Chapter 34
We race up the stairs to my apartment. We left Uncle Tony and Takashi to have their own private celebration. As I fish for my key, William hugs me from behind and trails kisses along my neck. Feathery shivers of delight shudder throughout my body. I tilt my head to give him better access, holding on to the doorknob.
“I can’t concentrate on finding the key if you do that.” I lean against him.
“Mmm,” he says.
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. He smells of fresh air and clean laundry. His warm hands cradle my face. I press myself into him—into the heat and comfort of his chest. I want to meld myself with him. We kiss, nibbling, slanting our lips, nipping, mingling our breaths. He tastes of peppermint. I untangle my hands to reach down to hug his back. His hand strokes my cheek, leaving a sensation of sparking fires. He tangles one of his hands with mine and backs me up against the door. We’re chest to chest.
“Miranda, is that you?” Tessa asks from behind the door. “Peter’s here.”
We break apart quickly.
“We should have gone to my place,” William mutters.
Tessa opens the door.
“Congratulations! I bought champagne!” Tessa says.
I grab William’s hand and pull him into the apartment behind me.
Peter comes over and hugs me hello. I drop William’s hand. Peter smells of some spicy male cologne. He didn’t used to wear cologne.
“Congratulations!” Peter says. “I’m so happy your exhibit is back on.”
“It’s a huge relief,” I say. “This is William, my boyfriend.”
“The whole gang is coming over to celebrate,” Tessa says. “I still can’t believe it was Edmund. I put out the coatrack in your room.” Light jazz music is playing; my easels have been stowed in the closet. Tessa has put little tea candles around and dimmed the lights. Our apartment is definitely set up for a party.
William glances at me. I pout. I really was looking forward to a private celebration with him. He gives me that wry smile and mouths, Later.
“Let’s pop the champagne; here, Peter, you were always good at this.” Tessa hands a bottle of champagne to Peter.
“I’ll get the glasses.” I grab William’s hand. “Come with me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say in the kitchen and kiss him on the lips.
He kisses me on the forehead. “It will be fun to celebrate with friends. And you can’t blow Peter off if he just arrived from California to see you. We’ll celebrate after the party.”
“I should invite Annabelle over then. And Thijs. I want Tessa to meet him.” I text Annabelle and Thijs about the party.
“I’ll put my stuff in your room,” William says.
We bring out the wineglasses. Penelope and Zelda show up from downstairs with flowers, another chair, and more champagne glasses. Tessa’s older sister, Kiara, arrives with more wine. William gets some more chairs from the back bedrooms. We all sit around our table, wineglasses in hand.
“What toppings does everyone want?” Tessa asks, holding her phone to her ear. “I’m ordering the pizza.” Different toppings are yelled out.
“I guess you can open up your own detective agency now,” Tessa says.
“I’d hire you,” Zelda says. “And we have big news here too.” The doorbell rings. It’s Rory. I buzz him in.
“I’m moving in with Rory,” Penelope announces.
“And Kareem is moving in with me,” Zelda says.
“Congratulations!” I exclaim. “But we’ll miss you, Penelope.”
Rory enters the apartment through our unlocked front door and gives Penelope a quick kiss hello. Peter pops the cork and pours the champagne into the waiting glasses.
“Cheers, Miranda!”
“And William.” I smile at William and clink glasses with him.
“And Takashi and Tony,” William says. “We made a good team.”
I sip my bubbly champagne. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Peter frowning. I’m not sure what he expected. I was up front that I was dating William. Maybe he didn’t expect him to be such formidable competition. Because the thing about Peter is that he’s very good-looking. Things tend to come easily for him. I was a bit of a challenge at first because I thought he was another smooth-talking pretty boy and didn’t give him the time of day. But even I fell easily.
Max and Kareem arrive next—at the same time as the pizza delivery guy—so they bring up four pizzas. We set up the pizzas on the kitchen counter with paper plates and napkins, allowing everyone to come in and take a slice and then go back out and mingle.
Jake arrives next with Audrey, his arm around her, and they both flash their engagement rings at the entrance.
“We’re engaged!” Jake says. “She said yes.”
“He said yes,” Audrey says.
“I proposed to her, and then she proposed to me.” Jake grins. “We both had the same idea when we played hooky together today.”
“Look at the ring I got him,” Audrey says. “It’s got a fish swimming upstream while all the other fishes swim downstream.”
“It’s perfect.” Jake kisses her.
Thijs is suddenly at the door, and I introduce him to Tessa. Tessa’s eyes widen when she sees him. I snicker inwardly. I love to be proved right, but he’s also a good guy.
I’ve lost William in the flurry of everyone arriving and coming over to congratulate me. He’s sitting at our table and talking to Max. As I’m about to join them, Peter comes over and hands me another glass of champagne. I didn’t even realize my current glass was empty.
