Hellion, a New Adult Romance Novel(47)
CHAPTER TWENTY
“COLIN!” AN OLDER WOMAN SAYS in a very smokey voice. She’s just on the border of sounding like a frog; one thousand more cigarettes and she’ll be there. “So nice of you to come. Please, please, come in and meet our guests.”
My jaw drops open as I take in the scene around me. All I can think is, Damn, good thing I did the smokey eye look tonight. Every single person in the art gallery is wearing black … every single person except Colin and me, that is. He’s in jeans and a t-shirt and I’m in my red top and bedazzled blue shorts that cost me a chunk of babysitting change. I would fit in perfectly at a date consisting of dinner and a movie with a hot mechanic. Here, I look like the cleaning crew. I sigh, knowing I either need to slink around in the shadows or just own this thing. I decide on the latter and raise my chin just a fraction of an inch.
The cigarette lady smiles at me indulgently. “And who is your friend?”
“This is Quin. She’s my brother’s girl and my biggest fan.”
I’m too shocked to respond. He’s nervous, that much is clear from his voice. And the fact that I’m his biggest fan after only seeing one painting is not only an honor, it also makes me sadder than I can remember being in a long time.
“Quin, this is Barbara. She’s the lady who put on this show for me. I finally answered her calls after you came to my apartment and told me I should.”
I shake her hand kind of numbly.
“So nice to meet Colin’s number one fan. Did he tell you how I found him?”
I shake my head, still unable to speak.
“Oh, it’s a great story. I saw his graffiti work downtown and tracked him down through some very questionable characters and harassed him until he caved. You would not believe the people I had to interrogate to get that far.” Her gaze sweeps the room as she keeps ahold of my hand in her cool boney one. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to duke that title of biggest fan out with a few people who are here tonight, though.” She lets me go to squeeze Colin’s arm. “Darling, you are a hit. A hit! I already have four pieces sold and the night is still way too young.” She pulls on his forearm. “Come with me. I want to introduce you to a few people.”
I move to the left, thinking I’m going to let him go as I look at the paintings that are placed along the walls, but Colin has other ideas. He grabs my hand and drags me along. I try to look graceful getting back on balanced legs.
“What are you doing?” I ask, running on tiptoes to keep up. My heels make clop-clop-clopping sounds on the marble-tiled floor.
He pauses to lean down and whisper in my ear. “Do not leave me with these vultures!”
I’ve never heard him scared before. It’s freaky. “Fine.” I say under my breath. I’ll be a superhero if I must. I really wish I had my phone right now, though. Not only would I text Teagan to tell her I’m okay, I’d also be taking some serious pictures and video. There are several people standing around drinking champagne in front of Colin’s paintings. All of the canvasses have lights shining from the ceiling on them, showing them off so well it’s like they’re alive or something. Several of the onlookers are pointing and nodding heads as they discuss the work.
We arrive at a group of people standing in a circle and Barbara introduces Colin. I am apparently dog meat, since I don’t get a mention.
And then the fawning begins.
They ask him questions, tentatively at first and then more enthusiastically as his answers come out in short, simple sentences devoid of emotion. He’s playing the weirdo artist perfectly. I know he and Rebel aren’t blood brothers, but obviously some of Rebel’s attitude about minimalist talking has worn off on him. I think part of the attraction from this crowd is coming from the fact that his paintings have so much emotion, but he himself displays so little of it. Still waters run deep and all that junk.
I squeeze his hand and step closer to him. “Loosen up,” I whisper at the back of his head, before looking around the room again. I feel him visibly relax against my arm. Now his answers come more smoothly and he sounds not quite as uptight.
There’s a redheaded guy standing nearby on his phone. Glancing at the side of Colin’s face, I see that he’s otherwise occupied, now at ease with this group of fans. I whisper something about getting some champagne and leave his side. As soon as I’m close enough, I grab the ginger guy by the elbow.
“I need to use your phone,” I say, steering him away from Colin. Looking over my shoulder, I verify that he’s not paying me any attention.