16. Cameron
CAMERON
It was a few short blocks from the hotel to the gallery, but it was enough time for the humid summer air to have me sweating under my suit coat. My dampened hair curled around my neck and ears. I hoped the gallery had air conditioning.
The party started at seven, but I knew Nico’s ex had been hounding him all day about our timing and whereabouts, so we arrived at six. The sun hung low in the sky.
I held the gallery’s glass door open for Nico, and he gave me a small smile as we stepped inside.
Before he could speak, a man in a tailored designer suit with perfectly coiffed hair and an angry frown hustled over.
Nico’s expression hardened before that fake smile he made look easygoing appeared on his face.
“Where have you been?”
“We’re not even two minutes late, Gus.” Nico rolled his eyes. “I told you I would be here.”
He looked nonchalant, but I could feel the tension radiating from his broad shoulders.
Gus shifted his narrowed gaze my direction. “Who are you?”
“Cameron Frost.” I wrapped my arm protectively around Nico’s waist. I couldn’t help looking at him with a smitten expression, telling myself it was all part of the ruse. “Nico’s date.”
Nico’s ex was model-handsome, way prettier and classier than me in every way. But the way Gus looked at people, like he was better than everyone, would have made me dislike him even if I hadn’t known his history with Nico. Nico leaned into my side.
“Hmm. Well,” Gus continued, returning his narrowed eyes to Nico. “I need you to walk the rooms and let me know if you need any last-minute changes.”
I leaned over to whisper in Nico’s ear. “I’m going to find the restroom. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Nico nodded as I stepped away. We should have talked beforehand about how closely he wanted me glued to his side, or whether he wanted space to mingle.
I got terrible vibes from his ex and was reluctant to leave him, but another part of me wanted to wait and experience his work when everything was exactly how he wanted it.
Wandering back from the bathroom, I overheard Gus snapping at Nico.
“If you had been here this week—”
I didn’t even wait for him to finish. Stepping out from around the corner, I slid my arms around Nico’s waist and nuzzled my face into his hair. He smelled so fucking good. Expensive and manly.
“Everything looks amazing, babe,” I said.
Nico turned in my arms, his expression grateful. “Thank you.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Gus said, throwing up his hands.
I shot him a syrupy smile, the one I used on difficult tourists. “This space is beautiful. It really is the perfect venue for Nico’s work. You must be so proud.”
Gus blinked, my compliments going at least some way toward diffusing his anger. “Well, of course.” He huffed. “It’s the premier gallery in the city.”
Nico mouthed a quick ‘thank you’ in my direction before turning back to face Gus. “Your layout looks great as it is. I don’t think we need to change anything.”
“Babe,” I said, taking Nico’s hand. “Will you show me your favorites before the party guests arrive?”
He nodded, and Gus was left sputtering as Nico dragged me over to a large-scale piece on the back wall.
I was not an art critic, but even I could tell that Nico’s work was incredible. Maybe I didn’t understand it from a technical perspective, but the bright colors and bold lines made me feel energized and vibrant and alive.
The gallery was now packed with guests, all in tuxes and gowns, holding delicate glasses of champagne. I’d snagged a whiskey soda from the bar instead, not feeling like I could be the only one sipping cheap beer.
Nico was the life of the party, a magnetic force in the crowd.
As soon as Gus had introduced him to the first high-profile buyer, he’d been swept away from person to person.
Noticing that the caterers had started weaving through the crowd with plates of caprese skewers and prosciutto-wrapped dates, I gathered up a small selection on a napkin.
Nico had barely eaten today—I’m sure from nerves—but he had to be hungry.
And with the way Gus kept him plied with champagne, I didn’t want him to make himself sick.
When I saw my opening, I sidled up to Nico, offering him the napkin.
“Thanks, sugar,” Nico said. “I’m starving.”
“People seem to be excited about your work,” I said, taking his champagne so he could eat with both hands. “It really is incredible, Nico.”
He hummed, shrugging, his mouth too full to talk.
“Don’t sell yourself short. I can tell this is going to be a success.”
“The star of the hour!” A tall woman with golden hair that tumbled over her shoulders in long waves appeared at Nico’s other side, linking her arm with his.
Her floor-length burgundy dress hung off her slender frame.
She was gorgeous, but the way she clung to Nico made my jaw clench.
He turned to her with a sparkle in his eyes that I knew from experience was irresistible.
“I can’t wait to have one of your pieces hanging in my bedroom,” she said with a giggle. “You’re going to be Boston’s next hot thing, and I’m going to be able to say, ‘I knew him when.’”
My shoulders tensed; her words were a reminder that I wasn’t going to be able to hold onto Nico forever. His career and his future were in a whole other world from mine.
“I’m Cameron,” I said, reaching out my hand and buying Nico more time with his snacks. “And you are?”
“Valerie.” Rather than shaking, she placed her free hand on top of mine and squeezed. “Lovely to meet you. Are you taking any of Nico’s work home with you?”
I wished I could say yes, but there was no way my pocketbook was big enough for any of the prices here.
