She refused (of course, pointing out that I still had to be Andrew in front of her parents), and after a few back-and-forths (both verbally and play jabbing with our cards) she relented on the check, but only if I would agree to stop bringing up the rental payment in the future. Which, to be honest, brought some relief. I hated constantly thinking about how I rented myself out for a living (especially now, with our dynamic shifted).

We inched our way into our coats and out of the restaurant, groaning every now and then.

“I know I’m moving as slow as a sloth right now,” she said as we neared the door, “but really, I’m so excited to see what’s coming next.”

Thank goodness I’d eaten so much it was distracting me from the nerves that were trying to take over.

“I really hope you like it.”

Because if you don’t, it could destroy me. Not really, but sorta. Am I too dramatic?

I led Chloe up to the spacious but rundown roof-deck of my cozy and quaint apartment building.

Marshall was finishing up stringing lights around the perimeter. I introduced them, and Marshall pulled Chloe into a hug.

“You must be really special,” he told her, and I coughed.

“All right,” I said, my voice wavering with embarrassment. Then, sincerely, I added, “Thanks, buddy. You really outdid yourself here.”

We clapped hands and patted each other’s backs.

“Hey, anytime, man. Thanks for never complaining that I practically live in your place without paying rent.”

I grinned at Marshall, glad he was here instead of Jason because he left it at that.

I hurried to take over the last of the setup.

Right before he took off, Marshall leaned over and whispered, “They’re really good. Really fucking out-of-this-world good.”

I had to hold back a sob.

After Marshall scooted out, I flipped the light switch.

Chloe’s face glowed when she saw the towel-covered chairs set up around the perimeter. Some of my paintings fit under their towel cover, but others were so large the bottoms peeked out. It wasn’t a glamorous art gallery, but it might as well have been, given how nervous I felt.

I turned to Chloe and took a deep breath.

“I haven’t been able to show others my work before today.”

I paused, unable to say more because suddenly I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I wanted to do this. Marshall’s comment had been encouraging, but Chloe’s opinion meant so much to me it felt like bet-everything-on-red to show her.

“Your family never saw?” she asked. “Before the rift?”