by Hazel Kelly
I raised my eyebrows.
“And his hand was literally spurting blood like he was straight out of some crappy horror flick.”
“Oh my god.”
"And Ethan picked out the glass and, like, tied up his arm so he wouldn't bleed out before the ambulance got here."
I knew without asking where he tied it. His dad made me do drills for hand wounds every weekend the summer before I went to school.
"Hmmm," she said, her eyes rolling up to the ceiling. "What else?"
"I guess he took a lot of girls home before I came along?"
"Yeah, but based on the eyes you made at him when he walked away, it doesn't look like you've been disappointed by his experience."
"So what you're telling me is that he's a total hero and doesn't have any skeletons in the closet."…Besides his feelings for me.
"Pretty much."
"Did he slip you some money to say that nice stuff?"
She shook her head. "No. But if you tell him I made him look good, he'll probably plow me with free drinks next time I'm in."
"In that case, I'll be sure to make a fuss."
"Do," she said. "You'll have to come in with me, too. We'll get fall down. It'll be fab."
"Sounds like fun."
"Can't do it tonight, though, unfortunately. Not with all the Who's Who milling about. But maybe next weekend if you're around?"
"Sure."
"Will you be around for a while or…?"
I nodded. "Hopefully. I mean, ideally I’ll get a part in something soon so I can at least afford to stay out here a little longer and keep chasing my big break."
"Oh cool. Well, if you need someone to show you all the best cheap places to eat and where you can get away with drinking in public, I'm your girl."
I smiled.
"And I might be going out on a limb here, but if you like going to weird artsy fartsy stuff- and you don't want to ruin your solid relationship by forcing Ethan to go along- my boyfriend and I will go to just about anything as long as the tickets are cheap."
"I will definitely take you up on that," I said. "And I'm sure that offer is good for at least a few extra free drinks from Ethan."
She smiled. "Excellent.”
"Now, before I forget," I said, leaning forward and scooting my drink her way. "Tell me more about your friend’s gallery."
Chapter 48: Ethan
She was amazing.
And smart, funny, elegant, charming… No one ever would've guessed that she was from a small town where the most important events happened outside the local Dairy Queen.
And every time my eyes came to rest on her across the room, I felt my chest swell. Once, I even looked down expecting to see beams of light.
She got along with everyone. I wasn't really worried that she wouldn’t, but I'd taken women out who weren't secure enough in themselves to be around people who had so much going for them.
But it was no sweat for Jenny, and frankly, having her on my arm made me feel as lucky and rich as everyone else in the room.
I looked across the elevator at her shiny eyes. She'd been the life of the party when we'd walked out, but she crashed pretty hard about halfway home- probably as a result of trying to keep up with Nora all night.
Her hair was a mess from laying on my shoulder in the cab and her shoes dangled from her fingertips.
"You were amazing tonight," I said as the elevator came to a stop on my floor.
"I felt it," she said, taking my arm. "Though it would be hard not to around all those people."
"I'm glad you liked them."
"I really did.” She leaned against the wall outside my door. “Everyone was so nice. And I think Nora and I could really be friends."
"From where I was standing, it looks like you already are."
"She and Woody are ridiculously cute together."
I nodded. "That guy is an inspiration."
"Totally." She smiled. "And I can see why you like Ben so much. He's so charming and-"
I scoffed. "Yeah. To be honest, if he weren't engaged, I never would've introduced him to you." I pushed the door open for her.
She walked in, flicking on the kitchen light and dropping her shoes at the same time. "Why not?"
"Cause I like being the charmer in your life," I said, leaning against the door to close it.
"You are," she said, her heavy lashes batting as she stepped up to me. "And if I still want you after meeting all those incredible people, you must be quite a catch."
I slung my hands around her lower back, and she let the weight of her lithe body lean on me.
Her face was full of concentration as she dragged a finger along my bottom lip. "Unrequited love is so overrated, eh?" she asked, raising her eyes to mine.
"I'm glad you had a good time," I said. "I was so proud to have you there with me."
She squinted.
"What?"
"You wouldn't have been proud to be with me ten years ago."
"Ten years ago I wasn't secure enough to be with someone so dazzling."
She rolled her eyes.
"Not to mention our family arrangement."
"Speaking of dazzling, I have some news."
I raised my eyebrows.
"It's a surprise." She pushed herself upright against my chest and went to the cupboard for a glass. "Hopefully a good one."
"I'm listening," I said, leaning against the counter.
She filled her glass at the sink.
"Is it a surprise like the one I got in the shower before the party?"
She smiled, her eyes smaller than usual from so many drinks. "I can't guarantee you'll be quite that excited about it, but-"
"Spit it out already."
She turned towards me and leaned a hip against the counter. "I found a gallery where you can have your first exhibition."
"What?"
"Nora's bestie works in a gallery that showcases local, undiscovered talent every week."
I swallowed.
"And she's going to send me the info so we can get you in."
"I don't know."
