Page 45 of Just Between Us

Levi shoots me a conspiratorial look. “Christian owns the gallery. He’s a friend of my father’s. Tom is probably some poor art student he spends his days bullying.” He bumps my shoulder. “C’mon.”

The upstairs of the gallery has been sectioned off to create small rooms that lead into each other. The first room is swathed in red light. Slashes of red create shadows that look like tree monsters against the white walls. It’s a simple trick of the light but goosebumps lift on my skin, like I’m being watched by something I cannot see.

“This is creepy,” I say to Levi.

He laughs quietly, looking right at me. “You want me to hold your hand?” he whispers.

I laugh quietly but the idea has my heart racing, and my eyes can’t help but dart to his free hand as we make our way through the rooms.They alternate between disturbing and comforting, from what appears to be a violent scene to what feels like a home.

When we get to the final room, Levi pulls out his phone and switches to the camera. “We have to take a picture for Cole,” he says, pulling me closer before I can react.

His face is close to mine, his smile bright. I try to match but it feels like Levi is a whirlwind and I’m caught in a tailspin. When he holds up his phone for me to see, we are both smiling, and we look happy—comfortable, like two guys on a date at a creepy art gallery.

Only, this is not a date and he’s sending that picture to his boyfriend.

I try not to get lost in my thoughts, my eyes looking around the final room.It’s covered in a thousand tiny silver lights. In the dark, it’s like we’re stuck in endless space, surrounded by fireflies suspended in the air.

Levi sits on the floor and beckons me over, crossing his legs like a schoolboy in assembly. There are three other people in the room and when I go over to Levi, one of them glares at me but I can’t find it in me to care.

“Beautiful,” he whispers next to me.

I glance at him, and I can’t help the smile that breaks out on my face. He must feel me staring because he turns to me and our eyes lock. The thousands of tiny lights in the room reflect in his eyes until they look like they are made of stars.

He leans forward and places a gentle hand on my cheek. I suck in a quiet breath, and he grins.We’re so close, that my heart is racing inside my chest and when he brushes his lips against mine, a surge of electricity runs through me. I let him kiss me, moving his mouth against mine, teasing his tongue against my lips but it only lasts for a second because all too soon, he’s pulling away.

He licks his bottom lip, eyes locked on mine. “This feels like the kind of place you should get a kiss; don’t you think?”

I feel myself nod but my brain is foggy, confusion rippling through me. I can still feel the tingle of electricity on my lips, and I know I need to pull myself together. “I bet there will be a thousand pictures of people making out in this room by next week.” I mask my fluster with a laugh.

Levi’s eyes flash with something but he’s looking back at the lights before I can read it.

Christian is a tall man with a head of full white hair. He towers above everyone in the room and when he spots Levi he flings his arms wide open and cries, “Levi! It’s so good to see you.”

Levi lets Christian pull him into a hug and then a double-cheek kiss.

“It’s great to see you too, Christian. It’s been a long time.”

The gallery owner nods, reaching out for a flute of champagne. Judging by his eyes, this isn’t his first. “Yes, you don’t want to buy art from me anymore? Have you found someone else?” he asks. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone to Alissa!” He holds a hand to his heart, looking well put out.

Levi laughs, shaking his head. “No, you know I’d never betray you like that.”

“Good. Good. But if you do find yourself looking for something please give me a call. I’ve got some lovely pieces I know you’d love.” He pauses, narrowed eyes landing on me. “And where is Cole?”

I shift away from Levi a little.

“Cole is working tonight but this is Kai,” Levi says. “A good friend of mine.”

Christian nods, his eyes softening slightly.

“Pleasure to meet you. You have a beautiful space,” I say. “I liked the exhibition, especially Discomfort. Really riveting.”

He grins widely this time. “Oh, wonderful taste, Kai!” His eyes scan the room. “Emiko should be here somewhere. I’ll ask her to come and meet you.”

When he scurries away, Levi bumps my shoulder with a smile. “Well played. He loves being praised.”

Emiko comes over and I watch as she discusses the exhibition with Christian and Levi. I try to participate but the words they throw out barely make any sense.

Visual. Feeling. Moved.

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