I was somewhat angry with myself as I headed to Antonio’s exhibit at an exclusive viewing in downtown Atlanta. However, it was Antonio’s beautiful painting that I fell in love with first; therefore, I rationalized it all by telling myself it was all about the exhibit and not about our failed relationship. My love for him came afterward and ended after almost two years of emotional fights and rough lovemaking. The relationship began so smoothly but somehow became as tumultuous as my previous relationships. Forever a sucker for romance, I never once believed I was cursed. My soulmate was out there looking for me just as I was looking for him, only our time hadn’t arrived.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going, Cole,” my best friend Max said to me over the phone. “Are you already there?”
“Almost,” I replied as I continued walking. “The parking for this event sucks. I feel like I’ve been walking for days.”
“Well, it’s good you’re putting those long ass legs to use.”
I laughed and joked, “Fuck you, bitch.”
“So, why exactly are you going? I mean, you didn’t have to go just because Antonio sent you an invitation.”
“Max, it’s not about him. It’s about supporting the work and I’ve always been in love with his paintings. I always will be in love with them.”
“They are breathtaking but…I don’t know. I guess I’m biased because I liked you two together. You fit in a way I’ve never seen you fit with anyone else before.”
“Yeah, it would seem that way on the outside looking in, I guess.”
“I would understand your point if you’d tell me what exactly went on between you two. You were so secretive and…”
“Max, I have to go. I’m here.”
“Oh, okay. Call me when it’s over.”
“Alright, later.” I ended the call and put my phone away before entering the building entryway and pressing in the access code to enter the building lobby.
I wasn’t sure which floor Antonio’s exhibit was on so I took the stairs. On the way up, I noticed all of the paintings and sculptures on each floor and got so caught up in them that I accidentally bumped into this guy who was overlooking the exhibits from a balcony at the top of one of the flights of stairs. I thought he was going to knock my head off at first but he immediately relaxed and stared at me. I don’t know why, but my natural instinct was to smile at him. He was cute—underneath his somewhat scruffy appearance—but was obviously straight; and therefore, not worth the time of a man who dates men.
“Aren’t you gonna say excuse me?” he asked as I was about to ascend the next flight of stairs. When I remained silent, he smirked and said, “It’s okay. You’re excused.”
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