Page 49

*ADEN*

“Damn it!” Mateo blurts out. He had gone to stand up, but hit his head against the lamp. “Why do they hang them so low?”

“It’s not too low,” Sterling says in his usual calm manner. “You are just very tall.”

“So, it’s my fault now?” Mateo exclaims.

“I never said that,” Sterling says. “They just design this stuff for the average person.”

Mateo lets his head drop down onto the table. “Am I not average?” he asks, sounding miserable.

Noel furrows his brows. It’s the look he has when he is about to show his claws. Somehow, it’s a bigger turn-on for me than it should be. “Are you stupid? Why do you want to be average?! Obviously, you are great the way you are!”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Mateo mutters. “Not all of us are a beauty out of a painting.”

“Fuck,” Noel groans. “Ster, don’t let him have another drink!”

“I am not drunk,” Mateo mutters.

“That makes it even worse!”

“I can draw you too, Mateo,” Sterling offers.

Mateo’s head snaps up. “Who wants a pity painting?!”

Sterling’s face carries an expression of confusion. “Why not?”

Mateo stares at him before exchanging a look with Noel. “He has a point, Ster,” Noel says. “Who the fuck wants a pity-anything?”

“Yeah, you tell him, Noel!”

Sterling looks completely unfazed by his two friends’ complaints and just shrugs.

When I agreed to join Noel and his friends for dinner, this was certainly not what I expected. Granted, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it still comes as a surprise to see the three of them this relaxed around each other. I can’t remember the last time I was in a get-together where the whole atmosphere was so light.

Suddenly, I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of this whole conversation.

Mateo looks at me as if he just realizes I am here, a look of horror on his face, while the tips of Noel’s ears turn red. Only Sterling looks completely unfazed. “You must think we are so silly!” Mateo says.

“I kind of do,” I say. “But in an endearing way.”

Noel scoots closer to me, a frown on his face. “How can someone be silly and endearing at the same time?”

Instead of an answer, I put an arm around his shoulder and tug him closer. His eyes snap up at me in surprise. Good to know it is possible to catch him off guard, sometimes. “Some people can pull it off,” I say.

Noel furrows his brows. “Sometimes I don’t know if the things you say are meant as a compliment or not.”

“It’s like with Sterlone,” Mateo says. “At times, I think I should actually be insulted.”

“Must be the artistic gene,” Noel says. “This reminds me—” His head snaps towards me. “You are an artist too.”

“This would explain the whole, semi-insulting, without being insulting, attitude,” Mateo adds.

I am not sure if I make sense of what he says, yet I kind of understand the sentiment behind his words. “I don’t draw for exhibitions or patrons anymore,” I explain. “Just in private.”

“Why did you stop?” Sterling asks, his voice surprisingly serious while he looks at me thoughtfully.

Of course, he caught it.