The Proverbial Mr. Universe (16 page)

“Did anyone order a cappuccino?” Peter said.

Paul called out from behind her, “I told you he was good for something.”

“Hmm?” Peter arched his brow.

A
fter she dropped off the boxes and Paul and Peter went their separate ways, Olivia got into her car. She didn’t know why, but all she could think about on the drive back home was Nick. She’d be lying to herself if she said this was the first time she thought about him since they met at the bar. Sure, they seemed to have some sort of connection, but it wasn’t like she was some school girl with a big crush? And after all, he wasn’t her type. He just couldn’t be.

All week she thought she’d run into him on the street or the café. She had a slight feeling he had intentionally been avoiding her. At a red light, she retrieves her phone from her purse, as doing so a piece of paper fell onto her lap. As she read the note to herself, her mouth stretched out into a smile

A sudden urge had her going right instead of straight, and five minutes later she found herself parked outside of an upscale gallery. Further down, Olivia spotted Nick’s old truck parked outside. She remembered Nick telling her about a friend who had a showing tonight, and that he would be helping him set up early in the day.

She sat in her car for a moment, trying to figure out what she would say if they came face to face … because they will, since that’s the reason why she was there.

She could just walk in and say what …?

It was quiet with no sign of Nick or anyone else. Olivia had been there before with her father. The gallery housed three floors of the most prominent artists in the world. It was Olivia’s favorite gallery. It had an executive feel with its Carrera marble floor and expensive furnishings.

When Olivia heard footsteps she chose to look at the canvas on the wall, like she was some potential customer.

“Olivia?”

“Nick? What a surprise.”

“Our worlds seem to be getting smaller by the minute. What are you doing here?”

Mostly stalking … but he didn’t need to know that. He smiled at her like he found her amusing. The reason she was there must have shown on her face.

“I was across the street. I saw you come in and well, I guess I just wanted to say hi … so hi.”

“You were across the street?”

“Yeah, just running some errands.”

Nick glanced over her shoulder, knitting his dirty blond eyebrows together. “You were at a pawn shop?”

Olivia’s eyes followed behind her and saw a big sign Cash for Gold

“Yeah, sure. I had some things … I wanted to get rid of, some personal stuff.”

Stop talking, Olivia.

His confused face lit up, as though he seen right through her.

“So hi …” Her voice raised slightly, and she did a clumsy curtsy.

What was wrong with her? God, she was such an idiot.

He gave her one of his best grins. “Hi.”

“Well, I must be going. I’ll see you around, Montgomery.” She headed toward the door as fast as possible.

“Olivia, wait!”

She stopped and turned around. “Hmmm?”

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Mostly packing and …” Her voice trailed off when she realized why he had asked the particular question. “I have nothing planned, why?”

“I was wondering … that is, if you’re not pawning the rest of your personal stuff … if you wanted to come to tonight’s venue.” He paused. “We could come together. Maybe even grab a bite before swinging by.”

“Are you asking me out?” She smiled.

He touched the bridge of his nose. “I would have to say no … since I’m clearly not your type.” He grinned. “We’re just two people with a soft spot for art.”

She felt herself smile. “Well, since you put it that way … how can I refuse?”

N
ick had to contain himself from wanting to pull her closer, especially since they had been standing so close. She walked—more like glided—across the marble floor, viewing another canvas on the wall. Earlier they had dinner together at a nearby restaurant. He found it exhilarating to spend a small amount of time with her. She had told him about her career, how disappointed her father was with her career choice, and how guilty she felt now that her father was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It was obvious that Olivia was in a confusing and frustrating time in her life, and he wondered if he would ever find a comfortable space in it. He wanted to make all that sadness in her eyes completely disappear, erase any pain that anyone ever caused her … if only she allowed him.

“Do you enjoy working for your brother?” Olivia asked as she took a sip of her champagne.

“It can be challenging at times.” He smiled. “To be honest, working for my brother Dan it’s not something I imagine myself doing forever. I mean, I have better aspirations for myself. Not that there’s anything wrong being a bartender. I guess sometimes we have to put our wants aside to do things out of necessity, until you can do what you want.” He shrugged.

“What is it you wanted to do?” She glanced up from her glass, waiting.

“This…” he gestured around the room “…to paint again … and one day maybe even have a gallery of my own. I don’t know; maybe its wishful thinking.”

Nick always considered himself optimistic, considering what he had been through. He had wondered if he could get back at the art, which was once his whole life.

“I don’t think anything is impossible, Montgomery. It’s just a matter of how badly you want something.”

“Yeah, maybe, but I’m a washed-up artist. Not that I’m bitter about it. I’m not missing anything either. I should just be grateful that I’m working. It’s a way of paying the bills.”

