Page 99 of Second Round

“How did you even know I hadashow?”

“Hannah and Tris told me. The night I droppedhimoff.”

“Oh. Well, thank you for coming,” I said. “Even if you are several hoursearly.”

“Sorry about that. I have a gametonight,so....”

I smiled. “So you didn’t get all dressed up just for my opening? You look—” I didn’t even know how to finish that sentence. Handsome. Hot. Very hot. “—um,good.”

He moved closer. “And you, Jacqueline. You are even more beautiful thanusual.”

I seemed to be experiencing my first ever hot flash. If a hot flash began in your nether regions. I took one step back. “Um, did you see anyoneelsehere?”

He shook his head. “Who are youlookingfor?”

“Oh, Darlene told me there was someone who was interested in getting a painting. I guess I took too long togethere.”

“It’s me. I’m the one who wants to buy one of yourpaintings.”

“You? But that’s crazy. You’re the one who said you prefer black-and-white photographs. Why would you want a painting?” Especially since the strongest element in my work wascolour.

He reached under the chair and picked up a small cardboard box. Then he stood up and walked towards me. “Because I want to live in your world. The kind of world that’s full of fun. And warmth. Andcolour.”

“But....”

He held up the box, which was taped and sealed. “I ordered these—like yousuggested.”

I took the package, which was from some place in the States. I shook it, and the box was very light. Leo told me to open it. Inside were a bunch of booklets and a glasses case. I opened it up and found a pair of tintedsunglasses.

“Oh wow. These are the correcting glasses—for colour blindness! You got them.” They looked so mundane, like ordinaryglasses.

He nodded. “Now, I’m going to wear them for the first time and seeyourshow.”

Leo opened up the glasses and put them on. The retro style of them and the fact he was wearing them indoors made him look like a handsome Roy Orbison. He looked around at thepaintings.

No gasps of joy. No tears. Hesquinted.

“Is it working?” Iasked.

“Well, that’s green, right?” He pointed to one of my landscapes. “The green looks veryintense.”

He turned and noticed my disappointed expression. “I can see more colour. But maybe they work better outside in the sunshine. It’s a little darkinhere.”

“I was hoping you’d fall down weeping at the sight of my beautiful artwork,” Ijoked.

Leo took off the glasses and faced me. His golden-brown eyes searched my face. “You forget, I’m already very familiar with how beautiful your paintings are. I wake up to oneeveryday.”

I was struck wordless. This was the best thing someone had ever said about my art, and I blinked back my stupidtears.

“Jackie, before we go on, can I say how sorry I am? For hurting you. I’ve wanted to apologize for that night when you were so warm and wonderful—but I gave younothingback.”

I stared at the worn carpet. “It’s okay. You told me that you couldn’t do relationship stuff. It was my ownfault.”

“No, it was never your fault. You’re the most generous person I’ve ever known.” He stepped closer and put his hands on my shoulders. The warmth of his hands touched the core of me. Yet I wanted to push him away and cover myself in the shattered pieces of my pride. Leo had hurt me. I couldn’t just take him backlikethis.

But I couldn’t play games with him either. There was nobody who made me light up inside like Leo. This whole moment was beautiful and overwhelming—to have Leo apologize, here among my paintings. It was like the fantasy I didn’t even knowIhad.

“Thank you for your apology,” I said. I was full of hopes, but I had no idea where this was allgoing.

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