Page 29 of Something Like Forever

“Fine. It’s a work inprogress. Show me.”

“Not yet!” Tim growledthrough gritted teeth.

“Turn it around for thecamera to see!”

“Fine!”

He threw down his brush,grabbed the easel, and spun it around, huffing as he faced thecamera. The lens stared back impassively. Then Kelly lowered thedevice and smiled. “I love it!”

“You do?” Tim looked athis impromptu creation. He had painted Kelly as a sinister figure,lithe body dressed in black and clutching a camera to his chest.The face was handsome, despite the leering grin and scheming eyes.Most striking of all were the two red horns on either side of hishead, like Kelly was the devil himself.

“You captured meperfectly!” Kelly said with good humor. “Nathaniel would love this.Actually, I still need a wedding present. Do you think you’d bewilling to part with it?”

“I’d need to finish itup,” Tim said, appraising the piece anew. It wasn’t bad!“Congratulations, by the way. Marcello told me the goodnews.”

“Thanks,” Kelly saiddistractedly, eyes still on the canvas. “You have true talent. I’mnot saying that out of vanity either. I went through yourportfolio. You’ve done some stunning work.”

“You really think so?” Timsaid, taken aback. Then he rolled his eyes. “You’re just trying tobuild me up so I keep going. That way you can take morephotos.”

“Not at all,” Kelly said,lifting the camera from around his neck. “I’ve got what I need.We’re done. All I’m saying is that you make a better painter than amodel, and considering how much the camera loves you, that’s reallysaying something.”

“Thanks!” Tim said,standing a little taller. “Feel free to stop by anytime to boost myego.”

“I’m coming back for thatwhen it’s finished,” Kelly said, nodding to the canvas. “Justpromise you won’t make me look sweet.”

Tim laughed, but before hecould say anything in response, they heard the front door chime. Heleft the studio space and went into the main hall. The afternoonwas late, the sun filling the room with warm light that had himitching to keep painting. Especially when he recognized thesilhouette moving toward him.

“Benjamin! What are youdoing here?”

He was answered with akiss, then a hug that showed him it hadn’t been an easy day for hishusband. “I miss you.”

Tim chuckled. “I’m right here.”

Ben pulled away with a hangdog expression.“I know, but rehearsals start in a little bit, so I’ll be gone mostof the night. All I want to do is go home with you, grab a burgeron the way, and sit on the couch while we pig out and watchsomething stupid.”

“We can still do that whenyou get back,” Tim said.

“I wanna do it now,” Benpouted. Then he straightened up and put on a more adult voice. “Oh!Kelly! How are you?”

“I’m exceedingly well,”Kelly said, moving through the room with his equipment in hand. “Iwon’t interrupt, don’t worry. I have places to be.”

“It’s nice seeing youagain,” Ben said.

“You too,” Kellyresponded, his back against the door. He looked at Tim. “I’llreview the images and see if there’s anything else we need. I meanwhat I said about that painting. I’m coming back for it! Just makesure you get my bad side.” He grinned wickedly and pushed his wayoutside.

“Good kid,” Tim murmured.Then he looked back at Ben, who had resumed sulking. “You’re reallyover this theater stuff, aren’t you?”

Ben dropped the act andscrunched up his face. “What do you mean?”

“You complain about it allthe time.”

“Really?” Ben winced.“Sorry. I don’t mean to be annoying.”

“You’re not,” Tim said,taking his hand. “You can always vent to me. That’s in the jobdescription. It’s just lately, you seem unhappy whenever you haveto go there.”

“The new production onlyhas two songs, and Brian wants me to play the lead, who barelysings at all. I’d only get a few lines of each song.”

“He’s really fond of you,”Tim said. “And even a single word of your singing is enough to winover the audience. You’ll do fine.”