Olivia opened her mouth but then closed it. She obviously had a change of heart. He watched her silently as she glanced around the gallery. The room was crowded with people, but she had a way of making him feel they were the only two.

Olivia was what he liked to call feminine-classic, so sophisticated in a black blazer worn over a deep V-top and slim black pants. It amazed him how talented she was balancing her red purse-thingy under her arm without dropping it once. Standing under the spotlight Olivia’s hair glowed like it was begging him to run his fingers through it. Her eyes revealed a glimmer of wonder, so vast and deep … too big for her own good. They gave the impression that they had taken in so much already from this life, and perhaps it was the reason they seemed so empty. But not this evening, no tonight they seem entirely different.

“Nick,” a voice called out from behind him.

He turned around to find George Sanders, the art director, extending his hand. George was the one who had given Nick his big break eight years ago, and they remained friends ever since.

As a child, Nick never cared to sketch or color like the other kids, so it was quite surprising to some that he had found art as his calling. At eighteen, he had his first group exhibit at this very gallery, and from there everything snowballed into a promising career. He began to be recognized in the art world, and his career took him all over the world. But like everything else in Nick’s life, things were not meant to last. Just when things were getting good, life had a way to get him on the ground. It wasn’t something that happened overnight … it was gradual, several chain of events. It mostly started when he met Chloe. It’s not so easy to figure which people were poison for the soul when they looked like angels. Chloe had consumed him, devoured him, and when he was spit out, he had become a different man. The drama of their relationship had a great impact on his career. Then, at twenty-four, Nick had another setback. When he got sick, his creative energy had disappeared altogether.

But that was the past, and he wanted to concentrate on the future. Because when it came down to it all, there was no other way than to go forward.

“Hey, George.”

“So when are you going to come by and see me, so we can go over your next project?”

Nick winced with uncertainty, not sure on how to answer. He had been locked up in his studio, but he hadn’t created anything satisfying for viewing.

He watched George’s eyes shift from him to Olivia. “Well, hello there.”

“George, this is my friend Olivia.”

George slid off his reading glasses from his bald head and placed them over his eyes. “Yes … but we’ve met before. You’re James Montiano’s beautiful daughter,” George said as he held Olivia’s hand just a little too long for Nick’s liking.

Olivia smiled. “I came in with my dad a few months back.”

“If I recall, he bought one of the Tally DuPont pieces.” George tapped his temple.

“Yes.”

“Olivia, maybe you could convince my friend over here to pick up a paint brush again.” He paused. “He was once one of my best sellers. Do you know clients still ask for his work? Nick is one of the most sought-after artists of his generation.”

“Correction: was … I already told you, George, I’m working on it. I don’t know. Maybe I need to find some new inspiration.”

“You have all the inspiration you need standing right beside you.”

Olivia smiled, and her cheeks turned from a pale pink to a bright shade of red.

“Believe me, George when I get something completed, you’ll be the first one to know.”

George didn’t seem satisfied with Nick’s answer, and he turned to look at Olivia.

“You know this guy is the most honest person and artist that I have ever met … and so talented,” he said. “I hope he can find his way back.” He tapped Nick on his shoulder. “We’ll keep in touch, mon ami.”

When George left them, Olivia looked back ant Nick with curiosity. “You had an exhibit here? Nick, that’s a big deal.” Her face lit up.

“That was long ago.” He gave her a sideways glance, liking that she was impressed.

Nick felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned around. “Thanks for coming, buddy.”

“Luke, I want you to meet Olivia.”

Luke’s eye widened and he had a stupid grin on his face that Nick wished he could just wipe off.

“Nice to meet you, Olivia.”

“Hey, some turnout tonight,” Nick said, trying to get Luke’s attention.

“I know. Thanks for your help this morning.”

“No problem, man … I owe you one.”

Olivia blinked several times. “Hey, I know you. Aren’t you the guy who bought my friend Jessica a drink?”

Luke gave Nick a panicked look. “Ah … I think I hear George calling me.” He paused. “I’ll be right back … again, thanks for coming, guys.” Luke walked backwards before disappearing into the crowd.

She turned to Nick. “I think you have some explaining to do.”

He smiled. “Ah, alright you got me there.”

He ought to explain that the night Olivia walked into his bar, he thought it was some sign from the universe. Literally. There was a marquee sign in the shape of an arrow that hung on the wall, lit up brightly, and Olivia stood right next to it when he first caught sight of her. It was like the universe conveyed a little secret.
“Hey, stupid, I brought her here, so don’t mess it up.”
Alright, the voice was in his head and it sounded very similar to Dan’s voice.

Things couldn’t get much better. Out of the hundred bars that lined the streets of Montreal she had to walk into his. All the stars were aligned that night, so he thought.