Page 18 of Our Secret Summer

“He must have something really important to say. I’ll go into my room and call him back.”

Dylan nodded

Her phone chirping in her hand, Raffo hurried upstairs. Cell reception wasn’t nearly as bad as she and Dylan had been pretending. She called Connor back and he picked up after the first ring.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your me time, Raff,” Connor said. “But I figured you’d want to know this straightaway.”

Did Mia and Ophelia split up? Raffo’s heart started racing.

“Guess who’s going to have a show at the Dolores Flemming Gallery in Chicago this fall?”

“Who?” Raffo said stupidly, her mind still stuck on Mia.

“This incredible artist called Raffo Shah. Surely, you’ve heard of her,” Connor all but shouted down the line.

“What? No way. You got me into Dolores Flemming’s Gallery?”

“I sure did, babe. I sure did.”

Dolores Flemming’s prestigious Chicago galleries were kingmakers in the art scene—a single show could launch an artist’s career.

“To be honest,” Connor said, “and you might want to sit for this. She called me. Dolores Flemming wants you, Raff. How’s that?”

“That is amazing…” Raffo’s voice caught. After weeks of emotional blows, here was some purely good news.

“I’m not calling to put pressure on you,” Connor added quickly. “I just wanted you to know. We can absolutely put on a show without new work.”

“Thanks so much for letting me know, Con. I so appreciate this.”

“How are things in Big Bear? How are you holding up?”

“Good.” This was excruciating. Connor was her best friend. Raffo couldn’t lie to him, but she also couldn’t break Dylan’s confidence. “Better. I got my painting materials out yesterday.” She would also never be able to show Connor the painting she’d started on—and Connor saw every little doodle that she drew. “It’s early days, but still.”

“That’s so great. Ah, Raff. That makes me so happy.”

“Yeah.” Whereas Raffo never had an issue making conversation with Connor, she didn’t know what to say next because she didn’t want to say the wrong thing—she didn’t want to betray Dylan.

“The house is okay? Up to your standards?”

“The house is absolutely wonderful. Thank you for sending me here and, um, letting me use it.”

“It’s not my house. Thank my mom when she gets back from Europe.”

“You know what I mean.” Raffo’s hand got so clammy, she nearly dropped her phone.

“Sure. Look, I gotta go. I have a meeting.” Sweet mercy. Raffo was too tongue-tied under these circumstances to enjoy this chat with her friend. “Congratulations. You’re the bomb, Raffo. Love you.”

She rang off and took a breath. With the tension of pretending to be alone in the house, she hadn’t paid enough attention to the reason why Connor had called. Dolores Flemming was one of the most highly regarded gallerists in the country—and a very hot, power lesbian to boot—who could elevate an artist’s career to the very top. Raffo’s career was already on the up, but who knows where this might lead? Instinctively, the first thing she wanted to do was call Mia to share this wonderful news. Instead, she took another breath and rushed downstairs to do the next best thing. Share the news with Dylan.

CHAPTER 14

Raffo bounded down the stairs transformed, excitement replacing her earlier tension. Yet Dylan’s own anxiety lingered because Connor’s perfectly ordinary phone call had left her feeling like the worst mother on the planet.

“Good news?” Despite feeling guilty, Dylan couldn’t help but mirror Raffo’s smile.

“The best. I’m going to have a show in the number one art gallery in Chicago this fall. It’s like a dream.”

Dylan was so happy for Raffo to get some good news for a change. Yet, she stopped herself from getting up to hug her—she was barely wearing any clothes.

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