Page 123 of Meet Me in Berlin

‘Yeah. I’m thinking about home. Melbourne’s cold like this in winter, and…’ I swallow back the emotion. ‘Miss it sometimes.’

Jaz gives me a sympathetic smile. ‘They’ll all be so proud of you. Your Mum and Dad especially.’

I nod. ‘Just wish they could be here.’

Leila slides her arm across my shoulder. ‘They’re always with you.’

‘Your aunty and cousin will be here,’ Jaz says. ‘And Adam, Meg and Nat are going to follow the live stream…’

I give them a grateful smile. ‘You’re right. Just having a moment.’

We arrive at the gallery and Jaz knocks on the glass doors.

Casey’s face lights up and she rushes out. ‘You’re here!’ She makes a beeline for me and kisses me. Her lips are soft and warm on my cold face, her hands gentle on my neck, and it feels like forever since our last kiss. ‘Hello, lovely,’ she says.

I brush my nose against hers. ‘Hello.’

‘For God’s sake, you two,’ Jaz says. ‘It’s freezing out here. Do your canoodling inside.’

Casey ushers us in and we unravel scarves and shrug off coats. Her mouth drops open as she looks me up and down. ‘Babe.’

I raise a suggestive brow. ‘Like it?’

She throws her head back and moans. ‘How am I going to concentrate on work when you look like that?’

‘What did I say?’ Jaz says with a sly grin, then waves a finger between us. ‘I do not want to walk into the toilets and hear you two shaggin’ in a cubicle.’

I laugh. ‘I think we can control ourselves.’

Casey kisses my neck, her hand sliding down my back. ‘I don’t think I can. You look incredible.’

My body sizzles under her touch and I giggle as she nuzzles my neck.

‘Ahem.’ Josanne is watching us with raised eyebrows, her lips twitching. ‘I don’t think that’s the kind of exhibition people are coming to see.’

Casey grins. ‘Sorry.’

Josanne’s eyes flick over me. ‘I can’t blame her. You look amazing, Holly.’ She turns to Jaz and Leila, who both look stunning. Jaz is dressed in a black, glimmery suit and Leila is in a slinky emerald-green dress – the same one she’s wearing in one of my photos. ‘And you two, just gorgeous.’ She gives Casey a tap on the arm. ‘Well, get your friends and girlfriend’ – she turns to me – ‘sorry, artist, a drink, Casey.’

‘Sorry. I got side-tracked,’ Casey says. ‘Drinks coming up.’

She crosses the floor and disappears through the staff entrance with her colleague Michaela.

The gallery looks incredible. There’s a huge Christmas tree in the window decorated with gold baubles and twinkling lights. Large, shimmering stars and mistletoe hangs from the ceiling. Artwork for the new exhibition is spaciously displayed in the main gallery, and through the doorway into the smaller, side gallery, I glimpse the digital art display. My eyes cut to the back wall and I breathe in sharply.

Josanne gives my back a maternal rub. ‘Your photos are incredible, Holly. I hope you’re ready to take on some portrait work after tonight.’

I feel my face break into a wide grin. ‘I am. Thank you for letting me be part of this.’

She points to Casey, who’s approaching us with a tray of champagne flutes. ‘Thank your superstar curator girlfriend there. This is her exhibition and I trust her judgement.’

Everything inside me softens. I’m only in the exhibition because an artist pulled out and Casey needed to fill the space fast, but I also know she could’ve found someone else if she really wanted to. I already knew about the theme for the exhibition, which had inspired some photo ideas. So when the opportunity arose, I gave Casey and Josanne a proposal and they both loved it. Luckily for me, I was able to execute my ideas better than I imagined.

‘Here you go,’ Casey says, handing me the champagne.

I thank her with a lingering kiss.

When we part, she touches the H pendant of my necklace. ‘I am so proud of you.’

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