woman was funny down to her core.
“Trust me, that’s quality whiskey. Just nurse on it. You don’t have to take it all in at once.” Their eyes locked. He was certain she’d caught his sexual innuendo. “Well,” he said with a shrug, “I always have my art gigs, ya know? No matter what. That’s true. The problem is that the money coming in for it isn’t always consistent. That’s the same situation for most artists, actually. Until I get a deal that’s more reliable, like having my own gallery or being hired full time in a company’s art department, I will need another job to make ends meet. I refuse to be a starving artist. I want to eat, and eat well.”
She nodded. “Cheers on your new job, King.” She brought up her glass, he did the same, and they clanked them together. “Here’s to a steady paycheck. A damn J.O.B.” She chuckled.
“Would it have mattered if I wasn’t an artist and didn’t have a job, too?” He winked at her, then took another taste of his whiskey.
“Honestly? Yes.”
“I would feel the same as you I believe, but playing the Devil’s advocate.” He leaned back into his seat after taking a swig of his drink. “I was supposed to be a one night stand, remember?” She blushed. “You just wanted me for one thing. And that’s fine. No problem with that because the feeling was mutual. A penis doesn’t need a paying gig. Right, Suri? It only has one job that involves pleasure. To fuck.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered, technically, but it would have mattered as far as my libido. I can’t fuck lazy men. It’s a turn off. It means they’ll probably be lazy in bed, too. I can, however, fuck starving artists. Build a life with them?” She grimaced. “Mmmm, probably not.” Her nose wrinkled. “I respect art though. Love it. I admire people who can do things I can’t do.”
“So, the fact that I’m artistically inclined turns you on?”
“Definitely. I have a thing for artists. Not only did I find you attractive, but to discover you are so talented was an added bonus. I personally feel it to be an insult that artists and performers in general are not fairly compensated. Thankfully, you do have other useful assets, and yes, you were supposed to be a one night stand, but I was only supposed to be a one-way ticket for you, too.”
“True.” He hesitated, wondering if he should say what had just popped into his mind. Instead, he kept it to himself. For now. They continued to vibe, laugh, talk about all sorts of things.
But then, at some point, her face turned serious.
“I was a late bloomer,” she blurted, getting back to the previous topic. This didn’t surprise him for their discussion had felt unfinished. She fidgeted with her glass. I knew it. She cares about how I perceive her. He waited for her to go on. “I finally gave myself the freedom to explore.”
“Your body? As in masturbation or as in having sex with others?”
She shot a look around them, to make sure they weren’t being overheard, then said, “With others. I’ve always been adventurous, but sometimes, I cared too much about others. All you had to do was be good to me one time,” she held her finger up as her eyes narrowed, “and I would feel indebted to you for a long time, way past the usefulness of the connection.”
Confessions? Vulnerability? She feels she can trusts me.
“The world eats people like that up, your former self. Good thing you snapped out of it.”
She gave him an inquisitive look, then tentatively took a sip of her whiskey.
“I’ve heard you say things like that before.”
“Things like what?”
“Words that prove that you have absolutely no faith in humanity.” Her smile had to be deceiving, because she was definitely serious.
“I don’t. My faith is in whatever force created us. Whatever force created us is inside of us, too, so my faith is also in me. People have to earn my trust and even then, there is no guarantee they won’t cross me. I don’t waste tears, time, or tender moments on people who have proven they don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves.”
“So, you’re despondent? Emotionless. You have no hope in humankind?”
“Art is my hope. I find hope inside of me. I don’t look for it externally.”
“Do you believe that’s productive?”
“For me it is.” He sucked his teeth and felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He’d answer