She raised her hand to the studio room behind me. "You can't just hoard all that precious art."
"You're the only one who thinks it's precious."
She set her glass down. "Because I'm the only one you've shown it to."
"Can I think about it?"
She shook her head. "No. That's you're whole problem. You thinking about it. You're supposed to enjoy making it and let other people think about it. Let other people figure out what it means to them."
I stepped up and drained the rest of her glass of water.
"Say yes," she said. "They might not even accept you, but you have to try. You can't just be the sole owner all your limited edition prints. It's a waste of your talent."
I sighed. "Kind of like if you were to give up all your ambition to stay home and make X-rated movies with me."
She pressed a finger against my chest. "Exactly. Excellent analogy."
I groaned.
"Say yes."
"Let me ask you something," I said.
"Shoot."
"Are you ever going to let this go?"
She shook her head, her eyes full of drunken defiance.
I smiled. "In that case, I'm willing to negotiate-"
"No negotiations. Just promise you'll send in a portfolio of your work, and if they won't take it then-"
"You didn't even let me finish."
She sighed. "Fine. Tell me about your conditions you stubborn artist you."
I laughed.
"I'll do it," I said. "If you'll move in with me."
She furrowed her brows. "I already have."
"No. You showed up, and I looked the other way-"
"You looked right down my shirt is what you did."
"Jenny."
"What?"
"Listen for a second."
"Fine," she said. "But you should know it feels kind of awkward when you throw it in my face that I sh
owed up uninvited-"
"Shut up."
She swallowed.
"I want you to stay officially. I want to drive across the country and pick up your shoes and crap so you're not living out of a suitcase. I want to get you a robe of your own so you never feel like you have to get dressed. I want to throw half of my clothes away to make room for your stuff, and I want you to be my mine for good. No secrets. No doubts. No unrequited bullshit ever again."
Half her mouth curled into a smile. "Just tons and tons of requiting?"
I nodded. "Yeah. You and me. Together at last. No more wasting time apart."
She squinted at me. "You're not worried this is all happening a bit fast?"
"No," I said, looking down at the freckles on her nose. "If anything, it's all happened way too fucking slow, and I feel this horrible pressure in my chest to make up for lost time."
"Are you sure it's not just gas?" she asked, unable to keep a straight face.
"I'm sure," I said. "And I'm trying to spill my guts here so if you don't mind holding the jokes-"
"Sorry." She raised a hand to my cheek. "I'm not trying to make light of what you're saying. I know it's sincere. And I feel it, too. I just don't want us to feel any more pressure. We have time now, and we're together. So let's just enjoy it and not try to speed up the clock."
"Is that a yes?"
She smiled. “Of course it’s a yes.”
My chest loosened. "Perfect."
"There's just one little problem,” she said, rocking up on her tippy toes.
I furrowed my brow. "What's that?"
"I don't know if I'd be comfortable living in a place where I hadn't been fucked on the kitchen counter."
"Totally understandable," I said, lifting her waist and setting her ass down next to the sink.
"Oh good," she said, hanging her arms around my neck. "I was worried you might think I was being a diva."
I shook my head. "Not at all. And I agree this is a situation we should correct immediately."
She leaned forward to whisper in my ear as her hands found my belt. "Then correct it already, Ethan. I’ve been wet for you all night."
Chapter 49: Jenny
I was down on my knees framing one of the New York skyline prints when Ethan came up with more frames from the car.
"Oh good," I said. "I was hoping you got some red ones. I think they'll look great with those."
He furrowed his brow. "The ones of you?"
"Yeah." I leaned the picture I’d just framed against the coffee table and sat back on my heels. "You don't agree?"
"Those aren't for sale."
I pressed my palms on my thighs. "What do you mean those aren't for sale?"
"I mean the print I did of you sitting naked for me isn't for anyone's eyes but mine."
"Don't be silly," I said, getting to my feet. "You can't even tell it's me, and it's such a good one."
He started sorting the frames on the kitchen counter. "Absolutely not."
I wiped my forehead on the back of my hand. "Look, Ethan, I'm flattered at your possessiveness, but you have to put at least one of those in."
"No I don't."
"But I'll sit for you anytime! And you still have the lino stamp. You can make more if you want whenever."
"I told you," he said. "They're a limited edition."
I folded my arms.
He glanced up at me. "I'm not changing my mind on this."
"You are," I said, walking over and laying my hand over his so he'd stop sorting frames. "This is your shot. Your moment. You have to stand out from the other people showcasing their work, and that print sexes up the whole collection."
"My skylines are sexy enough."
I craned my head forward. "Look at me."
He clenched his jaw and fixed his eyes on mine.
"Trust me on this. Please."
"I don't see why I should put it up if I wouldn't sell it."
"Cause you will sell it," I said. "For a pretty penny, too."
He shook his head.
"Oh c’mon. Everything has a price," I said. "Except for the memory we have of making it, and you can't showcase that anyway."
"Too bad. That would really turn out a crowd."
I sighed. "You know I'm right."
