Page 15 of The House Guest

The exhibition hall for the art show was starting to empty. Most of the people who remained were either staff or students. And me? I was crushed.

“Why do you keep looking at the door?” Janelle asked.

Trying to keep my eyes from welling up, I played dumb. “Am I?”

“Yeah.”

“Didn’t realize it.”

There were only a few minutes left of the show, and Dorian hadn’t come.

I didn’t realize how much him being here mattered until he apparently stood me up.

Almost every person here had someone who’d come to cheer them on—except for me.

It cast a spotlight on something I’d tried to bury: the painful fact that I was essentially alone in this world.

I’d made it seem like it didn’t matter whether or not he came, yet I still couldn’t help feeling let down.

In my head, Dorian was my person, someone I could count on, even if things weren’t romantic between us. But that was just another delusion.

“Hey, Primrose.”

I turned to find Brandon Wright standing next to me. Brandon was a fellow artist who had graduated from the Institute several years back. He now served as a student advisor and mentor. I knew he had done really well in the industry, having sold several paintings, some to celebrity clients.

“Hi.” I managed a smile.

“I didn’t want to interrupt you earlier. Every time I looked over, someone was talking your ear off. But I didn’t want to leave without congratulating you on the show. Your pieces are exquisite.”

“Thank you,” I said, forcing myself to perk up. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“You should look happier than you do this evening,” he told me.

“Oh…” I shook my head, ready to deny it.

“This business—it’s a marathon, not a sprint, you know?

I know how hard it is to stay the course when some days it seems like the only person you’re creating for is yourself.

There’s little reward for most people, but I believe those who are talented will find success.

So even if your paintings didn’t sell tonight, just know that the longer you stay the course, the better things will get. ”

“Like you…” I nodded. “You’re doing so great now.”

He shrugged. “I’m hardly successful, but I’m getting there.”

Brandon had long brown hair past his shoulders and a beard. He was handsome and sort of resembled Johnny Depp’s character from Pirates of the Caribbean .

“I saw your exhibit on the faces of homelessness at the gallery in downtown L.A.,” I told him. “The people you created look so realistic. And the message was obviously profound.”

“When did you go?”

“When it first opened. I think on the second day.”

“You should’ve let me know. I would have met you there.” He paused. “Actually…are you busy tomorrow night? I’d love to hang out, talk more, if you’re around.”

Caught off guard, I waited before responding, unsure whether he was asking me out. But I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to connect with him in any case.

“I had plans to go out with a friend to Juno Bar,” I finally answered.

“A guy friend or…?”

So he was asking me out.

“A female friend. You know her. Janelle Ainsley.” I looked around. “She’s still here somewhere.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Would you want some company, then?”

I hesitated a moment because I wasn’t a hundred-percent sure I wanted to go there with Brandon. But ultimately, I had no reason to say no.

“That’d be great, yeah,” I said.

“Perfect.” He smiled. “I’d love to get to know you better.”

“That would be nice.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Cool.”

“We’re supposed to be meeting there around eight.”

“Eight’s great. I’ll touch base with you by text tomorrow to make sure everything is still on. ”

After we exchanged numbers, I said, “I really appreciate you coming out tonight, Brandon.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.”

Then one of my professors came by to say hello.

Brandon whispered, “See you tomorrow night,” as he excused himself and left.

The moment he was gone, Dorian’s absence returned to the forefront of my mind.

As I finished talking with my teacher, I decided that if I ran into Dorian at the house later, I wouldn’t even say anything.

I’d let him figure out that he’d forgotten.

Or maybe he didn’t. Maybe he simply decided against coming.

He probably didn’t want to lead me on any more than he already had.

Either way, I had to play like it didn’t matter.

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it had hurt me.

***

The longer I could stay out of the house the better, so I asked Janelle if she wanted to stop at a bar after the event. She agreed, and then I spent most of that time out stewing in silence over Dorian’s absence this evening.

When I finally got home, it was late, and I was shocked to find Dorian sitting in the living room. He stood the moment I entered, as if he’d been waiting for me to come back.

“Hi…” I said, trying to appear casual. It was comical that I’d ever thought I could hide my feelings from him. My emotions were about to explode out of my head, so I was certain they were written all over my expression.

