Page 51 of Colors and Curves

Chapter 24

Julius

It’s been a week and two days since Chance died and I pushed Skylar away. My life is emptier than it has ever been before. Even with all the shit I’ve dealt with in the past.

I’ve tried to crawl back into my old routine, but it doesn’t feel right. Chance isn’t here anymore. He doesn’t need to be taken for a walk or be fed or be played with. Skylar somehow also became a part of that routine. Taking lazy walks with Chance after work had become our favorite part of the day. It was like we were already a family and Chance was our son. It was only for a short time, but I miss it like hell.

I missherlike hell. The horrible weight on my chest isn’t just because I’ve lost Chance. It’s because I’ve lost her too. Well, I didn’t lose her. I pushed her away. She did nothing wrong. She did everything right, and I let her down. It’s all my fault.

She left her duffel bag here the day Chance died. When I finally came out of my room, I promptly tripped over it. Daisy stuck it right in front of my door. On purpose, I’m sure. I put it in my room and left it there. Skylar hasn’t called to say she wants it back, and I haven’t had the nerve to call her. I’ve asked Daisy to return it for me, but she refused. She keeps saying it’s my problem to deal with… along with a bunch of other things I don’t want to hear.

The bag has been staring at me every day. I want to open it but every time I do, I find something to distract me until I don’t anymore. And then I picked it up. All it took was opening the zipper to be surrounded by a cloud of her vanilla scent. And then I knew.

She was right about everything she said to me before I shoved her out my door. I’m ashamed of myself and how weak I am. Yes, I had to grieve. But I could have grieved with her.

I went to the gallery a couple of days ago and watched her through the window. She was with a customer, so she didn’t see me. And then… she smiled at the woman, and my heart broke in two. She was smiling, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.Have I extinguished her light?It’s all I can think of.

I’d do anything to make her smile again. The one that lit me up every time I saw it. Wait a second! An idea suddenly pops into my head. With a spike of energy swimming through my veins, I open my laptop and search through my photos.

I yank my mobile out of my pocket to call Cameron. He showed up here a couple of nights after Chance died. We talked a lot about what happened, and I also opened up about Sky when he asked me about her. He didn’t say anything that I hadn’t already heard from Daisy regarding pushing Sky away. When he left, I told him I’d be in touch about work. I call his number.

He answers on the first ring. “Hey, Julius. How are you doing?”

We chat for a few minutes, then I get to the point. “So the main reason I’m calling is that I need help on a project. It’s to win Sky back. Are you in?”

“Fuck yeah.”

“Good. Come by at nine tomorrow morning.” He agrees and we disconnect the call.

Next, I text Daisy and ask her for Monica Morrison’s phone number.

Skylar waswrong. Idosee her and I’m going to prove it. I’ve seen her all along.

This had better work.

Chapter 25

Skylar

Monica called me the other day and said she’d be in the city for some art event. She wants to meet at the gallery today. It’s Sunday morning and I’m tired. I’m pretty much tired of everything right now.

Yesterday was the last day of Julius’s exhibit. Monica wants to help me take everything down and discuss the next photographer’s exhibit and opening before she heads back to Boston. On top of that, we need to go through the resumes we’ve received for the open position.

My days have consisted of me submerging myself in work as a distraction. Ironically—no, unfortunately—I’m surrounded by Julius’s photographs while I’m at work. The nameJulius Aritihas been on constant repeat in my head as I try to replace my memories of Julius Levi with those early ones, before I knew who he really was. When that didn’t work, I just hid in my office until someone entered the gallery.

I haven’t heard a peep from him. It’s been torture not to hear his sexy voice, to feel his soft lips against mine, or to see his gorgeous face. I think what I miss the most are the lazy walks we’d take with Chance, hand in hand. He made us laugh so much. We had become three peas in a pod instead of two.

Sometimes, at odd moments, I’ve felt like he was near me. I even thought I saw him out the corner of my eye a few times. But when I search for him, he’s never there. Just blank faces in the crowds around me. Wishful thinking. Daisy only communicates with me through email. And as soon as we take down this exhibit, I won’t have any contact with her either.

I glance at my phone and purse my lips. Monica doesn’t usually get on my nerves, but this weekend she has. She sent me about ten messages yesterday and a couple more already this morning. Now she’s wondering where I am—I’m only two minutes late! I text back that I’m on my way and jam my phone into my pocket. I can’t deal. Man, I’m in a shitty mood today.

Before long, I can see the door to the gallery. Monica’s there, waiting impatiently. She sees me and steps outside with her purse like she’s leaving.

“Hey, Monica. Are you going somewhere?”

“I broke something, and I need to go buy a new one. I’ll be back in a little while.”

“Um. Okay. I’ll be here.” She waves and hurries off.

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