"It's personal."
"No it's not." I ran my hand through my hair. "That's what you don't understand because you haven't shown your work to enough people yet. Once you see that it's personal to them, you'll understand why you don't lose anything by sharing it."
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you done?”
I pointed at the red and yellow print of my back. "Someone is going to look at that, and they’re not going to see me. They’re going to see someone they love. And that little boy with the boat is going to mean something entirely different to someone else than whatever it means to you."
"Not much."
I rolled my eyes. "You get my point, though."
"I do."
"How about you do it my way this once- just to humor me- and I'll shut up about it after the exhibition."
He dropped his chin. "You'll shut up about it?"
I nodded.
"Well I'd be a fool not to take you up on that offer."
"Great. It's settled." I reached for one of the red frames and tiptoed through the minefield of stacked prints to get back to the ones of me.
A second later, there was a knock on the door.
I looked at him with wide eyes.
His expression was the same.
I shrugged and shook my head. Lord knows I wasn't expecting anyone. No one even knew I was here.
Ethan moved for the peephole, and when he turned back to me, his eyes were squeezed shut.
"Who is it?" I whispered.
He looked pissed for a second, but he hid his sulky expression before he opened the door.
"Hi Vicky," he said.
My back went straight. "Mom?"
She looked at me over Ethan's shoulder as she gave him a hug, her eyes sweeping across the room.
My stomach sank at how gutted Ethan must've felt that his prints were everywhere.
"What's all this?" she asked, opening her arms towards me.
I hopped back across the room and gave her a hug.
It felt nice to have her arms around me. She was a good hugger- even though she still hugged me like I was five. I looked over her shoulder at Ethan and mouthed the word sorry.
"It's for an art show," Ethan said.
"I see." She turned around and bent every which way, straining to admire the framed and unframed prints. "It’s a wonderful collection.”
I elbowed him behind her back.
"I love that one over there," she said, pointing to the print we'd just been arguing about.
"Ethan made them," I blurted.
She turned around with a hand over her chest. "What?"
"He's an artist. Surprise."
She shook her head. "Ethan, honey, these are remarkable. I had no idea you were still interested in art."
He shrugged.
"Speaking of surprises," I said. "What are you doing here, Mom?”
She pulled her sunglasses off her head and started folding them. "Ed wanted to go to a WW2 Auction in Pittsburgh with Uncle Jim."
I cocked my head. "Uh-huh."
"And I didn't want him driving all that way on his own." She tucked her glasses in the top of her shirt.
I furrowed my brow. "So you made him drive even further?"
She waved her hands at me. "It's only another five hours, and I haven't seen you in months."
I pursed my lips.
"Plus, I need a new pair of boots."
I squinted at her.
"But mostly I just wanted to see you guys!" She smiled. "You both look wonderful by the way."
"Where's my dad?" Ethan asked.
"He went to pick up some lunch." She glanced at her watch. "He didn’t want to show up empty handed after he sent Jenny here under false pretenses."
Ethan scoffed.
"Speaking of false pretenses, Mom-"
She raised her eyebrows.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Ethan and I have something to tell you."
Ethan laid his hand on my shoulder. "Jenny."
I looked at him. "We have to tell her. Besides, she'll know the best way to break the news to your dad."
He sighed.
“What’s going on?” my mom asked, shifting her weight.
I took a deep breath. "Ethan and I are dating."
Her eyes grew wide. "Dating who?"
"Each other," I said, standing as tall as I could.
She looked back and forth between us. "How long has this been going on?"
Ethan stepped up and rested his hand on my lower back.
I felt like I wasn't even in my own body, like I'd be able to plead insanity if she freaked out. "Since shortly after I arrived."
She leaned a hip against the counter and crossed her arms.
I thought I would faint before she broke the silence.
"I thought this might happen," she said softly.
I raised my eyebrows. "What?"
She shrugged. "I can't speak for Ethan, of course, but I suppose you've been hiding your feelings for long enough so-"
"What?! You knew?!” I shook my head. “But-"
She scrunched her face. "I may have read your diary once or twice."
My mouth fell open. "Once or twice?! What the hell, Mom?!"
"How else was I supposed to make sure you weren't using drugs?"
I furrowed my brow. "I don't know! Freaking ask me maybe?!"
“Relax, Jenny. It's not like I made photocopies."
My hands went to my head. "Photocopies?! You shouldn't have read it."
“True,” she said. "But you also shouldn't have left it around like any old book."
"That’s no excuse! God. Has everyone had a skim through my diary?" I spun around and looked at Ethan. "What about you? Did it ever fall open in front of you?"
He looked down between his feet.
I smacked him in the chest.
"Once," he said, turning red. "Better than once or twice, though, right?" he asked, glancing at my mom.
I slapped my fists down at my sides. "Unbelievable."
"Calm down," my mom said. "It wasn't exactly a page turner."
I covered my face with my hands.
"Sorry,” she said. “I shouldn't have mentioned it."