Drew was relaxing on the couch, flipping through a magazine. He whistled when he saw me. “Claire, you have seriously changed your style!” He motioned for me to turn around. “I hardly recognize you. It’s like you’re one of my friends or something!”
I swatted at him, then dug through my purse for a mint. When I looked up, I met his gaze, his eyes reflecting desire and regret at once. For a moment, I wished I hadn’t come.
He recovered so quickly, I wondered if I actually saw anything at all. “Come on. Let’s go. I can’t wait to show you off. I’m pretty sure all my friends think I’ve made you up.” He put his arm around my shoulder, hugging me to him. We paused in the doorway, and he moved a piece of hair away from my face. I inhaled sharply, waiting. “I hope you like the photographs, Claire. I’m sorry if I offended you with the topic. But the truth is, somehow, I couldn’t stop myself.”
His gaze was so intense, I only half-listened. Things had shifted with me. Drew was no longer my closest friend when I was in need. Somehow, he had become an amazing, beautiful man. The longing was astounding. I’ve been denied by him so frequently in my life, I couldn’t bring myself to initiate even a kiss. My insides twisted at the thought.
I stepped back and glanced at the wall across the room. “Listen, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” I smiled up at him with false bravado and kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait to see them.”
Then, I walked through the door and into the hall, deliberately breaking the spell. He followed, locking the door behind him. When he faced me again, we were back to Drew and Claire, the way things used to be, which was still sort of in-between.
The gallery looked like a regular brownstone, except the entire first floor had been converted to a one-room art showcase. As Drew had predicted, about twenty people were milling around, and when we walked in the door, Drew was greeted by a round of applause. He repeated his dramatic bow, then ran his hand through his hair, scratching at his neck nervously.
He grasped my hand. “Everyone, this is Claire Barnes. If you know me well enough, you’ve heard a lot about her. Be nice to her.” He lowered his voice to a stage whisper. “She’s from the suburbs.”
Titters of laughter followed his comment. Nice. Thanks, Drew. I was handed a bowl-like glass of merlot. Drew’s friends seemed accommodating and kind, not what I’d expected from city artists. I had prepared myself for condescension, even scorn.
One of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen sidled up to Drew and kissed his cheek. She was tall, practically six feet, with olive skin and a dark tangle of formed curls highlighted red and blond. Chic beyond belief. Model thin, with the elegance to match, she gave me an inclusive, radiant smile. “Darling, you should hear what people said before you got here. I’ve heard people say ‘buyers’ already.” Her voice was silky with an unidentifiable accent.
He raised his eyebrows at her and turned to me. “Claire, meet Olivia.”
My heart sank. Her? She was the Olivia? I expected blond. I expected giggly and girlish, with unrealistic breast implants. I did not expect the most fantastic woman I’d ever laid eyes on. My leggings and sweater felt as sophisticated as Leah’s footie pajamas.
“Claire, so nice to meet you. You can’t imagine how much I’ve heard about you. It’s like I know you already.” She leaned in and, instead of shaking my hand, hugged me, enveloping me in Chanel No. 5. Of course, what else? Was I even wearing perfume?
All I could smell was the light baby fragrance of my hair. I’d run out of shampoo that morning and had to use Leah’s. Real sexy, Claire. She linked her arm through mine and dragged me away from Drew. I looked back at him, and he shrugged as if to say, I don’t know. Have fun!
“Have you seen his photos yet?” Olivia asked.
I shook my head. I had yet to speak. I couldn’t speak.
“He’s so worried about you. He thinks you’re going to hate him when you do.” She stopped and turned to me. “There are six photos behind you, arranged in a collection. I’ll leave you to look at them and come back to get you.” She disappeared into the small crowd. This woman is very, very good, I thought.