“Do you have other shows lined up?” Peter asks.
“No,” I say.
“Now is the time to get those shows booked. You’ve got the stolen painting publicity plus this Vertex Art Exhibit.”
“My painting may not break out at the Vertex Art Exhibit.” But I feel calmer about this. If not this time, I will succeed eventually.
“There’s no what-if. You need to control the dialogue about your painting. You can influence that to some extent,” Peter says. “Or your agent. If Jade isn’t doing that for you …”
“Jade is the one who thought to turn the theft into a positive; she’s doing a great job.”
“But maybe she isn’t. You should have broken out already,” Peter says. “Look, I’ll give you my list of contacts to talk to.”
“I’m not giving up Jade after she has stuck by me through the bad times.”
“Your agent relationship is a business deal,” Peter says. “It’s not a friendship.”
Except that Jade and I were friends before we were agent/artist. I trust Jade. Jade works hard for me.
“Let’s sit.” He motions to the couch. “I made a list of shows I think you should apply to.”
“Really?” I ask. “That’s so thoughtful of you. I really appreciate it.”
We huddle on the couch as he shows me the list on his phone, and we discuss pros and cons. Peter searches for more information about one show, and I text William to explain that Peter and I are discussing art show applications so William knows that it’s just business. Jake has put on some party music, and more drinks are being poured.
As we sit there, Tessa comes over and says, “I need to steal you for a bit.”
I excuse myself to Peter, and Tessa and I head to my room. Our coatrack partitions my room into two, blocking the view of the bed and beanbag chair.
“Is this about Thijs?” I ask.
“No, what are you doing?” She hisses. “I thought you reconciled with William.”
“I did,” I say.
“It looks like you’re reconciling with Peter on the couch.”
“I’m not … What do you mean?” I ask, horrified.
“Peter keeps touching you, and your heads are bent together over his phone. If William were acting like this with his ex or Kiyoko, you’d be sitting between them.”
“But I don’t think William gets jealous. And I texted him that it was just business.”
“I’m telling you, it doesn’t look like just business,” Tessa says. “Plus, he barely knows anyone here, and you’ve left him to fend for himself at a party celebrating your teamwork in finding the painting.”
“You’re right. Thanks for telling me,” I say. William and I are stronger, but maybe we are not strong enough for me to hang out with Peter. Especially since I would not be cool if he were hanging out with Kiyoko at our party. “Peter was really giving me helpful advice, though.”
“Well, set up another time to talk to him about it,” Tessa says. “And yes, thank you for introducing me to Thijs.”
“Wait until he plays the guitar for you,” I say.
Tessa shakes her head. “I hate that you may be right.”
We leave my bedroom to return to the living room. I immediately look for William. He’s standing with Zelda, Kareem, Audrey, and Jake, but off to the side. My stomach drops. I should’ve realized Peter was monopolizing me.
I walk over and hook my arm through his.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “Peter put together some art shows I should apply to now that I’m back in the Vertex Art Exhibit.”
“That’s great,” William says. He covers my hand on his arm with his. We’re okay. I haven’t completely messed this up yet. My eyes tear because I do care for him so much.
Peter joins us. “I still can’t believe that Edmund actually did this to you.”
“I can believe it,” I say. My intuition was on point.
“It makes me so angry,” Peter says. “Are you okay? Emotionally?” He puts out his hand to touch mine.
“Yes,” I say. And I am. William puts his arm around me, and I smile at him.
“What do you do?” Peter asks William.
“I’m an accountant.”
“He has his own business,” I say.
Peter’s lips curve down slightly as if puzzled that I am dating an accountant. “Your mother must be delighted.”
“I’m sure she will be,” I say.
“You haven’t told her yet?” Peter asks.
“We’ve been a bit busy. I’ll tell her right before I bring William over for a family brunch next weekend.” I kiss William’s cheek. “Be prepared.”
“She was so set against me when we first dated that I felt a real sense of accomplishment when she was finally friendly. At least I knew she liked me for myself.” Peter hooks his thumbs in his pant waist. “I bonded immediately with your dad, though, right?”
“I’ve gotten along with both her parents when I met them at our uncles’ parties.” William hugs me closer to him.
Zelda pulls us back into the larger group to discuss a Fire Island rematch. What with Audrey, Eve, Max, Peter, and me, it starts to feel like a mini college reunion. Peter, in particular, keeps turning the conversation to college memories. It’s natural to discuss college-related gossip and what everyone is up to now, but it pushes William out.
I whisper to him, “Should we get another glass of wine?”
He nods yes, and we leave the group.
“Why did you and Peter break up?” William asks. “Was it just because he wanted to live in California?”
“Mostly.” I don’t really want to go into the details. I don’t want to show all my warts and insecurities to William, like how Peter and I ended up not communicating. “You’re not jealous of Peter, right?”
