Semua Bab His sisters boyfriend : Bab 131 - Bab 140

Jay couldn't stop thinking about the letter.It sat in his pocket like a stone. Heavy. Warm. Constant. He pulled it out every few hours. Read the same words. Folded it back up. Put it away. The handwriting was neat. Controlled. Whoever wrote it knew exactly what they were doing.Cole caught him reading it again at breakfast."You're doing it again," Cole said."Doing what?""Reading that letter."Jay folded it. Put it on the table. "I can't help it.""It's been three days.""I know.""Don't you think it's time to let it go?"Jay shook his head. "I can't. Someone knows about the donor. Someone knows I'm looking. That person knows me."Cole reached across the table. His hand covered Jay's. "That's what bothers you, isn't it?""What?""The fact that someone knows you that well."Jay pulled his hand away. "Yes.""Who could it be?""I don't know. Simone? Rivera? Your father?""Whoever it is, they're not trying to hurt you.""How do you know?"Cole pointed at the letter. "Read it again. It'

Jay couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.The retrospective was back on. The new donor had saved everything. But something about the whole situation felt off. The timing was too perfect. The rescue came too quickly. He kept asking himself the same question. Why would someone back out and then someone else step in the very next day?"You're doing it again," Cole said."Doing what?""Thinking too much."Jay looked up from his coffee. "Something doesn't feel right.""About the donor?""About everything."Cole sat down across from him. "What doesn't feel right?"Jay set his cup down. "The first donor backed out. Then the very next day, a new donor appears. That's not how these things work.""Maybe they were waiting.""Waiting for what?"Cole shrugged. "I don't know. For the right moment."Jay shook his head. "That doesn't make sense.""It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to work."Jay leaned back in his chair. He stared at the ceiling. His mind was racing. He thought

Jay didn't sleep that night.The moment in the studio kept replaying in his head. Cole's closeness. His steady gaze. The heat between them that almost broke. The way he pulled away. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The apartment was dark. Cole was in the other room. The door was open. Jay could hear him moving around.He got up. Walked to the kitchen. Cole was sitting at the table. He had a glass of water in his hand. He didn't look up."Can't sleep?" Jay asked."No."Jay sat across from him. The table was small. Their knees almost touched."About earlier," Jay started.Cole put the glass down. "What about it?""I shouldn't have pulled away."Cole looked at him. His gray eyes were tired. "Then why did you?"Jay was quiet for a moment. "Because I was scared.""Of what?"Jay shook his head. "I don't know. Everything. You. Me. This."Cole leaned forward. "I don't understand."Jay rubbed his face. "I've never had this before. Someone who stays. Someone who doesn't leave."Cole's expr

Jay woke up with a plan.He hadn't had one in weeks. Not really. He'd been drifting. Painting. Waiting. Letting things happen to him. But today was different. Today he knew exactly what he wanted to do.He got out of bed. Cole was still asleep. His arm was stretched across the empty space where Jay had been. Jay watched him for a moment. Then he walked to the kitchen and made coffee.The phone rang at 8am. Simone."Jay," she said. "I have news.""I'm listening.""The retrospective is confirmed. Six weeks from now. The main gallery. The works are being shipped next week."Jay sat down. "Six weeks?""Six weeks. You'll need to be there for the installation. The curator wants to meet you in person.""I'll be there.""Good. I'll send you the details."She hung up.Jay stared at the wall. Six weeks. That was nothing. That was everything. He needed to be ready. He needed to paint more. He needed to make sure every piece was perfect.Jay went to the studio that morning.He stood in front of a

The day of the retrospective arrived faster than Jay expected.He woke up at 5am. The sky was still dark. His heart was pounding. His palms were sweaty. He lay in bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, trying to slow his breathing.Cole stirred next to him."Jay?" Cole mumbled."I'm awake.""What time is it?""Early."Cole reached for him. "Come here."Jay moved closer. Cole wrapped his arms around him. His grip was steady. Warm. Jay pressed his face into Cole's chest."I can't do this," Jay said."Yes, you can.""I can't."Cole pulled back and looked at him. "Listen to me. You've been working for this your whole life. You're ready. You've always been ready.""What if they hate it?""They won't.""You don't know that.""I know you." Cole kissed his forehead. "I know your work. It's impossible to hate."Jay closed his eyes. "I love you.""I know."They arrived at the gallery at 9am.The space was huge. White walls. Track lighting. Tall ceilings. Jay's paintings were already on