need but then there’s the times when we’re going at each furiously. Almost like angry sex.
“I hope we never get it all out of our systems.”
Gabe pretends like he’s sticking his finger down his throat. “I don’t want to know.”
I laugh at the look of disgust on his face. “I told Jamie that you were being a douchenozzle about this whole thing.”
That makes him crack up. “I love that. I’ll have to start using that one.”
We’re still laughing when the door opens again. Mr. Hartwell gestures to me. “It’s time, Ms. Harlow. Are you ready to meet your adoring fans?”
Gabe hugs me and then pushes me toward the door. “Go, be fearless.”
“Thanks, Gabe.”
I follow Mr. Hartwell out of the office and down the hall. When we enter the main gallery, he accepts a microphone from someone. When he calls my name, I’m nearly deafened by the applause. But all I’m doing is looking for the only face in the crowd that matters.
Zack.
When I see him, I smile and revel in the spotlight.
†
I’m in the middle of talking to a potential buyer when I see them. My parents. My mouth falls open and I stop speaking mid-sentence. The buyer stops talking too and glances around us, trying to figure out what I’m staring at.
“Would you excuse me?”
I don’t even wait for an answer before I walk away. My brother and Izzie are here somewhere but I doubt he would have told my parents. They’ve been just as dismissive of his relationship as they’ve been of mine. If he’d known they planned to be here, he would have warned me for sure.
My mother sees me coming first. She’s standing in front of one of the early pictures in the series, from when Zack and I first decided to take this journey together. We were walking and I’d just told him that he was my first kiss. The look of awed wonder on his face contrasted with the barren trees behind him is quite striking. I titled the image, The Revelation.
“Josephine.”
“Mom? Dad?” I’m staring like I’m not sure it’s really them. “What are you doing here?”
Mom folds her hands in front of her, looking extremely uncomfortable. “Zack invited us. We didn’t even know you had another show.”
“He did? I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
Now I’m really confused. My parents haven’t ever been particularly welcoming to Zack so the idea of him inviting them anywhere is pretty weird. And why the hell wouldn’t he warn me?
“Please don’t be angry with him. He wanted us to know how proud he is of you. He told us that if we could come and be supportive that it would mean a lot to you.” She smiles tightly.
I’m surprised they came. They always seem like being around me stresses them out more than anything else. As the silence stretches into awkwardness, I realize it must seem like I don’t want them here which isn’t true at all. I just want them to want to be here.
“I would have invited you but I was pretty sure you barely recovered from just hearing about the last one.”
My mom’s lips tilt up slightly. Did she just smile? I’m starting to feel like I’m in some sort of alternate dimension. Is my mother really hanging out at an erotic art show and smiling?
“Well, pumpkin. I’m going to take a little walk around. I’ll see you later.” My father kisses me on the cheek.
After he’s gone, my mother smiles nervously. “Your father is a little bashful about this whole thing.”
“I’m just surprised he came at all.”
“Is it okay that we’re here?”
She sounds uncertain and it’s unlike her. Although honestly her being here in the first place is wildly out of character so I probably shouldn’t be shocked by anything that happens tonight.
“Yes. I’m happy you’re here.”
It’s true. Even though it’s kind of embarrassing it’s also really sweet that they came to support me. All I’ve ever wanted was for them to see me. Even if they weren’t proud, if they just noticed that I was a unique person with hopes and dreams different from theirs, that would have been enough.
Maybe this can be a new start. For all of us.
“I really appreciate that you guys came to support me. You don’t have to stay though. I’m sure this isn’t your thing.”
“Actually I’ve been quite surprised tonight. Your pictures are simply stunning, Josephine. You’re very talented.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
I’m sure she’s just saying that. While I have no idea what Zack said to