Page 39 of A Coffee Away

“Perfect.” He took it and gestured for us to follow him. “Let’s go to the back. Miguel is already getting the last pieces for tonight ready.” He glanced back. “I’d love to have you as my guests.”

I looked at Esteban, who smiled and shrugged, his eyebrows jumping in excitement.

My soul soared in anticipation. Being invited to an exhibition by the proprietor was an honor. “Sure. What time should we be here?”

Quique opened a door at the back and let us in. “Any time after seven is perfect.”

I smiled, then watched Esteban expectantly. He’d made reservations for a date tonight, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

Esteban grabbed my hand. “We’ll be here.”

I almost bounced on my toes. He was so good to me.

Quique winked at us. “Perfect!” He followed us in. “Miguel! Esteban and Robbie are here.”

Many of my pieces were displayed, and others were set on tables. My breath hitched.

Esteban squeezed my hand. His eyes gleamed as he came closer. “I’m so proud of you.”

My chest swelled at his words, and I couldn’t help but grin. I worked in this room on a daily basis, but seeing my art here was surreal. When I left my last shift, it was still in the storage room.

Miguel was in the back, preparing the labels for pieces that would be displayed tonight. His black tuxedo accentuated his bronze skin, and his straight, dark hair was polished and shaped perfectly into a 1930s hairstyle. Slick. Elegant.

“Robbie! Esteban!” He beamed and hugged each of us. He’d become a good friend of mine. “Give me those.” He snagged the canvas bag from Quique and took out my last piece first.

Quique whistled next to Miguel.

Miguel widened his eyes. “This is… It’s beautiful. When did you paint this?”

I shifted in place. “Two weeks ago.”

He gripped the canvas, his amber eyes glazing. “This is your best work yet. I can see it. Everything that makes you—you.”

My heart swelled. I shifted in place. No one but Esteban had talked about my artwork like that before.

“It’s true, Robbie. It’s amazing. This should be the centerpiece of your exhibition. This painting has something…” Quique rubbed his chin. “It’s like your soul is captured in this canvas.”

Tears threatened to leave my eyes as my whole life reeled through my mind. Everything that brought me to this moment was in that painting.

The ups and downs. The light and the darkness.

Esteban’s fingers intertwined with mine, and my soul vibrated to life.

Here. Right now. I had everything I could dream of.

Chapter 9: A Piece of Art

Robbie

Iwiped my sweaty palms on my brown slacks. “God, I’m so nervous.”

Two weeks had passed since our meeting with Quique, and here I was, standing at my own exhibition.

Stephany giggled. “Robbie, we’re all friends here. You’ll do great.” She looked toward the front of the gallery. “She’s so beautiful.” Her eyes glowed while she gazed at her wife, who talked to Esteban by the door.

Eva’s strong frame was elegantly molded into a black spaghetti-strap dress that reached the floor. It accentuated her curves and clung to her like a second skin. Her lengthy legs were visible through a side slit that reached her upper thigh. Stephany was enthralled, which was no surprise.

Esteban took that moment to sip from his wine glass. As if knowing he was being watched, he turned toward me, lifting his chin and his hand in a silent salute. I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around his waist. I wanted to take off his light-blue blazer and bask in how his muscles perfectly fit beneath that white linen shirt. Then ever so slowly, I’d uncover his body like the gift it was.