Page 45 of My Broken Mate

“Maybe she can influence Remy with her positivity,” I say.

“And maybe he can stop her from being too kind. Some people take advantage of her because she wants to please everyone.”

“Oh, Remy is introverted, but he has never had any issues with that,” I say, relieved that he can help Katalina in a way, too. I know Remy is quiet and has his guard up constantly, something that worries both Sean and me. He never lets anyone in. He isn’t shy, but he is closed off. “Let’s hope they rub off on each other.”

Silence descends again before Eve gestures at the hall. “Well, now tell me: What do you think about my new paintings?”

My gaze lingers on a picture with a humongous grasshopper, crawling out of the mouth of a young man. I am wondering what Remy or Sean would say if I convinced them to come here. Something tells me I might get disowned by both of them. “They are grotesque,” I say honestly. “And slightly unbecoming. Disturbing. Yet, I can’t tear my gaze away.”

“Good,” he nods. “Thank you.”

“How come you appreciate my feedback but no one else does?” I ask, remotely remembering the way Sean glared at me when he heard I commented on Remy’s essay.

“Simple. Because I asked for it,” he says. “Care for dinner? It’s on me.”

“Sure, I am actually pretty hungry.”

Eve chuckles. “When I showed Kata and Joel the exhibition, they both said they felt too sick to have any food. And Kata loves my art, usually. But you—”

“I am special,” I say. “Nothing stops me from eating!”

“How about we go for Korean barbeque?” he offers.

“And that’s why you are my best friend!” I exclaim. “Well, technically, you are my only friend.”

“Don’t fret it,” Eve says. “I am not particularly sociable either. You are pretty much the only person, besides my siblings, I like to hang out with.”

“How come?”

“Huh?”

“Sorry for asking such a pathetic question,” I say. “But honestly, no one reallylikesto hang out with me. So, I have always wondered why you do.”

“You don’t waste my time, you come to the point, you are not offended when I tell you my opinion. Interacting with you is incredibly easy.” He looks at me. “Let’s go, I am hungry, too.”

I follow him back outside and through a shady side alley to a tiny restaurant. “How do you always find these places?” I mutter. “Anyone else would fear for their life.”

“I got lost last week and stumbled into it,” he says. “Simple as that. The food is good.”

“Well, if you say so.”

The place is as shady as it was on first glance, but the owner greets us politely, and Eve was right, the food looks amazing. We are the only guests, so we don’t have to wait long and, soon, are able to dig in.

“How are the tutor sessions going?” I ask after a while. My original plan was to ask Remy, but I doubt he would answer me. He tends to evade me sometimes. If only I knew why.

Eve shrugs. “Good, I guess.”

Something about the way he said it raises my suspicions. “So, it’s not going too well?”

“I just said it’s good,” he points out. “Why do you think that?”

“You sounded off.”

“No, I didn’t,” he says. “You are just interpreting too much into my words.”

“But—”

“Gabe, two young people who met each other for the first time are not instantly going to be best friends. Kata finally has a plan for her college classes thanks to your brother. Everything else will happen naturally. Give them some time to get to know each other.”