Page 59 of Stuck with the Grump

“Because she was getting boned every night,” Camille said, cackling when both my brother and I cringed. “What? You can’t pretend that it’s not true. That’s exactly what was happening. She was getting railed by that sexy best friend of yours and she was loving life.”

Tyson pretended to gag as he glared at her. “Are you really supposed to talk about the man who employs you like that?”

Camille shrugged, finishing one can of beer and reaching for another. “He’s not here and you won’t tell him what I just said. You don’t have the balls to piss me off and risk having to find a new PR person.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you two had talked?” I asked.

Tyson shrugged. “He said he would fix it, and I was waiting on him to make good on his word. I wanted to give you guys a chance at working it out before I went berserk on him. It sounds like he’s doing a terrible job of it.”

I laughed and shook my head, finishing off my slice of pizza. “To be honest, I haven’t been taking his calls. I’m trying to focus on myself and my own career for once.”

If Clarke were here, what would he think of this? Would he fit into my life, and would I fit into his? Maybe he would. At the lake house, after the first couple days, he had been able to relax and act like a normal person. He had let himself go and enjoyed not being stressed the whole time he was there.

Fitting into his world would be much harder. The only time I partied with the elite of New York was when Tyson brought me to events to avoid having to bring a date. Each time I went with him, it was awkward and uncomfortable. I had never felt like myself there.

Although, Clarke would put me at ease. He would make me laugh and talk until I felt like myself again. He would make sure that I was comfortable wherever he brought me and if I wasn’t, if I started to have a panic attack, he would help me through it.

I pushed him from my mind, looking around the gallery. Everything was starting to come together. Gauzy white sheets of fabric hung from the ceiling, draping around the walls and windows. Temporary exhibits had been built around the gallery, ready to show off whatever pieces I put there. The dark hardwood floors had been polished to perfection.

After tonight, we would be ready for the grand opening. All we had left to do before we left for the night was minor. Hanging paintings and photographs, placing sculptures, and cleaning the floors. Once all that was done, there was nothing else to do before opening day.

We had moved quickly over the last couple weeks to get the gallery open. The timeline moved faster than it should have but once I was determined to get it done, we weren’t holding back. Dropping my brother’s name here and there had helped speed along the timeline, making sure the work from outside contractors got done as quickly as possible.

It was going to be amazing once it was open and it was all mine. I would begin paying Clarke back as soon as we started to turn a profit, which shouldn’t take long. Camille had done a great job creating buzz around the city about the opening. We had sold out of tickets minutes after putting them up for sale on the website.

Of course, there was one ticket still sitting in my nightstand at home with Clarke’s name on it.

For a week, I had gone back and forth about mailing it to him. I knew that I wanted him there, but I wasn’t going to invite him if I didn’t have an answer for him, especially not after the way he had stormed out. Eventually, I had made the decision to leave the ticket at the door with admissions. If he showed, he showed and if he didn’t, he didn’t.

I wasn’t going to worry about it. There were other things I had to deal with.

“So,” I said as we finished up the work that had to be done at the gallery. “Both of you are going to be here Saturday night, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Tyson said, wrapping me in a tight hug. “We’re all so proud of you. Mom is going to be here too. She told me that it’s supposed to be a surprise though so act surprised.”

“The nurses are letting her out for that?”

“I don’t think they had a choice,” Tyson said with a grin as he released me. “If they didn’t let her come, I think she was planning on escaping.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “Why can’t she just go through the treatment like a normal person?”

Tyson laughed and headed for the door, shaking his head. “I don’t know. If you ever find out, please let me in on the secret.”

“Will do. Bye Ty.”

“Bye. See you Saturday. I’m proud of you.”

Camille gathered the rest of the beer as I got ready to lock up the gallery. As we left for the night, nervous butterflies took flight in my stomach. Finally, I was opening a gallery. I was going to get the chance to live my dream.

28

CLARKE

Thekeysweremine.The inspector had found a few minor problems with the house, but it was nothing that I couldn’t easily fix. I had gotten the keys that morning and now I was on my way over there to start ripping out the outdated carpet that was in the basement.

Leigh’s gallery was opening tomorrow night. Camille had told me as much in her rather abrupt call this afternoon. She hadn’t had much to say in the call that wasn’t about the trial but she had made sure to slip something in about Leigh. I think it was part of Camille’s strategy to make me miss Leigh more.

If that was her strategy, it was working.

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