Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ELLA
Istand in front of the gallery, my head tilting backwards as I look at the sign above.
My stomach is in knots and excitement runs rampant through my body.
I'm a nervous ball of anxiety mixed with a touch of anticipation.
This is the first time I've ever done anything like this, so there is a part of me that is excited.
But the part of me that is surrounded by self doubt doesn't think I can do this.
It's hard to convince myself that I won't be a total failure.
Cole helped me bring all my paintings here to Vera’s gallery the other day and they said everything would be handled before the show.
All that was required of me was to show up a little bit before it opened so I could get a feel for things and then it was showtime.
I have no idea what to fully expect. I don't know how many people will be here.
“Hey darlin’,” Cole's voice slides against my eardrum as his hand touches the small of my back. I resist the urge to melt into him, to seek safety and comfort in his arms as he presses his lips to the side of my head. “Are you ready to go inside? The team is in there waitin’ for you.”
I slowly turn around to face him, my eyes scanning his features. “What if this doesn't go well? What if this entire thing is a flop?”
“El, we talked about this.” He shakes his head, offering me a small comforting smile. “I will never set you up for failure and if I didn't believe in you and your work, I never would have presented any of it to Austin.”
I hang onto his words as they infiltrate the crevices of my brain.
I don't know how he manages to do it, but every time I feel myself beginning to spiral, he has this way of grounding me.
He has this ability to pull me back to reality and present things to me in a clear, more optimistic fashion.
He chases away the scaries in my mind. He shows me what it feels like to have someone on your side, someone who wants to lift you up instead of keeping you from reaching your potential.
He's the calm.
“Okay,” I tell him, the facade of confidence rolling over me. I straighten my spine, pushing my shoulders back as I nod at him. “This is going to be great. Even if only a few people show up, it will still be amazing.”
He stares at me for a beat. “Even if no one shows up, you are still amazing.”
Emotion lodges in my throat and my lips part as a ragged breath escapes me.
Behind me, the doors push open, cutting through the moment between Cole and I.
He directs his gaze past me and I slowly turn around to see who it is.
It's Vera, who's smiling at both of us with her bright red lips reaching towards her deep green eyes.
Her sleek auburn hair is styled in a bob stopping below her cheeks.
My eyes roam across her white suit jacket and pants and suddenly I feel underdressed.
Remi insisted we go shopping yesterday in preparation for the show.
I found a black gown that hugged my curves before fanning out around my feet.
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to wear to an event like this and Remi suggested I dress up as if I were going to a gala or something.
The dress isn't as revealing as Vera's suit jacket that has a cutting V that goes to the bottom of her sternum.
Regardless of how she looks, I still feel beautiful in the dress I'm wearing.
“Ella, people will be here within the next half an hour, so we would love to have you come inspect the set up before they begin to arrive.”
I glance at Cole and he gives me a reassuring smile before he looks at Vera and nods. Vera holds the door open for me and I glance back at Cole when I realize he isn't following me inside. “Aren't you coming?”
“I am. I have to run out to my truck quickly and then I will be here before everyone arrives.”
My eyes widen as panic licks at my heart. “Don't make me do this alone.”
“You'll never be alone, darlin’,” he tells me, his voice soft and warm like an embrace. “I promise I will be right back.”
I let out a ragged breath, nodding as the anxiety melts away. I know I can do it without him, but I don't want to. The thought of doing something out of my comfort zone alone has my skin tingling as if it's going to break out in hives. Cole would never set me up for failure–he said so himself.
He walks around the corner of the building, heading in the direction we both parked and I find Vera patiently waiting for me.
She smiles, motioning for me to enter the gallery.
As we step inside, the air leaves my lungs in a rush as my heart crawls into my throat.
The walls have been stripped of any art that isn't mine.
My paintings are positioned on the walls throughout the gallery, each one showcased separately so it has its own moment of being in the spotlight.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. This has always felt like a pipe dream for me. Never in a million years did I think my art would be the center of a show in a gallery. Never once did I think people would come to purchase the pieces I painted from the emotions that were swirling inside of me.
“What do you think?” Vera questions me as she steps up beside me. Her eyes are on the painting in front of us as she assesses the strokes of oil across the canvas. “Does everything look okay to you?”
“It's amazing,” I say, my eyes scanning the wall before I look at her. “It looks great. Thank you so much for doing this for me.”
Vera shakes her head. “Thank you for creating timeless pieces like this. We're always looking for new artists and I showed some of your work to a few of our clients who will be in attendance tonight. You bring a freshness that we haven't seen in quite some time.”
My heart is in my throat and I swallow hard over the emotion, nodding at her. Words fail me and at this moment, I'm not sure I even trust myself to speak. The emotions swirling inside of me are encapsulated with an intensity that threatens to make me a sobbing mess before the night even begins.
“Are you okay with being on the floor during the show?” She glances over at the door as it opens, but I don't turn to look. “Usually the artists will mingle, walk around and talk about their art with patrons.”
“I'm okay with that.”
Vera looks behind me again as the sound of footsteps grows louder. “I'll check in with you before things start.” My eyebrows pull together as she turns to walk away with a knowing smile pulling on her lips.
I feel his presence before I turn around to look at him and my heart melts at the sight of Cole standing in front of me.
In his hand is a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers I've ever laid my eyes on.
The tears that threatened to fall before are definitely falling down the sides of my face now.
I blink them away, a soft laugh escaping me as I lift my hands to brush them away from my cheeks.
“These are for you,” he says softly, handing me the massive bouquet.
