Repaying the Debt

Chapter2

Chapter Two

Chrissy and I walked to the gallery. The big windows and chrome designs caught the lights from the passing cars. My heart raced as I took in all the people at the venue.

They hung around in clusters, looking at the displayed artwork. I could see a pretty cluster of hanging glass balls. They reminded me of bubbles with their slight rainbow hues.

Chrissy looped her arm through mine, and we moved forward. She reached into her clutch, pulling out the invitation. We bypassed the line, getting inside with no issues.

Soft guitar music played beneath the buzz of conversation. It made me think of lazy summer nights spent catching fireflies. Chrissy had really scored with the invitation. The soft glass creations took my breath away.

It looked like someone had blown bubbles in the air. Clear line strung the glass balls up. There were other creations, but this was the one that pulled my eyes the most.

How could someone make something look so delicate and weightless out of glass?

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Chrissy said and I nodded, looking away from the ceiling. “I’m going to go snag us a drink.”

I watched my best friend move through the crowds. Seeming to fit in anywhere that she went. I moved to look at a long twisting piece sitting on a tall white stand. Intricate patterns were stamped into the red and orange glass. It reminded me of flames licking up into the air.

Looking at the base, I caught sight of a card with the name of the piece and the price tag.

My mouth fell open. It cost more than two months of rent for our apartment.

I was going to have to be careful not to touch anything. If I broke any of these pieces, I didn’t know what I’d do. How I’d pay for something like this.

Looking away from the art, I roamed around the room. Looking at the people in their beautiful clothing and meticulously done make-up.

Everyone looked like a piece of art and I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb in my simple black dress.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” A man’s deep voice startled me out of my people watching.

Turning, I looked up at him. He was dressed in a dark charcoal gray suit. Hugging his muscular body in all the right places. A navy shirt unbuttoned at the throat, framing an Adam’s apple that bobbed beneath his skin. His wavy blonde hair looked soft to the touch, and I wondered what it would feel like if I ran my fingers through it.

His lips twitched into a smile, and I felt my cheeks heat up. This man knew he was s*x on a stick. He didn’t need me wondering what his hair felt like. “Yeah, it’s really pretty.”

“I think I’ve got the best view in the house.” He angled his body towards me. Bright green eyes watched me curiously as if he were waiting for some recognition from me.

“The artwork is amazing,” I said, looking away from him to the next glass sculpture. “How do you think he makes it look so delicate?”

“Leo?”

“Yeah, most of the pieces look like they could float away.” I said, looking at the black cracked heart. Red flecks mixed in. It was different from the other pieces I’d seen, almost as if the heart was ripping.

“He blows the glass himself.” He said, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Neat.” I moved around to the sculpture, the stranger following me.

“If you’d like, I could introduce you to him.”

I looked over to him, “That’s okay, I’m just enjoying his art.”

“I’m Cy, by the way.”

“Izzy.”

Two perfect-looking women approached us, their heels clicking on the hardwood floor. “You’re Cyrus Klein, aren’t you?”

He gave me a shy smile before turning away from me to the two of them. They squealed when he smiled their way.

“You are. I listen to your new album Heartbreaker on repeat.” The woman with pink hair gushed, stepping closer to him with her phone outstretched, ready to take a picture.

I turned away from Cy and his fans. Chrissy came up to me, holding two flutes of champagne. “Oh my god, is that Cyrus Klein?”

“Yeah.” I said, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear as I accepted the glass. I nodded my thanks and took a sip. The bubbles tickled my nose.

“He’s so sexy. I heard that his new album was about Leonardo.”

“Really?” I asked, looking over my shoulder at Cyrus.

“Yeah, Leo was dating someone and it was like a big dramatic love triangle. Where everyone got hurt.” Chrissy said in a rush. “It was in all the tabloids. Heartbroken, Leonardo fled to New York to drown his sorrows. He should have come here. I would have helped him heal that broken heart.”

“Sleeping with someone doesn’t fix them, Chris.”

”It helps though.” Chrissy said before stopping in her tracks, her eyes going wide as she seemed to buzz with newfound energy. She lifted her finger, pointing across the room. “Ohmigod! Izzy, there he is.”

I looked over to where she was pointing. There he stood in front of a curling, waving sculpture. I sucked in a breath. He was far more handsome than his picture, more lithe and trim. His black suit hugged his waist, jacket unbuttoned over a crisp dark vest. The peaks of dark silk looked tempting.

How would it look pushed up over his forearms, revealing those strong tattooed arms?

He dragged a hand through his wavy hair, a half-smile softening the hard angles of his face. My lips parted, eyes widening.

“See, I told you he was worship-worthy?”

I was unable to look away from him as he spoke animatedly to the group around him.

“He does make pretty art.”

“I bet he makes pretty babies.” Chrissy whispered, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She was crazy about him, but I knew that deep down she was waiting for her love story to happen. Until then, she would use Leonardo as her placeholder.

“The offer still stands. I can introduce you.” Cy said, coming up to stand by the two of us.

“That’s okay, he seems busy.” I said, wincing as Chrissy elbowed me in the side.

“Shut up, Iz.” She plastered on her best toothpaste commercial smile. “We’d love to meet him. Thank you, Cy.”

“A fan.” He smirked, and I felt Chrissy melt beside me. It seemed that Leo had competition in her heart.

“I loved Moongirl, but Heartbreaker has been on repeat since you released it.” Her voice was bubbly, and I wished that I could be more like her. The ease she had talking to people wasn’t a strong suit and had never come easily to me.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” His smile was soft, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. I wondered if he didn’t like talking about his latest album. “Izzy, if you’re sure you don’t want to meet Leo? Maybe I could get your number.”

“Oh, um.” I sputtered, he must have confused me with Chrissy.

“She wants to meet him.” Chrissy said before blurting out my number.

I turned to look at her, pressing my lips together as she shot me a smile. Looking back at Cy, he pulled out his phone, tapping out my number. My phone buzzed in my bag and I pulled it out, looking down at the screen.

Cy took it from my hands, typing in his name and saving his number.

“You don’t have to-”

“Nonsense. What good is fame if I can’t get a pretty girl’s number?” He handed me back my phone. I felt my heat spread across the tops of my cheeks as his fingers grazed against mine.

“I guess that’s a good reason to get famous,” I said, tucking my phone back into my bag. I looked back at Leonardo. His eyes were on Cy. A strange look that I didn’t know how to interpret. They moved over to me and Chrissy before the person beside him called his attention back to their conversation.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Cy said. Reaching out, he grabbed my hand and Chrissy let out a squeal as if he’d grabbed her hand instead of mine. I wished that he had. Maybe if he had, things would have gone differently.