Page 51 of Pretend for Me

“Cassie, darling.”Marcus tapped me on the shoulder as I took a sip from one of the tiny glasses of wine that were being handed out by half-naked models.

“Yes, Marcus?” I chewed my lip nervously. I had been trying to gauge people’s reactions to my art all night and was failing miserably. Audrey and my eavesdropping needed work.

“You’re a smash hit! I have people asking me about this newcomer, C. Wright. I have two bids on that gorgeous canvas. They want more from you, honey. You’re going to be busy,” Marcus boasted, air kissing me his congratulations and moving on to smoke his cigarette away from the artwork.

I turned to Audrey who was babbling to a random woman about the importance of TNR, Trap Neuter Release, for cats. The poor college-aged girl had no idea what the lunatic cat lady was talking about.

I appreciated Audrey’s support and passion, but I wished sometimes she would tone down the crazy for five minutes. Listening on were also two other waitresses from Sonny’s. Iwasn’t particularly close with them, but I was grateful that they showed up.

“Audrey,” I signaled, rescuing the girl who showed her thanks expressively through her eyes. “I did it! Marcus said the show is a success. Two people are fighting over the painting.” I squealed, hugging my closest friend.

As I pulled away from Audrey, I looked up to see none other than Bridget Thomas entering the gallery. Fatima was trekking behind her as well.

My eyes widened at the sudden presence of my boss and boss’s best friend.

“What are Bridget and Fatima doing here?” I shrieked to Audrey, panicking and thinking the worst. Were they here to sabotage my success?

“I invited them. Well technically, they invited themselves once I mentioned you had an art show in front of a couple of the girls at work,” Audrey blurted, moving to greet the two beautiful women walking toward us.

“Cassie,” Bridget greeted, nodding her head.

Fatima smiled, embracing Audrey in a hug, since they were closer.

“Hi, Bridget.” I eyed Bridget’s casual attire. I had never seen the woman wear anything besides her chef coat and very pristine dresses. Always appropriately cut. Bridget was wearing leather pants that looked painted on and a sexy V-neck top. She looked hot. There was no doubt about that. It was shocking that Holden would let her out of the house dressed like that.

“Congratulations. What an accomplishment!” Bridget handed me a card, and Fatima urged me to open it. It was signed by every employee of the restaurant. Even some regular customers signed it as well.

My heart warmed. I never had people who cared about me and supported me like this. Other than Matthew.

“I know it’s not much, but on Monday, we are going to have a little cake for you as well,” Fatima added, smiling.

I looked at Audrey, grateful that she told people about my big night. Even though I disliked attention, now that I was getting recognition, I couldn’t help but bask in it.

“Thank you so much,” I choked out, a lump formed in the back of my throat. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

Bridget nodded and briefly smiled before breaking the ice. “Where’s this painting? I hope it’s not as good as the one that was hanging in my restaurant. By the way, Cassie, that wall is pretty bare now. Better get moving on a new piece of art. Tick tock.”

The painting wasn’t the same as the one that hung in the restaurant. No, that one was forged during a painful time in my life. A moment where I tried to put Matthew out of my mind, time and time again. Painting this new canvas after seeing him again after all these years, I had a different perspective. Fresh eyes. While I didn’t want to acknowledge how wrong webothhad been, my art did the talking for me.

He’d always been my favorite muse. This painting was of two hands reaching out in the darkness for the one another. Nothing else mattered. Nobody knew how I longed for that sentiment to be true.

Lost in my thoughts, the ladies walked ahead of me. I was still too stunned by Bridget’s attendance and my own revelations to move. I couldn’t fathom what it would be like to have a tribe of people truly care for me, to offer me support unconditionally. There was a part of me that just couldn’t rationalize it. It was such a foreign concept to me, and I was always wary, constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, but this felt nice and I wanted to relish in it—to have hope for once. Growing up the way I did, I was never quick to make or hold onto friends, so I had stoppedtrying. Maybe it was time for me to give it another shot and put myself out there.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch, and it not only was a great night for my art, but I also found myself surrounded by love. The only dark cloud over the evening was the realization that despite all the people around offering praise, the one who I truly loved was not by my side when I wanted him most. I had nobody to blame but myself.

Love was for fools after all.

26

MATTHEW

Lunch service was in full swing when I waltzed into the restaurant, dressed casually. I had just met Holden at Silas’s office to discuss some more names attached to the Cayman accounts.

I looked around for Audrey, and I found her in between customers at the main bar. I knew Cassie wasn’t working because I’d asked Fatima at the hostess stand, deciding I wouldn’t have entered if she had been. My business there didn’t involve her for once.

“Audrey.” I grinned, greeting her.

Audrey eyed my eager ass, curiously. “What are you up to? She’s not here by the way,” Audrey demanded, brashly.

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