Page 31 of A Small Town Spring

“Once Fernanda sets you up with your big New York show, it’s all over for us.You’ll be hot shit, and we’ll say, ‘We knew him when.’”

I laugh uncomfortably.“She’s only coming to look—no promises.”

“But you do want to have a show, don’t you?”he presses.“Get your work out there more.”

I sigh and cross my arms over my chest, feeling defensive even though I know he’s asking the right question.“I know I should, but it’s complicated.Right now I feel like I’m holding on so tight to my paintings they’re going to crumble in my hands.And that’s not what I want, either.”

“You’re doing the right thing by meeting with Fernanda.Sometimes to grow, things have to get scary.”

“Yeah—what scary things have you been up to?”It’s easier to turn things around on him than contemplate the terror that is exposing my work to the vicious tongues of the art world.

“Actually, I’m working on opening my own agency.It’s scary as hell.”He doesn’t sound scared, though.He sounds excited, in control.What I wouldn’t give for a fraction of his confidence.

“Wow!I had no idea.It sounds like a big undertaking.”

“It’s one of the reasons I’ve been in the city so much.I’m wooing a couple of agents who I want to set up shop with.We’ll pool our resources and make something new.I want a shop where agents don’t have to be worried they won’t make their mortgage payments if they don’t sell something that month.Everyone gets a guaranteed base salary and benefits.”

“That’s remarkable.And not usually how it works, is it?”

“It’s not an entirely new idea, but it’s risky.But I’ve been successful enough to be able to put plenty aside for a cushion.Hopefully, I’ll be able to nurture some new talent this way.”

Of course he wants to use his success to mentor others.“That’s so exciting, Kingston.”

“And scary,” he adds with a smile.“Suddenly I’m going to have all these people depending on me.But if it works, it’ll make things better for everyone.”

“I love that.And I have no doubt it’ll work.What’s the next step?”

“Well, publishing gets quiet in August, so I’m taking some time off to recharge, then in the fall it’ll be full steam ahead.Lawyers and LLCs and looking for office space.”

“Office space?In New York?”

“Where else?”

It is the center of publishing.Makes sense that Kingston would make it his home base.I’m just greedy for wanting him around more.Not that we’ll still be roommates by the fall.I should find someplace else to live by then.

“Kingston, hey.”Ivy walks up to us and greets him with a kiss on the cheek that makes me unaccountably grumpy.“I haven’t had a chance to thank you for giving this one a roof.”

“My pleasure, darling,” he drawls.“How’ve you been?”

I excuse myself, for some reason, not wanting to hear them make small talk.I get some food, pour myself a tall glass of iced tea, and sit down next to Van Eastman.I was intimidated by the handsome, somewhat aloof actor the first couple of times I met him, but the more we talked, the more I got that he’s actually a softie, especially when he’s around his boyfriend, Beck.Something about the blond baker makes Van softer, more approachable.

I take a bite of pasta salad and watch Kingston and Ivy from afar.They seem to be deep in a conversation that apparently requires Ivy to touch Kingston’s arm every three seconds.

“Something wrong with the pasta salad?”Van asks worriedly.“It’s not off, is it?”

“Off?”I look down at my fork, then back at Kingston and Ivy.“No, it’s delicious.”

“You looked like you had a bad taste in your mouth.”He follows the direction of my gaze and hums thoughtfully.“I heard about you and Ivy.Are you okay?”

“Sure.I’m getting there.”Ivy puts her hand on Kingston’s shoulder and they both let out peals of laughter that I can hear across the yard.My grip on my fork tightens.What is going on with me?Ivy is a gorgeous woman, but I was never jealous over her.I’m not even with Kingston, but I feel some kind of way about him being touched by other people, including my ex—which is absurd.

Abruptly, I put down my fork and flash Van a weak smile.“Sorry.Distracted.”It’s not like Kingston would be interested in her, anyway.From everything I’ve picked up about him from his friends and his own words, Kingston’s gay.

But what if I’ve missed something?I look around, see that Van and I are relatively isolated.“Forgive me for the question, but Kingston’s gay, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” Van says in a knowing voice.I narrow my eyes at him.

“What?We were all young once,” he says.“Kingston and Pete and I have known each other forever.”

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