dexter as I made my morning coffee, excited to fill him in.
“Good morning, my fellow unemployed guttersnipe,” he answered.
I was too happy to get angry about the comment. “I just wanted to let you know that your plan worked,” I said. “And how grateful I am.”
Dexter played it off coolly. “Of course it worked. It was a stroke of genius.”
I rolled my eyes but chuckled. “I would tell you not to let it get to your head but it already has. Plus, I think in this case you deserve it.”
“I can’t help it,” he said. “Not after the phone call I got a couple of days ago. I didn’t want to tell you until you found Gemma.”
“Tell me what?”
“The New York Times wanted to do a piece on the story, but only if you actually found Gemma. And with your permission, of course.”
“Dexter, that’s incredible!” I exclaimed. “Of course you have my permission. I’d prefer it if you focused on the artistic side of the project though, rather than the romantic. That’s where the credit is due.”
Dex was no small name artist, but he wasn’t super famous either. He might not lust for material wealth, but I knew how much it meant for him to get his name out there and was beyond thrilled that I could be even a small part of helping him get that.
“I’m happy for you, Nik.” The sincerity in his voice shocked me. We rarely had moments like this, but something had changed between us since the art show, like we had a better understanding of each other now.
“I’m happy for you too.”
“I should mention that I’m not opposed to being commissioned to make a sculpture of myself. You know. Just in case the thought has crossed your mind.”
Aaaand the moment was over.
As much as I wanted to tell Dex not to get bruises from patting himself on the back so hard, I couldn’t deny how much he’d helped me and how grateful I was. So I congratulated him again, told him I couldn’t wait to read the piece, and hung up the phone.
I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to keep my penthouse. First things first, I needed to find a job.
Chapter 24
Gemma
Molly twirled in the mirror again, hair cascading over her shoulders, the red clashing violently with her green dress. She looked phenomenal. I didn’t look so bad either, if I did say so myself. I’d purchased a new dress in a flattering shade of purple that accentuated my slim waist and showed off my butt. My green eyes stood out against the golden eye make-up, and I’d topped off the look with one of Molly’s many lipsticks.
“You look tasty,” Molly commented. She winked at herself in the mirror and for a second I thought she was talking to herself. She met my gaze in the reflection, awaiting a response.
“Oh, thanks.” I smiled. “Well, you know, it’s not every day I get to be guest of honor at a trendy artist’s party.”
“I can’t wait to meet this Dexter Kleinman,” she said. “What’s he like?”
Several words popped into my head. Flamboyant. Glittery. Larger than life. I settled on, “He’s a character. I can guarantee you that you’ve never met anyone quite like
him.”
Molly’s eyes sparked with interest. “I look forward to making his acquaintance, especially after all those things the New York Times had to say about the whole #FINDGEMMA business.”
Today’s party was a celebration of article’s publication, which touted #FINDGEMMA as one of the most inspirational art collaborations of the decade. It was a watershed moment for Dexter and I was happy for him, especially considering he’d reunited me and Nik. I wasn’t sure what to expect out of the party, which was being held in Dexter’s loft. It would undoubtedly be filled to the brim with a colorful cast of characters, and I was excited. Mostly because Nik would be there.
We’d spent a decent amount of time together over the past week, but not as much as either of us would have liked. I’d been busy with work, pulling doubles since one of the other maids walked out midway through cleaning a room the other day, and he’d been busy sorting out his life. He’d taken job interviews as far away as Union, and though he claimed to find the whole process exhilarating I knew that it had been stressing him out.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
Molly flashed me a grin. “Ready for a super trendy party at a downtown loft held by an eccentric, up and coming artist? Babe, I was born ready for this.”
I laughed. “I wish I had your confidence. I’m nervous as hell.”
“Why?” Her brows knit in concern.
I shrugged. “You know me. I’m already not great with crowds and I have a feeling I’m about to be scrutinized like a zoo animal. I’m the famous Gemma. What if I don’t live up to the hype?”
“Gemma, I’m going to tell you something and I need you to remember this anytime you’re on the brink of being overwhelmed.” She came over and clasped hands with me, squeezing lightly while staring down into my eyes. “None of these people matter. What they think? That especially doesn’t matter. You may be Gemma of #FINDGEMMA fame, but the only person in that place who means a damn thing is the man who tossed his world to the side and went off in search of you. Everything else is just background noise.”
I squeezed back and smiled. “Thanks, Molly. I needed that.”
She winked, and her goofy grin returned. “No problem. Let’s go get a cab!”
As Molly dragged me out to the street, I tried to shift the feeling of guilt that had been steadily creeping in from the moment I discovered Nik’s sacrifice. She was right that he was the only one that mattered, but I wished she hadn’t reminded me about the circumstances that had brought us back together. He could tell me that it was the best for him all he wanted, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. I tried not to let it get to me. For the most part, I succeeded.
Somewhere between the stairs and the street I shook myself out of that dark cloud and donned a smile. How long was I going to keep beating myself up about something I couldn’t change? Unless I had a billion dollars, which god knows I didn’t, what was the point? I just needed to not think about it. Unfortunately, that might be a little difficult to do at a party where the main topic of conversation was going to be Nik and I’s story, even if the article had focused on the art and social media campaign.
We caught a cab, and it soon pulled up to a nondescript building with a crowd of people milling around outside chatting. I swallowed, searching for a familiar face.
Then I saw him, and all my apprehension washed away.
Nik was standing by the curb, clearly waiting for us. When he spotted my face through the window his lit up in a smile and he opened the door, offering me a hand.