“I thought you’d never come home. ”

“I went out,” I said.

“Were you out with that Jesus-looking guy I saw you with at the art show?”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“I’m so sorry about tonight, Primrose.” He shook his head. “If I’d had your number, I would’ve called. Why the fuck don’t I have your phone number?”

“Wait.” I blinked. “You came to the art show?”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I had meetings all day in L.A. Traffic was absolute hell getting back from the city to Orion Coast. I even left early, but there must’ve been like three accidents.

I got to your event just as everything was ending.

When I walked in, you were deep in conversation with some man, and I felt awkward interrupting you, especially when they were closing down the event.

I’d already missed it. So I opted to leave and explain the situation to you later, rather than interrupt your conversation.

Except later was much later than I thought it would be. ”

I expelled a breath. “I came home tonight determined to not let you see how upset I was that you weren’t there. I was never gonna mention it to you. I feel like a fool for assuming you didn’t care enough to come.” I sighed. “But you absolutely should’ve interrupted my conversation.”

“It didn’t feel right for some reason. In retrospect, though, I agree.

I should’ve let you know I was there. I’ve been anxious all night that you thought I’d forgotten or chose not to show.

” He hesitated. “But I got a vibe that something might’ve been going on with you and that guy.

I didn’t want you to have to explain me to him or have him make assumptions. ” He paused. “Who is he?”

“Brandon Wright. He’ s a local artist.”

“ Would I have been interrupting something?”

“He did ask to go out tomorrow night.”

Dorian swallowed hard. “I was right, then.”

“You still could’ve interrupted.”

His face reddened. Or maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I wanted to believe Dorian was jealous, that it served him right after rejecting me. It also could’ve been in my head. In any case, the fact that I cared so much about what he thought was unfortunate.

I tried to downplay it. “It’s not really a date. I’d planned to go to Juno Bar with Janelle anyway. When he asked me if I wanted to hang out, I told him I’d be there if he wanted to stop by.”

“Seems like a date to me,” Dorian insisted, wearing an unreadable expression. “You like him?”

I like you. I shrugged. “I don’t know much about him, other than he’s a talented artist.”

“He’d be a good fit for you, then, right?”

“Not necessarily. I’ve never dated another artist. They tend to be moody and unpredictable.”

His eyes stayed on mine for a moment. “Anyway… Big lesson learned tonight. I should have your phone number. I hadn’t realized I didn’t until I couldn’t reach you.”

I handed my phone to him. “Enter your number. I’ll send you a text so you can program me in.”

As he took the phone, the brush of his hand sent a flash of desire through me. I watched as he entered his information. When he gave it back to me, I texted him the middle finger.

He looked down at his phone. “Lovely. Thank you. Is that because you still somehow think I stood you up? ”

“It’s for being dumb and not coming to say hello just because you saw me talking to someone.

” I should’ve stopped there, but instead I added, “Do you think I’m hung up on you or something because of my stupid mistake of a proposition?

Is that why you thought your presence would trip me up in front of Brandon? ”

“No,” he murmured.

“You don’t need to worry.” I looked down and muttered, “I’m over that.”

If Dorian was smart, he’d see right through me.

He’d see that all of this was for his benefit because I was indeed still hung up on him, and the fact that he’d rejected me still stung just as much as it had when it happened.

And that was so very bad. I needed to protect myself from getting hurt even more. An idea occurred to me.

“In fact…” I continued. “I think the sooner we become more comfortable with this living situation out in the open, the better we’ll be. There’s nothing to hide. I think you should meet us tomorrow night at Juno Bar. Bring a date.”

Dorian narrowed his eyes, seeming perplexed. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t have a date on a Friday night.”

After a brief pause, he proved me right. “I was supposed to meet someone for dinner.”

Of course you are. A rush of jealousy shot through me. Why am I like this?

“So bring her to Juno Bar. We’ll be there around eight.”

“Will you be offended if I say no? ”

“Yep.” I smirked. “Plus, you owe me for flaking tonight, even if it wasn’t your fault.”

“I guess you have a point there. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you twice.”

“Great, then. I’ll see you tomorrow night. And if something comes up, you now have my number.”

“I do.”