He grinned. ‘It sure does. Hey, Hunter, go get your girl a drink, mate, and give us a chance to get to know each other, eh?’
Fin glanced at me and his face contorted in an‘are you sure you want me to leave you?’kind of way, but I nodded. ‘Jack and Coke please, Fin.’
He disappeared in the direction of the bar, and Tom gestured for me to sit down at the table he had commandeered.
‘So, Star. Fin tells me you are the elusive S.A.M?Totallyfate that you met, if you ask me.’
I didn’t ask you. ‘Yeah, maybe.’
‘Now, hows about you exhibiting in my gallery? You must have loads of fantastic pieces hidden away that deserve to be seen, and my gallery is the place to show them. What can I say to convince you?’ He winked. Clearly, he was expecting me to jump at the chance to have an exhibition. Who wouldn’t?
Me, apparently.
I shook my head as my cheeks flamed with embarrassment. ‘Oh, no, that’s okay. It’s just a hobby is all. I don’t exhibit.’
His eyes widened and he leaned towards me. ‘Take it from someone who knowsabout this stuff, Star. Your work isstunning. Fin’s been a fan for a while now, and I know for a fact that people would want to see it. Will you just think about it? An exhibition, I mean.’
Jeez, talk about a dog with a bone.
I shook my head and wished Fin would return. ‘Look, I told Fin—’
He halted me with his hand. ‘This has nothing to do with Fin. This ismeasking as a gallery owner and art expert. Please can I exhibit your work? Just think about it.’
My stomach did somersaults at the thought of my photos coming in for criticism right before me, at least in the past I haven’t been in the spotlight when my work was displayed in shops, but the look in Tom’s eyes told me my worries were unfounded. He was confident it would be a success, even if I wasn’t.
I swallowed the nervous knot in my throat. ‘I’ll think about it. But I’m promising nothing.’
He held up his hands. ‘That’s all I ask.’
Fin returned and placed a drink in front of me. He leaned over and kissed my head. ‘So, did you two get to know each other better whilst I was gone, eh?’
Tom grinned at me. ‘We’re working on it, mate. We’re working on it.’
After a while, a few more of Fin’s friends arrived. They were a rowdy but great bunch. I particularly liked a girl called Siân. She worked with Tom at the gallery, and I got the feeling she had a bit of a crush on him. She hung on his every word, but once she’d had a few drinks, she told me he was a real womaniser. It explained why she appeared to only adore him from afar.
‘He says he wants your work for the gallery. You gonna go for it?’ Siân’s strong Glaswegian accent didn’t seem to fit her delicate features and pixie haircut. She looked so demure, but her accent was so thick, and I loved it.
I sighed and shook my head. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think so. It’s just not my scene. I’m not a showy person, you know?’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘That coming from the girl with pink hair?’
I laughed as I heard Fin’s words echoed in his friend’s. ‘Yeah, I know. It’s hard to believe, but I’m kinda shy when it comes to my photos.’
She leaned towards me and conspiratorially glanced around. ‘Look, Tom may be a skirt chaser but—and for God’s sake don’t tell him I said anything nice about him—he really knows his art. You should put your faith in yourselfandTom and give it a trial run at least. I’ve seen your work, and let me tell you, it’s of a higher standard than most. You should be proud of it, not hiding it away and selfishly keeping it locked up.’ She nudged me and I thought about what Fin had said about our respective comfort zones. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps meeting himwasmeant to draw me out of my shell—in more ways than one.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned over and slapped Tom’s arm. He swung his head around and the glare in his eyes told me he was about to shout expletives.
Thankfully, he realised it was me, and he grinned. ‘Hey, Starlet. What’s up?’
Come on, Star. You can do this.‘I’ve been chatting to Siân. She’s convinced me. I’ll do it.’
Suddenly, he stood, picked me up and spun me round, and my stomach almost let go of its alcoholic contents. Once he had placed me down, he tugged on Fin’s arm and told him the news.
Fin turned to me, cupped my face in his palms, and placed a luscious wet kiss on my lips. ‘I’m so proud of you right now.’ Before I could reply, he turned and walked away with purpose. I watched as he disappeared through the hordes of people dancing to someone’s rendition of Kiss’ ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’. He disappeared from sight, and I figured he had gone to buy another round of celebratory drinks.
I turned back to Tom, who was hugging Siân. She glanced over at me, and I couldn’t help but smile at her face-splitting grin.
The audience cheered as the pseudo Paul Stanley left the stage, and I wondered absently who would be up next. A familiar gruff voice broke through my thoughts, and I spun towards the stage once more.