“No,” he says, but he says that so quickly that I suspect he might be.
“I’d be jealous if you were hanging out with your ex-girlfriend,” I say. Maybe I’m not the only jealous party in this relationship.
He harrumphs. “I expect you would be.”
But I don’t want him to be jealous. That doubt can hurt. I will show one wart.
“I was jealous of Peter’s success too. He was taking off, and I wasn’t. I don’t know how Lee Krasner and Pollack did it, or any other similar artist couples.”
“But now he can help you,” William says.
“He thinks he can. He has some good ideas.” I don’t say that I don’t want to be beholden to Peter for my success since I just spent an hour listening to him give me tips. That seems inconsistent. But tips are one thing. I want to make it on my own. Always. That’s something William and I have in common—we each want to be in charge of our own lives.
William pours us each another glass of wine, and we lean against the brick wall, sipping it. It’s been so crazy; I need this pause. I close my eyes.
“Are you bored?” William asks.
I open my eyes, expecting to see him being playful. But he looks serious.
“No,” I say. “Recharging. It’s been quite a roller coaster.”
“I didn’t realize you needed to recharge.”
We really haven’t been dating that long. We still don’t know that much about each other.
“I definitely need to recharge,” I say. “Don’t you?”
“Yes, I’m tired too,” he says. My phone buzzes. I show him the text from Officer Johnson that they’ve interviewed Vinnie again and determined that he was just being used by Edmund. Vinnie also cooperated in the investigation by listing the Kimimoto for sale to flush out buyers. And Edmund admitted that he spoke to Fedora, using Vinnie’s name.
“Hey,” Peter says from behind me.
Not again. I’m a piece of Velcro that Peter is stuck to. He is being very persistent. I need to subtly suggest that we meet and discuss this tomorrow. I wish William and I could leave and go to his place, but I can’t abandon my party.
Peter says, “I emailed my friend at Gagosian, and he said to bring your portfolio by.”
“Are you serious?” I turn to William. “Gagosian is a big deal.”
“Dead serious,” Peter says. “I’m telling you—this is your moment. You need to move on this.”
This is my moment.
What if this is my moment?
It could be. Especially if Peter thinks it is. He wouldn’t lie to me.
“We should discuss how to maximize this,” Peter says.
“But we don’t need to do that now,” I say.
“Yes, we do,” Peter says. “Tomorrow, won’t there be an announcement that your painting has been recovered?”
“Yes,” I say.
Peter says, “You don’t mind if I borrow Miranda for the night? I mean, not the night. But to brainstorm how to spin this. You’re welcome to participate of course.”
“Not at all,” William says. “I’ll go home.”
Go home? Without me? I stare at him, confused. No. We were going to celebrate in a more personal manner. Does he really not care that Peter keeps staking his claim on me? Why doesn’t he want to stay and help brainstorm?
“You don’t want to stay?” I ask.
“No,” he says.
“It’s probably boring for him. C’mon, Miranda. It will be like old times. Remember when we launched our joint art installation piece in college with all those teasers, that guerilla-style campaign? We could even do something like that.”
That had been tremendously fun. For several weeks, we’d put up provocative posters. We had a huge showing for our exhibit. I hadn’t even thought about doing my own marketing for this exhibit. I had let myself stagnate.
William kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He walks toward my room to get his backpack.
“I’ll be back, Peter.” I run after William and tug his hand at the doorway to my room and pull him around to face me. “Are you sure you want to leave? I honestly don’t know if you’re upset or you’re cool with me hanging out with Peter. I mean, nothing is going to happen, but if you’re upset at all, I can say no.”
“I’m not upset. I’m just tired. And you shouldn’t say no. This is your career. And he sounds like he knows a lot.” He’s back to his Secret Service visage that I can’t read.
“He does know a lot. He’s been doing this full time since college,” I say.
“Miranda, have you checked your phone?” Max comes up as William walks away. “My friend texted me that she wants to buy another.”
“Did you tell her that Playing Around 1:30 has been found?” I ask.
“No, I wasn’t sure if that was public or not,” Max says. “She said she can’t stop thinking about the little, red painting and knows she really wants it.”
That’s my favorite kind of patron. I check my phone and respond to her message, Max looking over my shoulder, delighted.
I look for William, but I don’t see him.
“Do you have more wine?” Rory asks. “Or should I go out and buy some more?”
“I think we have more,” I say. I walk back to the kitchen and pull out our stepstool to look in one of our upper cabinets where we keep a stash of wine.
I hand a few more bottles down to Rory. The party is not going to end any time soon. It has been a long time since we all got together.
I carry two chardonnays to the dining room table to add to our stock. And then I search again for William. He’s gone. I thought he might come by to say goodbye one more time before he left. Again, there’s that gap between us—that we’re not connecting or communicating.