four

*NOEL*

“ A nd why do you want me to come along?” I ask. “I am completely out of place there!” Not that it isn’t great that Ster got this deal, but I don’t belong to this crowd at all.

“For moral support,” Sterling says.

“You can flirt with someone there,” Mateo offers.

“What, you want me to grab a rich, sugar daddy?”

“No,” Mateo curls his nose. “That would be too dangerous, but you could still flirt.”

“You could try your luck with Aden in person or his assistant. Both are handsome.”

“Maybe his assistant,” Mateo says. “But do you think Aden Randall is gay?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t give off specific vibes either way. He could be.”

“Earth to Sterling and Mateo, I am not coming.” They both look at me. Mateo, through huge, puppy eyes, which he can pull off despite his impressive height, and Sterling just gives me a big bro look that’s hard to ignore. “I don’t have anything to dress in.”

“Oh, I have you covered,” Mateo smiles. “I got a suit for you.”

The vein at my neck starts to throb in annoyance. Bad enough I have to work my ass off in the night club, but to join an evening activity in my free time?

“It’s going to be something far from what we usually do,” Ster says, suddenly all serious.

“This could be good, couldn’t it? All three of us have been stagnating for years.

I am not a fan of such an event either, but we haven’t done anything together in ages, and this is a chance to mingle with people we usually don’t meet. Just something new, you know?”

“Fine,” I grumble. “The suit?”

Mateo shows me a garment bag with a suit neatly stored inside it. “Here you go. Try it on, so we can have it altered in case it doesn’t fit.”

“Why would you get it altered? Don’t tell me you bought it!”

“I did,” Mateo says.

“Don’t argue with him,” Ster mutters. “He bought me a new suit as well.”

“Obviously. You have to look like a star,” Mateo argues.

“You know he is right,” I admit. “In a way, this is your party.” I pause. “I am very happy for you, in case that didn’t come through properly.”

“I know you are,” Ster says, smiling. “But thank you for saying it. And you did help a lot already.”

“Right, it was Shades of Blue that caught Aden Randall’s eye,” Mateo muses.

“Any art of yours would have,” I point out.

“I think it struck something in him,” Ster says. “And as an artist, that’s what makes me happy. I mean, how high are the chances for one of the most popular gallerists and art patrons to discover one of my paintings, fall in love with it, and then decide to mentor me?”

“I agree,” Mateo inspects his own suit. As usual, he got it tailored. His legs are just too long for anything you can buy in a normal shop. “But you are good, and you worked hard.”

“A lot of artists are good and work hard,” he argues. “And yet they will never be able to make it big. Part of it is luck. And I know I got lucky. There is no need to pretend I made it on talent alone. I am very thankful for the help I received.”

“At least show me that Randall guy,” I say. “I need to know who you are dealing with.”

Mateo takes one of the art brochures he has been carrying around, because they feature Ster’s art, too, as he was part of that huge opening exhibition. “Here,” he says, opening a page and showing me the man.

I was expecting an older man. “Just how old is he? I thought he would at least be in his fifties!”

“I believe he is in his late thirties,” Mateo says.

True, Aden Randall looks like he is in his 30s. He is wearing a suit, he’s neatly combed his hair, and his expression is serious.

Ster was right. He is handsome.

“He looks neat,” I say instead.

Mateo snorts. “Right.”

Furrowing my brows, I inspect the picture closely. Something about this dude rings a bell. “Are there more pictures of him?”

“He is pretty private,” Mateo says. “But his gallery has a social media account. He is in some of the pics there. Wait…” He searches for something on his phone before handing it to me.

Most of the pictures are of artworks and artists, but there are some funny reels, too.

Occasionally, though, there are pictures of the staff working for Aden Randall.

And…

“Here, he is wearing a suit again, but the quality is better.” The comments seem to fuss over him. I am not surprised. He looks composed and well put-together, a tad mysterious even. A person who doesn’t give away too much. I zoom in on the pic, staring at the face now. “I know him,” I mutter.

“What?” Mateo stares at me.

“I have seen him somewhere before… but where…” I search for another pic with Aden Randall in it, and stare at it again. This time he is wearing a long, elegant coat, and his hair is styled, but not as neatly as for the official picture. “OH MY GOD!” I blurt out, tossing the phone away in shock.

Ster catches it last second. “What now?”

I throw my hands in the air, pacing up and down the room while hiding my face. “Fuck, it’s him!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Mateo mutters. “And next time, please don’t throw my phone.”

“So, who is he?” Ster urges.

“The guy!” I say, turning to them. “The macaroni guy!”

It takes a while to sink in, but once it does, realization dawns on my friends’ faces. “No way,” Mateo exclaims.

“He is the guy who saved your ass?” Ster asks. “When you shoplifted?”

I was seventeen back then, and my situation was getting worse every day.

My father had used me for shoplifting before, so I knew some techniques.

I was just hungry. But this time, the shop owner spotted me.

If it weren’t for Aden Randall, who was coincidentally at the same place, the shop owner would have called the police.

“It’s really him,” I say in disbelief. He has been living in my mind, rent-free, for a while now. For him, it might have just been a small kind thing to do, but for me, it was more.

“Your crush!” Mateo exclaims.

I press my lips together, annoyed. “He is not my crush.”

Mateo ignores what I just said. “See, even more reason to join the party,” he grins. “You can finally thank him in person.”

“It’s been a couple of years, I am sure he can’t remember,” I say. “I looked different back then, and it was just a moment.”

“Well, you remember him,” Ster points out. “So, why shouldn’t he?”