“Unfortunately, no,” I said instead.
I was tempted to preen about the mural Nico was painting in my ice cream shop, but I got the impression that this woman wouldn’t care about a quaint little Christmas town, and I didn’t want to sully Nico’s fine art reputation.
To my surprise, Nico cut in. “I’m actually painting a custom mural for his small business. It’s in my hometown, Sleighbell Springs.”
She raised her manicured eyebrows. “That’s an interesting career move.”
Nico waved her off. “It’s a favor for an old friend.”
My fingers tightened around the stems of the glasses I was holding.
“How sweet,” Valerie said. “Cameron, do you mind if I steal Nico away? I want to introduce him to a colleague. I think that vertical piece in the front room would be perfect in his foyer.”
I nodded before taking the napkin and empty toothpicks from Nico and returning his champagne.
“Have fun.” I tried for a genuine smile that I hoped didn’t fall flat. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
He hesitated, but when Valerie pulled on his arm, he slapped on that smile again and followed her willingly.
I lingered on the fringes of the party, only occasionally making my way over to Nico to give him another plate of appetizers. Each time, he would glance my way with a brief smile, his eyes soft, before turning back to the fray.
I wish I understood why I was here. I knew what he’d told me, that he wanted to keep his ex off his back, but he spent much more time flirting with strangers than I would have tolerated on a real date.
I wasn’t even sure I was selling the fake date at this point.
Gus kept eyeing me skeptically from across the room, even though he had a much younger man tucked against his side who was clearly hanging on his every word.
Nico’s boisterous laugh drew me back to him, and I caught fragments of his conversations as he moved from painting to painting.
“Oliver, you look stunning today.”
“Of course, Natalia, we’ll make dinner plans soon.”
“Boston has been good to me. I’m excited for what’s next.”
People fawned over him—not that I could blame them.
My tie felt increasingly tight as he flirted with people of every gender that I had no business competing with.
I knew it was a work event, and that he was doing everything he could to sweet-talk people into buying his artwork.
Despite being able to see the tightness around the edges of his flirty persona, it was hard to tamp down my jealousy.
I’d been so excited to parade Nico around on my arm, but instead I found myself leaning against an empty wall, waiting for the night to be over.
“Congratulations,” Gus said after the final guest had departed. “We sold half the show on the first night.”
Nico practically collapsed against me as I tugged him to my side. Gus walked over and slid his hand down Nico’s other arm. I grunted, tugging Nico closer.
“Nico, call off your guard dog”—Gus sent a condescending glance in my direction—“and we’ll talk about what comes next.”
Nico pulled away from my side with a sigh, and I reluctantly let him go.
“Fine. Let’s get everything squared away now so I don’t have to come back later.” Nico took my hand in his as we made our way down the back hallway to Gus’s office.
Gus’s new boyfriend, who I’d learned was an art student at Cameron’s alma mater named Ted, lingered on the edge of the conversation.
His dark eyes darted back and forth between Gus and Nico as they hashed out how Gus planned to market the remaining paintings.
I wandered in his direction, figuring I might as well strike up a conversation.
“So, what kind of art do you make?”
He looked up at me with wide eyes, almost startled I’d addressed him directly.
“It’s, uh,” he stammered. “I do impressionist nudes, but with, like, pop art colors.”
I nodded, not sure what to say. Sounded weird, but what did I know about art?
“Imagine Pisarro crossed with Andy Warhol but naked,” Gus said, inserting himself into the conversation. “He’s incredibly talented. Apparently threatening enough to Nico’s ego that he had to bring a fake boyfriend to try to make us jealous.”
“Excuse me?” My voice was tinged with disbelief at this man’s audacity. “There is nothing fake about my feelings for Nico.”
I looked Nico’s way and held his gaze; there was an unreadable expression on his face. I hoped he could feel how honest I was being in this moment, for better or worse.
“Sure,” Gus said. “We can all pretend that some dairy farmer from a Christmas-themed tourist trap is a logical next step after dating me.”
Breaking my stare, Nico glared in Gus’s direction. “Sleighbell Springs is more than a tourist trap. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever you say.” Gus laughed as he gestured to Ted, who came willingly and perched himself on the arm of Gus’s chair like some kind of prized pet bird.
I listened as Gus explained the fifty-fifty split they’d apparently agreed upon. “…and then it will be sixty days until the money hits your bank account.”
“Sixty days?” Nico’s voice was thick with frustration.
“Did you not read the contract, darling?” Gus looked like he was having a blast at Nico’s expense. Everyone in the room except him tensed at the pet name.
“You’re out of line,” I said, stepping up to Nico’s side.
Gus smirked in Nico’s direction. “I’ve made you a lot of important connections here tonight. Don’t squander them.”
The poorly veiled threat hung in the air between us.
“I won’t.” Nico turned to me. “Let’s head back to the hotel.”
I pecked his shoulder like I would if he were really mine, entwining our fingers and shooting him a look laced with promise. “Can’t wait.”