Page 87 of Student Seduction

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Emersyn

6Months Later

“It’s the freaking Met, Em. Are you not just completely out of your mind right now?”

I couldn’t help but grin at Drew’s boyish enthusiasm. His exuberance was contagious.

“Maybe a little,” I admitted.

The waiter brought our celebratory champagne and James approved the vintage and thanked him.

The sculpture I’d done after my mother passed had been added to an exhibit for the Lupus Awareness Fundraiser Gala being held at the Metropolitan Museum in New York tomorrow night.

I’d flown in from Chicago earlier that afternoon and was staying at with my best friend and his husband for the weekend.

“A little?” Drew scoffed. “It’s the Met. I’d take it over the Guggenheim any day. You are so living your best life right now. We’re really happy for you, Em.”

I blushed at their attention. “Thank you. Both of you. I’m really happy for you, too. Have they said how much longer until the paperwork on Nina is final?”

Nina was the one year old daughter they were adopting from Guatemala. She was the most precious thing. I’d only seen pictures, but as her Godmother, I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms.

“Should be in the next ninety days,” James said, excitement gleaming bright in his eyes. “You’ll fly back in, right? I can get you a ticket if needed.”

“Of course I will. And no need. I’m doing okay. Not quite starving artist status yet.”

Drew scoffed. “After tomorrow you’re going to be famous.”

I rolled my eyes, but the undercurrent of possibility was electric in my veins all the same.

As the waiter returned to take our orders, I watched them decide what to get so they could each have half of the other’s choice. My heart filled seeing the love Drew had found. And their family was growing.

I was thrilled for them. And a little envious, too.

I’d moved out of Max’s apartment a few months ago. When Beth had shown up one day, it became obvious that I’d only been a placeholder. I hadn’t even been sad about it. Max and I parted ways amicably and I’d left some of my furniture for them because I didn’t have room for it.

Now I lived in a tiny studio loft apartment above my favorite coffee shop. I had a fabulous job at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where I coordinated member services and events and made sure no one was an asshole to the interns.

I enjoyed my solitude when I wasn’t working, sculpting or working with mixed-mediums every chance I got, but it was lonely at times. Deborah and my dad visited once a year on my birthday and I flew out to visit them at Christmas. Ethan stayed with me here and there when the farm league baseball team he played for was in the off-season. But most of the time, it was just me.

The waiter left and James kicked Drew under the table.

It startled me and I stared at them wide-eyed.

“We agreed,” James said under his breath. “You can tell her after the Gala.”

“Tell me what?” I leaned forward so I wouldn’t miss any more of their conversation.

Drew glanced at his husband. “I think she’ll be more upset if I don’t tell her now.”

James gave a subtle shake of his head. “Tomorrow would be better. It’s a big day. Let her enjoy it. Tell her after.”

“Okay, the suspense is too much. Just tell me.” I squared my shoulders and braced myself. “Whatever it is, I can handle it. Did some early reviewer say my piece for the exhibit was crap? I can take it.”

Drew made a face. “No, darling. Nothing like that.”

James closed his eyes. “Telling her before tomorrow is a mistake. It will cast a doom cloud over her big moment.”