“Because it was a meaningful moment for me. A turning point. I am sure for him it was just a fleeting moment.”

“You never know.” Ster shrugs. “So, I assume you are joining us?”

I look at my suit, trying to play it cool. “I guess I have to, now.”

*ADEN*

Lynn and I go through all the details for the dinner party. Everything is already set, but it’s always good to take a last look at everything. We are almost done when my phone vibrates.

A message?

Hey little bro!

I frown.

Lynn tosses me a look. “Oliver?”

“No, Francis.”

I just met Oliver for a couple of cocktails. Why don’t you join us? We’d love to see you!

Francis works a corporate job; he is in finance and is doing very well. He and I are the only ones with more traditional jobs.

I curse myself for having read the message immediately. Now he knows I’ve seen it.

Can’t. I type back. I am at work.

That’s technically not a lie, though Lynn and I are about to wrap things up.

That sucks. But join us next time!

I don’t know what to answer, so I leave it at that. Shortly after, a new message from Francis comes through.

Oh, forgot to tell you: We saw the coverage of your opening exhibition. Congrats!

At this, my fingers almost twitch with wanting to send a reply. In my family, I am the only one with an interest in art, I always have been, and I know that the channels that covered the interviews about the last exhibit aren’t those they’d usually watch.

I stop myself from replying, deciding to leave things the way they are.

“Everything okay?” Lynn asks.

“Yes.”

“You don’t look okay, though.”

“No, it’s nothing. Just didn’t expect a message from Francis. He wanted me to join him and Oliver for a drink.”

“Why don’t you?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I would feel out of place.”

She looks at me thoughtfully. “I don’t know, Aden. It looks to me like they’d want to hang out with you.”

I shrug. “But why? We weren’t close as kids. It makes no sense.”

“Why wouldn’t it? They grew up, too, and now probably want to be close to their little brother.” She pauses. “You know Oliver and I dated in college.”

“I know.” Lynn was always nice to me. Pity that Oliver and she didn’t work out. I was over the moon when we coincidentally met years later and began working together.

“He never said anything bad about you,” she says. “In fact, he was always overthinking what to gift you for your birthdays.”

“Yes, Oliver isn’t too bad,” I admit. At least he didn’t bully me, but it’s not like he cared a lot either.

“Maybe you are overthinking it.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” I say. “But for now, I want to keep the status quo.”

Family just tires me out. Not so much Mom, but everyone else does. University was the first time in my life when I felt truly like I belonged and could flourish. I just don’t like returning home, even for a brief visit.

I pack my things up and squeeze Lynn’s shoulder. “Make sure to get some sleep.”

“I will. Has Mateo told you yet, how many guests they will be coming with?”

“Yes, they will bring a friend and one sibling. I believe Sterling’s sister will be attending.”

“Great!” She nods contentedly. “I will bring a date too. Is that okay?”

“Of course! The guy from the fitness studio?”

“No, the one I met for my marathon training,” she says. “He is in IT.”

“Good. I am happy for you!”

She grins. “Now we just need to find someone for you. You have been single for too long.” Before I can open my mouth, she continues. “Occasional hookups don’t count. What’s with the guy you met in the park?”

“There were no sparks,” I admit. “I just want there to be an attraction, too.”

“Yeah, I get it.” She moves her fingertip over her lips in a thoughtful gesture. “Maybe it’s the type of guys you are looking for.”

“What’s wrong with them?” I ask.

“You tell me! What do they all have in common?”

“Well, they are well-dressed, they are quiet and serious,” I say.

“Yeah, like you,” she says bluntly. “You never take any risk, Aden. You just go for the easiest solution. You know more than anyone else how to get one of these men, because they are like you. You talk about sparks and feelings, but you are very rational about how you pick them. Now, rationality can be good if that’s your thing, but it clearly isn’t. ”

“Are you saying I am self-sabotaging?”

“I am saying you go for guys who you know won’t interest you on a deeper level. Because then it means you won’t need to engage with them, you won’t need to get to know them, you won’t need to open up, you will have it easy and boring, and it will be zero effort to dump them.”

“That was blunt,” I mutter.

“Sorry?” she offers, clearly not meaning it. “Just think about it.”

Am I really doing that? Flirting with a guy I am only remotely interested in and not allowing myself to date someone I actually find intriguing? For years now, I’ve only had loose affairs. My last actual relationship was years ago, and it was a disaster.

So, maybe she is right.

For a moment, Lynn stays silent before picking up the folder with Sterling’s name on. Cedric and I have been collecting his data and his plans for the future. “Looks like he and his manager are decent guys. From what I have seen and heard so far, I like them. They seem genuine.”

“Sterling’s art is genuine, too,” I say. “I would have been surprised if he appeared arrogant.”

“You have a good eye for artists,” she says. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“You can see it in the way they paint and form an idea into reality, how they approach their motives, where they take inspiration from.”

“You say that as if it’s easy to read them,” she chuckles. “That’s why I keep to our finances. You and Cedric do the rest.”

I groan. “Sometimes I feel more like a babysitter for Cedric than a boss.”

“Don’t complain,” she grins. “He is the first one you’ve worked well with. Don’t chase our golden retriever away! He can handle your perfectionism.”

“Shut up,” I chuckle. “I will take that as my cue to go home now. I am working from home tomorrow. Cedric has his day off.”

“I will be here,” she reassures me. “In case something urgent comes in, but I doubt it will. Fridays are slow.”

I nod. “See you on Saturday for the dinner party,”