Page 202 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

RURIK MY ANGEL

-My FAMILY is doing great. We’re at this local bar near my place.

ME:

-Oooh, exciting ;P

RURIK MY ANGEL

-It is.

ME:

-Question. Who’s Vincent Van Gogh? I saw you using my laptop to browse through this site about him.

It was to see an immersive show of his paintings. I checked the dates available and didn't miss the flash of disappointment when he realized he would be working those days. So I may have called Oscar and begged him to give Rurik one of the days off secretly.

He did, and he promised not to tell Rurik because it was a secret. I purchased us two tickets to this event, and I’m going to surprise him with them when he thinks he’s on his way to work.

RURIK MY ANGEL:

-You did not just fucking ask me that.

-Briar.

-I thought you said you love art.

ME:

-I do. I love the artwork, but that doesn’t mean I know anything about the artist.

RURIK MY ANGEL:

-You’re joking. Please tell me this is you joking.

Of course, I’m joking. But he doesn’t need to know that. I just love to fuck with him because I miss him. So I keep going.

ME:

-Is he your colleague in the gallery?

RURIK MY ANGEL:

-Are you fucking kidding me?

-He did the Starry Night painting you love.

ME:

-Ooh, the guy who cut his ear off.

RURIK MY ANGEL:

-Mental health’s no joke, Briar.

I snort out loud after reading that text.

“Don’t I know it,” I mutter, ready to reply.

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