Page 102 of My Broken Mate

“Maybe we are part of the issue?”

Eve stares at me. “What do you mean?”

“We are not being us,” I say. “Like, not at all.”

“We don’t want to ruin this for Joel,” he points out.

“Right, but it’s not like it’s going particularly well right now.”

A thoughtful expression crosses Eve’s face. “You mean there is nothing we can ruin,” he mutters more to himself than to me. He still has the same thoughtful expression on his face when we return.

“Gabe,” he says while sitting down. “I expect you to come to my next gallery opening.”

“You have another one?” Gabriel asks curiously.

“Yeah,” Eve smiles. “I know it’s pretty soon after the other. I will send you an invitation.”

“Find an excuse as long as you can,” Joel says. “I have seen the previews. So many worms.”

“I for one think they are awesome,” I say, turning to Remy and deciding not to give a fuck about the whole tension. At least I can talk to him without being awkward. “You saw one of the pics, too.”

“Oh, the one with the big worm and the deer?” Remy asks.

“See, even Remy already knows that it’s your theme,” Joel groans. “Why does it have to be worms? They are so gross.”

“You just don’t have an eye for good art,” Eve says dryly. “You brute.”

“You draw paintings of worms gnawing on brains, and I am the weird one?” Joel blinks. “Someone help me make sense out of it.”

“You really do like worms,” Gabriel admits. “But I can’t say I hate your pictures.”

“But you don’t love them either?” Eve says.

“Well,” Gabriel frowns. “Love is a stretch,” he admits. “They are disturbing.”

Once he says it, he almost looks scared, like he’s slipped. Meanwhile, I can almost see the tension crawling through Sean and Remy’s bodies again.

Eve doesn’t mind at all, though. “See?” he says to Joel. “They elicit emotions. That’s important. Gross is good. People like disturbing, so do I.”

Gabriel looks relieved and smiles at Eve. Is this why they get along so well? Eve just understands what Gabriel is saying. Maybe this is Gabriel’s issue? He talks without thinking it through first and doesn’t find the right words to accurately voice what he means. Ayden hinted at something similar once, that what he wants to say and what leaves his mouth aren’t always the same.

“Have you seen his paintings?” Joel asks Sean.

“Yes, I went to see the last exhibition,” Sean says calmly, as all of us just stare at him in surprise.

“You…” Eve swallows, clearly shocked. It’s a very rare expression to see on him. “Alpha Sean, had I known, I would have made sure to be there and show you around.”

Maybe it’s Sean’s aura, but something about him makes everyone around act a nervous mess. His tone is always calm and reserved, though, as if he knows it and tries not to unsettle those around him. Not that it works particularly well, unfortunately.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to impose on you so suddenly,” Sean says.

Even the way he talks is different. It always sounds like he is in an official situation and being scrutinized. I fidget slightly, realizing that maybe he is. Maybe that’s the problem. Joel said earlier that we are the ones making this situation an issue. Maybe it’s not just us but everyone else, also.

Everyone, but my brother, obviously.

Joel punches Sean’s shoulder playfully. “Next time, hit up your buddy,” he grins, pointing at himself. “Your beauty would just go to waste if you frolic through the gallery on your own!”

“Goddess,” Eve groans.