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wearing his glasses and I just love how they look on him. I watch him greet Jasmine with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
    My feet automatically carry me to them. He sees me over her shoulder and gives me a small smile. He moves toward me and I toward him. “You came,” I say. My voice sounds all breathy and weird.
    “Sorry I’m late. I had to fill in at the studio and the class ran over.” I grab his sides as I push up to kiss both cheeks.
    “That’s okay. I’m glad you’re here.”
    “Brian!” I pull away as Jill goes right to Brian. I back up further and turn to walk away, but a hand on my arm stays me.
    I turn my head and see Brian is the one who has stopped me. “Will you show me some of your paintings?” Without even thinking, I loop my arm through his.
    For the next twenty minutes or so, I take him to each piece. He’s very attentive while, I’m sure, I talk his ear off. When the waiter passes us, Brian grabs us both a glass of bubbly. He holds his glass up to me. “To a successful show. Salute .” He looks down at me and winks before taking a sip of his champagne.
    “Mila!” I turn to see Patsy waving me over.
    “I’m sorry. I have to go talk to the head of the gallery. Look around and I’ll come find you when I’m done.” I head to Patsy. “Hey, Patsy. It’s going so well, don’t you think?”
    “Yes, we’re very pleased. You’ve sold quite a few pieces. We’ll keep taking sales through the weekend and then we’ll deal with all the financials. Go enjoy your night and I’ll catch up with you before it’s over.”
    I grab her hand and squeeze it. I spot Brian with Nico and Gabe and make my way toward them, but someone grabs me.
    Jill and Jasmine are both standing right in front of me. “What’s going on with you and Brian?” Jill asks.
    “What do you mean?” Play dumb , I tell myself.
    “What do I mean? Um, well, maybe the sexual tension between you two is off the charts and anyone who sees the two of you can see it and feel it.” She turns toward the men and then back to me. “Oh my God! You slept with him the night of your party, didn't you? You told Nico you were getting a ride home with someone.” She doesn’t look mad, just curious.
    “ Si , I did. Please don’t say anything. It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done it.” I slam back the rest of my champagne.
    “Why do you say that? He’s a great man and a total catch.” I look beyond Jasmine and find Brian laughing at something Gabe said. If only things were different, then maybe…well, who knows?
    “He is, but-but I just can’t.”
    I look at Brian one more time before stepping back and heading toward the back of the room. I take a seat on a stool and take a deep breath. Tonight’s been more successful than I could have ever hoped for. My friends and family are here, and the one man I desperately wanted to come, did.
    Damn my father and that bitch. They’ve paved the way to fucking us all up. Nico turned to drugs, alcohol, and women. I go for men that I can walk all over and control, and Gaia? Well, Gaia is her own brand of fucked up right now.
    I stand up, take a deep breath, and wipe my sweaty palms on the skirt of my dress. When I turn to head back out to the gallery, I find Brian standing just inside the door.
    “Hey, I was just checking on you. You’ve been back here a while and I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. That’s okay, right? I know you said you just wanted to be friends, and friends check on each other.”
    “ Si , I’m okay. Thank you for checking on me. That was really sweet.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze.
    The rest of the night goes by in a blur. I can’t believe it, but I sell most of my pieces. Nico, Jill, Gabe, and Jasmine left a while ago and Brian shortly after that. I am a little disappointed that he didn’t stay, but I have no right to feel that way.
    A thought hits me and causes an ache in my belly. What if he had a date? He was dressed up