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“I am,” I confirm. “I know very little about welding or metal work, but I imagine the intricate way you’ve done it, the minute details of the stitches that are holding the different parts of the shoes together took a long time.

Compared to the more rugged welding you did of the fish out front, and taking into account these shoes were made before, according to the information card here.

..” I pause to point at the top of the platform the shoes are perched on.

“I’d say you spent at least a few months making these shoes, and the fish was something very quick and born out of artistic inspiration.

This contrast is seen in most art mediums, including music which is what I’m an expert in, and I can recognize it based on other artists’ works and my own.

You made these shoes with care and passion and love, which indicates a spouse or romantic partner, and that fish was made out of longing and an immediate need, which would indicate desire and maybe homesickness. ”

When I finally stop talking, I see London is wincing and Sebas is staring at me open-mouthed. I fear that I might’ve said something offensive so I hurry to explain.

“Both are stunning in their own way, and I can see how both served their purpose and brought you joy by how proudly they’re displayed.”

Sebas shakes his head and holds out his hand, palm up in the universal gesture for me to stop.

“You’re one smart dude, huh?” is all he says, and he’s talking quietly but smiling.

I remember what Carter said, and I breathe out slowly, knowing Sebas isn’t mad at me, or at the very least not going to show it if he is.

“I wish every person I come across would make some type of art so I could figure out how they’re feeling instead of having to guess based on their words or expressions,” I confess for some strange reason.

That had Sebas’s smile growing and me finally relaxing.

“Let me show you the rest,” he said easily, and London agrees right away.

“Please.”

I walk behind them and listen intently to every word Sebas says, even as I think about Carter and wonder if he’s here today. He works here, I’m sure of that, and I think that’s why I needed to come over here, and carry London over, when I realized what this place was.

But I don’t see him anywhere, and for some reason I feel that asking Sebas isn’t the right thing to do.

“Liam, London, what a nice surprise,” I hear his soothing British accent behind me and turn around as fast as I can. A smile stretches my face without me even needing to force it, and if that doesn’t tell me plainly how much I enjoy Carter’s existence, then I don’t know what will .

“How are you?” London asks him, going right in for a hug. I kinda want to do the same but I can’t bring myself to do it.

“I’m good. And you, little one?” He leans back and pats the top of her head softly.

“I’m good too. Liam recognized the gallery and we came over to check it out after getting some treats from next door.”

“They were amazing,” I can’t help but interject, wanting to be part of the conversation with a desperation that’s unusual for me, but I don’t want to stop and think about it right now.

“They were,” London agrees. “And now I need to go home, but Liam needs to be away from work for a while longer. Why don’t you guys go have dinner at Rossi’s?

” I open my mouth to ask her what the hell she needs to go home for, but she just keeps talking.

“It’s this amazing Italian place that’s right around the corner.

Please?” she pleads with a whine, looking up at Carter, though I think she invited Sebas too. .. right?

“I have to go home to my husband and baby,” Sebas says with a big smile this time. “But Carter should be done for the day, right?” He looks up sharply at Carter, who doesn’t look like he minds whatever it is London is scheming, and?—

My thoughts stop because I realize I don’t mind either.

“I could go for some pasta,” Carter says easily, then nods over to Sebas, while London takes a step back and gets her phone out of her pants then immediately starts typing furiously. “You can just head home, mate. I’ll lock it all up and be here early tomorrow.”

“Thanks. You’re the best,” Sebas says and blows him a kiss. He stretches his arm out in my direction and offers me his hand to shake. “You’re welcome here anytime to tell me all your thoughts on any piece that strikes your fancy. It was nice seeing you again.”

I barely have time to whisper, “You too,” before he’s patting London’s arm and saying goodbye to her too. Then he’s off, running to the back of the room and disappearing behind a wall.

“Paco’s gonna pick me up in five minutes,” London announces.

I can’t help but frown down at her. We had plans and now she’s acting like we didn’t, and I don’t understand why.

“I’m going to shut down in the office, I’ll be back in a minute.” Carter’s turning and walking quickly to the same opening in the wall Sebas used, and that’s when I focus on London again.

London, who’s looking up at me with her eyes wide and her mouth pinched in a weird way I have to think hard to recognize.

I didn’t think it was possible but her eyes open wider when I open my mouth to ask her what’s going on with her, and that’s when I remember.

I think she was ten or eleven when we came up with a lot of signals she would give me when we were in front of other people so I could understand what she was thinking, and this one means she wants me to stay quiet, trust her, and to keep my complaints to myself until we’re alone.

We’re alone now, but I suspect Carter could hear anything we’d say, so I follow her lead and just nod at her so she knows I understand.

“I’m ready for some pasta now,” Carter says, as he turns away from the now-locked glass door of the gallery.

His voice sounds different from all the times before.

His eyebrows are high in the middle of his forehead and there’s a lightness in his eyes.

I don’t know what it means exactly, but like every other time he’s spoken to me, I like the sound, so I file it away and make a mental note to ask what it means later.

We just put London in the SUV with Paco behind the wheel and are standing on the sidewalk.

“Rossi’s is a great restaurant,” I inform him, because I feel this need to say something and I can’t think of anything else.

“Lead the way,” Carter says, his smile more relaxed now as he gestures up the block with his hand.

As I begin to walk, I wonder what all of this means.

The chances of me knowing what Carter is thinking are slim to none, but what’s more baffling is that I can’t quite understand what I’m feeling right now either.

“So how have you been since the party?” he asks after only a few steps, and my shoulders relax.

All I need to do is talk.

Having a conversation with Carter proved to be a pretty enjoyable activity when we sat together at the party a couple of weeks back. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be the same this time around.