Part 8 (1/2)
It still felt like forever to me.
When another text went ignored, I sent one to Hailey. This is Caleb. Need to ask you a favor.
Her response was immediate. What?
Talk to you about it later.
You out of juvie?
Yes. Call you later.
The art gallery was in the heart of downtown. It had dark wood floors and white walls, with a few black accent walls here and there. It was set up in sort of a maze layout, with small spotlights s.h.i.+ning on the pieces hanging. Sculptures were scattered throughout, along with several benches to rest on while admiring the artwork.
My mom introduced me to the gallery manager who met us at the front desk. Debra was around my mom's age, wearing a tan pantsuit, with her blond hair pulled back.
Debra showed us to the back office where the gallery director and owner, Jim Doran, waited. Jim was in his early thirties and dressed more casually than Debra, in jeans and a navy polo s.h.i.+rt. His office was painted a bright yellow with several black and white paintings hanging on the walls. It wasn't easy on the eyes.
He heaved himself up from behind a gla.s.s desk and came around to shake my hand. ”Caleb, good to finally meet you. I'm Jim Doran.”
”Nice to meet you, Jim.”
Debra took a seat, as did the rest of us. My mom clapped her hands together. ”So, now that Caleb is here, do we have a date for the show?” Her excitement was catching. Now that things had gone to s.h.i.+t with Gianna, I needed a distraction.
”Mid-July,” he answered. ”That should give us enough time to organize it and add any new paintings the artists create.”
I suspected he referred to me painting the night of the attack. I'd been resistant, but things had changed. Gianna didn't want anything to do with me. She loved Gage now. She probably wouldn't even care if I painted it.
”I'll do it,” I said.
”Excuse me?” Jim asked, leaning his elbows on his desk.
”I'll paint the night of the attack.”
His smile widened. ”Great, great. Tyler, our preparator, has stored all of your paintings so far until it's time to set up for the show. Any work you complete before then, bring in and if I approve it, he'll store it at the warehouse.”
”When will I meet the other artist?” It was weird to consider myself in the same category, but I'd better start doing so if I wanted respect.
”Her name is Sydney Atwood,” Debra said. ”She's twenty-two and this is also her first show. Your mom has already met her. We'll all go out to dinner together soon to get better acquainted.”
”Have Norah book us a reservation,” Jim told Debra, who took notes on a tablet.
”Who's Norah?” I asked.
Jim answered, ”Our intern. She's a soph.o.m.ore at the University of Denver.” Jim clicked on his mouse, gazing at his computer screen. ”This Wednesday all right with you?”
Having nothing planned, I let my mom decide. ”That works for us,” she told them, her hands clasped together in eagerness.
”Good.” He stood up, reaching for my hand again. ”See you then, Caleb, Eliza.”
Debra walked out with us. As we neared the front desk, I noticed the girl sitting behind it. ”This is Norah,” Debra said. ”Norah, this is Caleb and you've met his mom, Eliza.”
Debra jumped up, shaking my hand. ”It's great to finally meet you, Caleb. I love your work.”
”Thanks,” I said, dying to get out of here to see if Gianna responded while my phone was on silent.
”I'm no artist, but I hope to run a gallery someday.”
My mom wandered off with Debra to check out a new piece. Since I'd be sort of working with Norah, I figured I should be polite. ”Jim said you're at DU?”
Norah's smile brightened, making her green eyes sparkle. I belatedly noticed she was really pretty, with dark brown hair that fell halfway down her back. ”I just finished my freshman year.”
”I just got out of youth corrections,” I told her, wondering if she knew.
Her head tilted, but she didn't lose the grin. ”I know. It's being used to drum up interest in the buyers.” Green eyes swept down my body and I recognized her interest.
f.u.c.k it.
”Are you going to be at the dinner on Wednesday?”
She put a hand on my arm and I was disappointed it wasn't another girl's. Then I was p.i.s.sed at myself for being disappointed at all. ”If you tell Jim you want me there, I will be.”
”I'll let him know.”
”Ready, Caleb?” my mom asked as she and Debra returned.
”Sure. Debra, will Norah be coming Wednesday night?”
She glanced between us, hesitating only a moment. ”Of course. I'll let Jim know.”
Norah went to answer the ringing phone. ”See you Wednesday, Caleb!”
My mom wore a frown as we walked to her car. ”Have you talked to Gianna?”
”Not discussing my ex-girlfriend with my mom.” I put on my sungla.s.ses. The sunny weather was a direct contrast to my stormy mood. A glance at my phone told me Gianna was still ignoring me.
My mom huffed in frustration, but let it go.
I had her drop me off at my car so I could go over to Hailey's, texting that I was on my way. Since Hailey's parents were home, I'd be picking her up. Hailey's dad hated me and wasn't afraid to let it be known. He considered me one of her wild friends she partied with and a bad influence on his daughter. It was a good thing he had no idea of our past relations.h.i.+p as f.u.c.k buddies.
I could easily talk Hailey into hooking up to relieve my need for s.e.x. After puking my guts out Friday night, I'd laid in bed all day yesterday, sick from drinking and hurting over Gianna. If I was honest with myself, I didn't want any girl but her.
I wanted my girl.
It didn't feel right she now belonged to another guy.
And that was why I needed a favor from Hailey.
She waited on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette and wearing a tank top and shorts. Her hair was blond now instead of red and a lot longer. Pulling open the pa.s.senger door to my Camaro, she hopped in. ”How's it going, inmate 666?”
I started driving when a car honked behind mine. ”I'm a free man now.”