“You look amazing,” Nik said, drawing me to my feet. His eyes swallowed me whole and my heart fluttered. The world narrowed down to me and him and our tiny bit of dirty New York sidewalk, and his scent filled my lungs.
“And what am I? Chopped liver?” Molly remarked, arriving beside us with a surly expression.
Nik laughed and turned to my friend. “Sorry, Molly. I got distracted.”
She sighed dramatically. “That’s okay. Nobody likes a third wheel.”
“Oh, don’t be like that.” He turned up the charm in his grin. “You look sensational. By the end of the night I’m sure more than a couple artists will have found a new muse.”
Molly’s expression melted into a smile and she clapped him on the back. “You’re alright, Orlov. You’re alright.”
“And looking quite dapper,” I commented, running my hands over the impeccable lines of his suit. The fabric felt like silk against my fingers.
“Thank you, my dear. May I escort you ladies inside?” He offered us each an arm.
“You may,” I replied, linking arms with him.
Molly took up her position on the other side and Nik guided us through the crowd and into the entry hall, ushering us into an industrial elevator. He pulled down the wooden guard and we ascended.
“It looks like a busy party,” I said.
Nik nodded. “Dexter’s the talk of the town. He’ll be recovering from this party for weeks.”
“I’m happy for him.”
“Me too.” Nik’s lips curved into a gentle smile and his eyes met mine. “I’m happier for us.”
His gaze was so intense that I momentarily lost the ability to speak. Luckily, Molly saved me the trouble.
“You guys are so cute it’s sickening. If I vomit, consider it a compliment.”
Nik chuckled. “Duly noted.”
The second we stepped into Dex’s loft, my heart began to race. It was packed with people, all chatting and drinking excitedly. Nobody seemed to notice us, which I was grateful for. There were no decorations that I could see, though the room was peppered with odd, industrial sculptures painted in a bright array of colors, and a DJ booth blared dance music from the far corner of the room.
I scanned the room for Dex and found him making his way toward us, a wide grin on his thin face.
“Nik, Gemma!” Dexter greeted, shaking silver hair out of his eyes. He wore a pair of ripped jeans with silver threads woven through that sparkled each time they caught the light, paired with a plain white t-shirt. “And who is this delightful creature?”
Nik and I were now invisible. Dex’s eyes locked onto Molly and his smile turned from friendly to seductive in a flash.
“Molly,” my best friend said, extending her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“And I haven’t heard nearly enough about you.” He shot me an accusing glare. “Where have you been hiding her?”
“Uh, I haven’t?”
Dexter laughed and drew Molly’s hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. Molly did something completely unexpected then—she blushed.
Dexter released Molly’s hand but stayed close. “How would you like a drink?”
“I would like that very much.” She smiled and took his proffered hand, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd.
“And to think,” I said dryly. “We’re the guests of honor.”
Nik chuckled. “Dexter has never been much for honor.”
“Should I be worried about her?”
He shook his head. “Should I be worried about him?”
“If they got together I think our time would be better spent worrying about everyone else,” I replied. “Talk about a power couple.”
I stared out into the pulsating mob, where I witnessed everything from punks with mohawks to Hollywood glamor models, and tried to decide where to go next. I never knew how to plunge into a party without Molly to guide me.
Nik slid his arm around my waist and leaned down to my ear. “Do you want to get some air?”
The thought of a little fresh air seemed suddenly more appealing than any possible scenario that could play out inside this room. I nodded and he led me back to the elevator, punching the button for the top floor.
“I’m never great at these things,” Nik admitted, pulling me against his side. “Besides, you’re the only person I came to see.”
The elevator jerked upward and I dug my hands into his shirt. “You’re just saying that because yo
u want to get in my pants,” I teased.
Nik’s eyes met mine, fiery and hard. “No. If I were only trying to get in your pants, I’d say something like how since the second you stepped out of that cab all I’ve been able to think about is how much I can’t wait to rip that dress off of you and make you cum so hard you pass out.”
My insides liquefied and my mouth went dry. My cheeks burned.
The elevator halted and Nik tossed me a cheeky smirk before opening the gate and leading me toward a plain metal door. It screeched open and we stepped out onto a cement terrace, sliced in half by pale moonlight. I took a deep breath of the cool evening air and followed Nik to the far edge. We stopped and stared down at the humming street below.
“I love rooftops,” he said. “Sometimes when I’m on the street I feel smothered. It’s nice to be above it all.”
“Agreed. The one at your place is my favorite.”
He smiled sadly. “Yeah. It’s paradise, that’s for sure. A nice selling feature too.” His arm wound around my shoulder and he pulled my head to his chest. “The realtor’s doing the first showing this week. It’s going to be weird having strangers walking around my home, picturing their life overtop of mine.”
I looked up in alarm. “That quick? What if they buy it? Where will you go?”
He shrugged, not meeting my gaze. “I’ll figure it out. It’s not like I’m poor, after all.”
The way he’d brought it up and the way he was acting made it seem so casual, like where he lived didn’t matter all that much to him. Except I knew it did. That penthouse was everything to him. It was his paradise, his fortress, the one place in the world where he could always relax. He could downplay it all he wanted, but this would cut him deeper than everything else he’d had to give up.
Panic seized my throat and I looked down, trying to focus on the dozens of headlights zigzagging through the city and not on the self-doubt creeping into my bones.
Sure, Nik was happy now. He was at peace with his decision now. But who was to say it would last? In a few months, maybe even a few years if I was lucky, he would realize I wasn’t worth the trouble and start to resent me. Nik would land on his feet no matter what, but his life would never be the same. I was stupid to think I would be enough to bridge that gap.
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