Page 19 of Love Notes and Late Nights
Harris wanted to see it, curious about the image, but didn’t want to push since he knew Wolf was private about his artwork. “Do you mind if I ask what it was?”
Wolf’s eyes squinted as he looked off to the side. “It was more of a feeling the place gave me. I don’t know if I captured it, but I think I did. Can I bring it over?”
“Shit yeah!”
“I need to get cleaned up.” Wolf wiped his nose, smearing more paint on it—this time yellow. “Give me about an hour or so, depending on traffic.”
“I’ll be here.”
Ninety minutes later, Wolf was at Harris’ door with a plastic bag full of take out. “I hope you’re hungry. I got Panda Express.”
“I could go for Panda Express.” Harris wasn’t hungry, but he’d eat because Wolf went to the trouble of bringing food. He frowned when he saw nothing else in Wolf’s hands. “Where’s the painting?”
“It’s in the car. Take this.” Wolf handed the plastic bag to Harris and carefully retrieved the painting from his car.
Curious and anxious to see it, Harris held the door open and stretched his neck to get a glimpse of the painting, but Wolf held it at an angle.
“It’s still a little wet. Do you know how hard it was to drive while making sure this thing didn’t fall off the seat? Where can I set it down? I need to lean it against the wall or something.”
Harris cleared off the credenza closest to the door. “Right here.” He watched as Wolf set the painting down and then stepped back so they could both admire it. “It’s beautiful,” Harris stated.
Wolf shot a crooked smile at Harris. “You don’t know what it is yet.”
It seemed obvious. “It’s a river surrounded by mountains. Where is this place?”
“In my head. I saw it in my dream while you were holding me.” Wolf stepped closer to the painting and explained. “The mountains represent you, and the river represents me. In the background, the mountains are big, overshadowing the water which is small and narrow. It almost looks like a stream. The ripples in the water show the current is moving forward toward the foreground, at the bottom of the painting where the mountains get smaller and the river is wide, almost taking up the entire width of the canvas.” Wolf indicated the top part of the painting where the mountains were the largest and the water the narrowest. “This part represents how I felt last night when we first went to bed. I felt small and helpless, and your arms surrounded me like a shield or a barrier, like the way the mountains are protecting the river so nothing can reach it. Then, as the water traveled, which took time to get from there to here.” He pointed from the top of the painting to the bottom where the mountains were small and the river wide. “The water was exposed. Open. Bold and confident. But the mountains were still there on either side. Ready. Just in case the water needed protection again.” Wolf paused and stared at the painting, eyes dancing and animated. “I love the way it came out. Do you see it now? How I came here last night scared and frightened, afraid to sleep alone. Then you held me and told me everything was going to be OK. That you were going to protect me. When I woke up in the morning, all those insecure feelings disappeared, and I wasn’t afraid anymore. I felt like nothing could hurt me.” He moved his index finger in a circular motion in front of the low mountains where the ocean was at its widest. “I didn’t need protection anymore.”
Harris saw the painting through Wolf’s eyes, and it was a complete revelation. “I can’t believe you captured all that in a painting. It’s astounding. It’s . . .” He made a motion with his hands as if the top of his head just exploded. “Mind-blowing.”
Wolf smiled so wide it was hard to believe he was the same guy who showed up here last night on the verge of a breakdown. “I want you to have it.”
“No. Wolf. It’s yours, and it means so much to you.” Harris was humbled and touched by the gesture, but he couldn’t take it. The gift was too much.
“You better take it.” Wolf socked Harris in the shoulder. “I don’t give artwork out lightly. It’s like a piece of me.”
“OK. I didn’t mean I didn’t want it. Of course, I want it. I love it. I loved it before, when I first saw it, but after you explained it to me . . .” Harris shook his head, unable to find the words to convey the epiphany that overtook him. “I’m speechless.”
Wolf nodded slowly. “That’s the best compliment I ever received. In a couple of days, we’ll get it framed. So, pick out a place where you want to hang it. Now, how about heating up that Chinese food. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch.”
After the late meal, they ended up watching Netflix for a couple of hours, and Wolf left around two in the morning, giving Harris a long hug. “Thanks again, bruh. For everything.”
And then he shocked the hell out of Harris by giving him a big, wet kiss on the cheek. It wasn’t romantic or flirtatious in the least, but the frivolity of it filled Harris with whimsy and good spirits and made him smile. “Anytime. Get home safe. Call if you need anything.”
Harris watched Wolf’s Ferrari head down the driveway. When he shut the door, he went to the painting and leaned over to look at it. He loved this fucking thing. It looked dry, so he touched the edge and checked his finger. Nothing. He picked it up by the edges, the same way Wolf had done when he brought it into the house, and moved to the middle of the room under the ceiling fixture to see it better. It was fucking beautiful. With the light illuminating the canvas from behind, he saw that something was painted on the back, so he turned it slightly to take a look. Inblack marker, Wolf had written, “To my hero. Love you, bruh. Wolf.”
CHAPTER SIX
The tour was only a couple of days away, and it brought an incredible amount of excitement and anticipation. Everyone felt it, but the longing in Ethan and Tyler’s faces sometimes told a different story. Harris couldn’t imagine leaving the person he loved behind for several months with only the occasional quick visit when time allowed. He glanced over at Wolf, who was just as amped as he was for the tour, and it reinforced his heart’s choice.
“Where’s Marsh?” Harris asked, eyeing the two empty seats across the table. They were finally going to meet the mystery girlfriend—hence the elaborate sit-down dinner.
“He’ll be here any minute.” Tyler adjusted a vase of flowers that sat in the center of the large table for the umpteenth time.
Ethan wrapped his arms around his boyfriend’s waist from behind and kissed his cheek. “The table looks beautiful. Stop fussing.”
“I can’t help it. I’m nervous. I want everything to be perfect. This is important to Marshall. I want to make a good impression.”
Ethan probably wasn’t going to be the only lovesick puppy on tour now that Marshall had a steady girl. Harris’ gaze shifted to Wolf, sitting next to him at the table, and his heart did a little gallop. He could count himself in the lovesick puppy club as well. He only wished he and Wolf were on the same wavelength when it came to their feelings for each other. They probably weren’t even in the same stratosphere. They were probably light years apart. But Harris felt the distance shortening little by little. Itwould happen. It would. They’d get together and fall in love, and everything would be perfect. He kept telling himself that, because more than anything, Wolf needed someone to love him. The guy didn’t need any more heartbreak in his life. And Harris knew he was the person who could finally make Wolf happy.
