Chapter 34: The Exhibit
Moana

I couldn’t bring myself to avoid Ethan’s exhibit after he had asked me to go so many times. So, after putting Ella to bed, I went to Selina with my hand on my stomach and a frown on my face.

“I’m afraid I might have contracted food poisoning,” I said, feigning illness. “Can you keep an eye on things if Ella wakes up? I’m going to go to urgent care.”

Selina frowned, looking at her watch. “Do you need a driver?” she asked.

I vehemently shook my head. “No. It’s okay. I’ll call a cab.”

“Well… Alright,” she said, pursing her lips. “Be careful.”

After that, I put on a simple dress that could pass for urgent care attire if anyone were to question me, and flagged down a cab outside of the penthouse.

Just as I suspected, the art gallery was packed to the brim when I arrived. As I got out of the cab, I felt a lump rise in my throat; all of the other patrons seemed to be dressed lavishly, which made me feel incredibly out of place.

There was a line with a bouncer to get in. I stood in line, patiently waiting my turn.

“Name?” the bouncer said, eyeing me up and down suspiciously as I walked up to him.

“Moana Fowler,” I replied.

scanning his list for a painstakingly long moment. “You’re not on the list,” he said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I could say anything else, he waved me away to let the

from Ethan,” I replied, clutching my purse nervously as I

the artist personally invited a human. Quit wasting my time and get

said from behind the bouncer, “I did invite her.

line of people waiting. The bouncer’s eyes

about that,” Ethan said, guiding me in through the foyer with his hand on my back. “He’s just doing his job. These art openings

I looked around at all of the wealthy-looking people that

participate in some involuntary networking with a few of the patrons here, but feel free to take a look around. And have a glass of champagne, too.”

the champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared into the

sip of the champagne for courage, I made my way into the gallery so I could get a better

studio, it was even more amazing now beneath the gallery lighting. A jazz quartet played lively music from a small stage at the back of the gallery, creating an atmosphere that almost made the artwork come alive. Groups of patrons milled about, many of them using sophisticated ‘art speak’ to describe the works when, in actuality, they were only trying

that anyone would have spoken to me, either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed to fit into a similar theme, which felt reminiscent of the childhood drawings that Ethan

did. I felt entranced by the depiction of a young boy, staring out

bit at the sound of his voice, not realizing that I had been standing

face flush. “Yes. I think

my favorite, too,” Ethan replied. “I haven’t given it

the painting. There was a bit of a silence before Ethan spoke. “Did you

I reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded piece of paper and held it out to Ethan. “It’s not much.

feeling my heart rate quicken as he carefully studied my drawing. It was the same drawing that I had been working on in my bedroom the night that Edrick told

few moments, “this is stunning. You didn’t

red at

vigorously and handed the drawing back to me. “You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into it a bit more; I could see

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