Page 42 of Me Three
“Let me spell this out for you, Mr. Walker. This is not a competition. I like you both equally, and I’d like to get to know you both even better. Is that okay with you?” I ask him.
I watch him take a few breaths, looking down at my chest, biting his lips, then he swallows and lifts his gaze to meet mine.
“Y-yes,” he says. “It is.”
“Fabulous,” I tell him and give him a kiss on the lips. A kiss that’s chaste, but lasts a little longer than usual, making all the promises of what’s to come.
His face lights up, his smile infectious.
Carter puts his bag on the luggage rack next to ours and changes shirts before he announces he’s ready, and we make our way to the exhibition. I’ve already been looking forward to the event, but now that I know both men are going with me, I get giddy and nervous at the same time. Just like I got in high school when my crush would talk to me and I had to find all my strength to not let it show.
“I take it back. Thatwasinteresting,” Carter says when we leave the gallery.
I’ve still got my notebook at hand, and I’ve got enough notes to help me finish this project for Art Imitating Art.
“Which you’d know already if you weren’t such a stubborn bastard and actually went to exhibitions with me,” Ev says. “Do you think that will help you with your project?” he asks me.
“Oh, definitely. I’ve already got a hundred thousand ideas running through my head,” I say.
“So what exactly do you have to do?” Carter asks.
I put my notebook in my satchel and turn to Carter as we walk out of the building into the chilly bustle of Virginia Beach.
“Every few weeks we’re assigned an artist. We have to study their work, their life, their influences. Basically get into their minds, sort of become them, and then create an original painting in their style.”
“Wow. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Some of those things were kooky as fuck,” he replies.
“Thank you for the invite,” I turn to say to Ev again. “This was just what I needed to get me out of my rut and get me to work.”
“My pleasure.” Ev smiles. “I may have snooped one afternoon with Garrison.”
I gawk at him in disbelief.
“Wait, you talked to Anita?” I ask.
Ev gives Carter the side-eye before looking at me.
“What? We’re friends.”
Carter dry coughs.
“Friendly. Whatever. Same difference. She just told me about her classes, and I happened to mention you.”
“You didn’t,” I gasp and try to keep up breathing. “O-M-G. So embarrassing.”
“Not at all. She actually thinks very highly of you,” he says.
“She-she does?”
“You know, you make quite the impression on people, little cabbage,” he says, and his hands grab me by the shoulder and tighten me in his embrace, giving my temple a kiss before letting go.
Carter is watching us.
“You-you guys have pet names already?” he asks.
Everett laughs.
“Kinda,” he says.