“I know it isn't much, but I want you to know how proud of you I am.
This is completely out of your comfort zone and you're here. You're doin’ it. I think that alone speaks so much of how you have grown in the past few months.” He pauses for a moment, his lips pulling upwards in a smile.
“You're the most amazing person I've ever met and I know you can do anything, El. I hope tonight helps you to see that.”
Another laugh falls from my lips and Cole steps closer, his hands cupping the sides of my face as he wipes a few stray tears away.
He lowers his face to mine, his lips claiming mine in a slow, tender kiss that has my toes curling.
Our surroundings fade away as his tongue slides against mine and I forget for a moment that we have an audience.
Only when someone starts to slow clap, do I remember that we're in a gallery with other people.
Cole chuckles, his gaze colliding with mine as he pulls away from me and presses his lips to my forehead.
“That was movie worthy,” Austin calls out, clapping slowly as he walks up to the two of us. “Seriously, you deserve an Oscar for that entire performance, Wild.”
Cole rolls his eyes, moving to the side of me as he wraps his arm around my lower back. I melt against his side, my hand coming to his chest as I let him hold me against his body. “Maybe you can learn a thing or two.” Cole looks back at me and winks.
“Yeah, right,” Austin says as he mimics Cole and rolls his eyes before he looks at me with a playful grin and winks. “Good luck with this one.”
“Alright, everyone,” Vera cuts through the conversation as she begins to clap her hands. “People are outside and we're opening the doors in two minutes. Is everyone ready?”
Anxiety rolls through my stomach once more and Cole gives me a gentle squeeze, taking the flowers from me as he turns to face me.
His mouth drops down to my ear. “You’ve got this, El.
You can do this.” He presses his lips to my temple before pulling away from me.
I suck in a shallow breath, nodding, letting his confidence in me wash over my body.
I can do this.
“Okay, it's showtime!” Vera calls out as she walks over to the door, her heels clicking on the floor.
I move away from Cole as someone hands me a glass of champagne and I take a hearty sip just as the doors open and people begin to file inside.
A smile pulls on my lips and I take another deep breath and head toward the crowd of people by the far wall.
I am doing this.
“Damn, little sis,” Wyatt says softly as he wraps his arm around the tops of my shoulders and pulls me close against his side. “I’m so proud of you.”
I slide my arm around his back, half hugging him as we stand in the center of the gallery. My eyes scan the walls, finding them all bare. “I can’t believe I actually did it. I can’t believe people bought all my paintings.”
“I can,” Wyatt says, kissing the top of my head. “You’re an insanely talented artist, El. Mom and Dad would be proud of you for chasing your dreams.”
My heart crawls into my throat, lodging itself there as my breath catches in my chest. I swallow hard, shoving down the emotion as I blink away the burning sensation in the corners of my eyes.
“I hope they would be,” I say, my voice quiet, turning my head to look up at him. “Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for everything.”
Wyatt was able to get a week off from his residency program because of Iris being in the hospital so he’s been staying with her since she got home two days ago.
“That’s what I’m here for, El,” he tells me, a tender smile lifting his lips. “I know I’m not around like I should be, but I promise to be better with my time and make more of an effort.”
“It’s not just you,” I admit, my throat bobbing. “I could have come to Cheyenne more to visit you.” I pause. “And I will. Let’s both make more time for each other, when we can, of course.”
Wyatt releases my shoulders and holds his hand out. I reach for it, sliding my palm against his before we seal it with a firm shake. “Deal.”
Vera walks up to the two of us, her smile reaching her eyes as her gaze follows mine. “You did so well, Ella,” she says quietly as she looks back at me and then at my brother. “Can I borrow her for a few?”
Wyatt tips his chin at her. “Absolutely. I should head back to Iris’ in case Remi needs any help with her or Chloe.” Wyatt pulls me in for a hug. “Love you, El. I’m so proud of you.”
“Love you too,” I say against his chest, hugging him tightly before we break apart. Wyatt pats the top of my head, like he used to when we were kids and leaves with his laughter filling the air.
I direct my attention back to Vera and she’s watching me with a grin spreading across her lips.
“We have clients who requested to be on a list to see anything else you paint in the future.”
My jaw hurts from the emotion lodged in my throat and I swallow it back. “I don't even know what to say.”
“You did this, Ella,” she tells me, her voice filled with encouragement as she beams at me. “You say thank you and you go find that handsome cowboy of yours and go out to celebrate.”
My eyes drift over to the door, where I find Cole engaged in a conversation with Austin. All of the patrons have since left and it's only a few of us still here. Vera watches her assistant as she writes something down in her notebook at the front desk.
My heart is so full, it's overflowing with love and adoration from everyone tonight.
Cole walks up to me, a smile spreading across his entire face. “I'm so proud of you, El,” he tells me as he stops in front of me. “I know it's getting late, but since neither of us have eaten, do you want to go get dinner with me?”
I shake my head at him. His eyebrows pull together and he waits for me to explain. My throat bobs and I swallow. “Do you remember that date you talked about taking me out on?”
His eyes widen and excitement washes over his irises. “I told you if I took you on a date, it would be proper and planned.”
“Are we limited to only one date?”
He smiles brightly. “Absolutely not. I'll take you on as many dates as you'll allow.”
“Okay, good,” I say, smiling as I look up at him. “I think I'd like to go out on a date with you tonight.”
He stares at me for a moment. “You think or you know?”
“I know.”
I do know–I know it's him.
And it will always be him.