Fearless (17 page)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dalilah delivered the suit to me by a courier, and I put it on. She was right. Her father and I were the exact same size. Weird, but that suit fit me like a glove. Of course, there was the issue of getting to the restaurant to meet them, and Dalilah insisted on sending a limo on her father’s dime.

“Dalilah, I don’t think that a limo will come here,” I had said.

“Don’t be silly. My father will pay that limo driver beaucoup, so trust me, the limo will come and get you. Be ready to meet the driver at 6.”

So, I got ready and anxiously went downstairs right at six and, sure enough, there was a black limo waiting for me there on the street. I looked around, seeing that the homeless people with their shopping carts were looking at the limo like they hadn’t quite seen anything like it before. One of them, Freddy, whistled when he saw me approaching.

“Ooooh, boy, Luke, you shine up like a brand new copper penny. Where you heading, boy?”

“Some fancy restaurant,” I said with a smile. I gave the guy the usual five bucks and patted him on the back. “Maybe I can sneak out a doggie bag for you, huh?”

“That would be great, but fancy restaurants don’t do that.”

I made a mental note to see if I could get something for Freddy, though. He was really a great guy, and he and I sometimes got into long discussions about our lives. Turns out that we had something in common – both of us had a parent who was murdered. Mine was in a mass shooting, while his dad was killed in a gang-related incident when he was only 2.

Shit like that can destroy a person. It didn’t me, but Freddy had a hard life on top of that as well. I felt for him.
There, but for the grace of god go I.

The limo driver got out and opened the door, and I stepped into the limo and sat down in the back.

I nervously twiddled my thumbs as the limo took me to Eleven Madison. I tried very hard to remember that Dalilah had mentioned, more than once, that her parents were very down to earth. But I couldn’t help it. Nottingham – that was who I envisioned all rich men to be. Cold pricks. Of course, Dalilah had to be right when she said that her parents were different. After all, she had turned out pretty cool and down to earth herself. I doubted that she could have been as unpretentious as she was if her parents weren’t as well.

Finally, the limo pulled up to the restaurant, and I stepped out after the limo driver got out of the car and let me out. That was a strange thing for me, as well – having somebody escort me in and out of the car.

I stepped into the restaurant, which was gorgeous. Twenty foot tall ceilings, white walls, enormous windows, and cool hanging lanterns. Dalilah was already there with her parents, and she saw me immediately and came over to me. “Oh, Luke, you look so handsome. I mean, you always do, but, wow, you do clean up nice.”

I smiled, knowing that she was right. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was wearing an Armani suit that fit like a glove. Strange how much her father and I were alike in height and build.

She escorted me over to her table, where her father was apparently drinking Scotch and her mother was sipping on a dirty martini. Her mom and dad both stood up when I got to the table, and her dad shook my hand. “Nice to meet you, Luke. I’m Ryan, and this is my wife, Iris.” At that, her mom also stood up and shook my hand.

“Good to meet you, Luke.” I shook her hand and kissed her on the cheek. She giggled a little bit, and everybody sat down.

Dalilah excitedly put her hands on my shoulders. “Well, dad, you are looking at the next international sensation in the world of art, Luke Roberts.”

Dalilah’s handsome father smiled broadly, and I felt at ease almost immediately. He raised his glass. “Well, cheers to that,” he said, as we all clinked our glasses. “Tell me about the gig, Luke.”

“Well, let’s see. I apparently am going to get a showing at the Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea. Not entirely sure, but I understand that the gallery is featuring impressionistic portraits of musicians and ballerinas, and I happen to have many works centered on that theme, and I guess I’m going to be a part of that show.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Matthew Marks. Wow. You really went from zero to hero, huh?” And then he smiled as Dalilah shot him a dirty look. “That came out wrong. At any rate, congratulations on that. That will be a tremendous boost to your career, no doubt.”

I looked down at my plate, which already had an appetizer on it. This place was one of those places where there were tiny portions of amazing things, and this appetizer was delicious. It was sweet bread, which I understood was some kind of pancreas of an animal. Dalilah also had one, and her parents, being vegan, opted for a small cup of corn chowder. “I hope you don’t mind,” Dalilah said. “I really wanted you to try this sweet bread. If you don’t like it, we can send it back.”

“No, actually, this is delicious,” I said, taking a bite. And, indeed it was.

“Dalilah tells me that you’re a fabulous artist,” her mother, Iris, was saying. “I’d love to see your work in person. I mean, I saw it on the website, and it is absolutely brilliant. It kinda reminds me, somewhat, of some of the stuff that Ryan did when he was young and bold.”

Ryan shrugged. “It’s a hobby now, but when I was your age, I really was quite serious about it. That’s where Dalilah gets her artistic bent. Well, that and the fact that my mother is also an artist in a way. I mean, she’s an opera singer, but she’s also very creative in the mind. She’s pretty left of center.”

I nodded, remembering Dalilah telling me that Maggie, her grandmother, was a schizophrenic who has it under control. Maggie apparently lived in Kansas City, although it was my understanding that she was going to possibly be moving to New York to stay in Dalilah’s parents’ guest house. Ryan apparently was worried that she might go off her meds again, which she did before, to disastrous consequences.

Throughout the evening, the parents asked me questions that weren’t too probing. I really did started to feel comfortable with them after a little while, especially after having a couple of scotches with her dad. At his insistence. I wasn’t much of a scotch guy. I really wasn’t a hard alcohol guy, period, preferring to stick to beer. But the scotch was smooth as silk, and went down well, so I didn’t mind having a couple of neat scotches with Ryan.

I ended up the evening really having enjoyed myself. I felt much more confident talking about myself, now that I finally had something to talk about. I had to admit that I was feeling validated. Completely validated by this offer that Nottingham had made out of the clear blue sky. I actually started to feel that I was somebody. That alone gave me confidence.

Finally, the evening was over, and there were hugs all around with everyone.
The parents were going to Dalilah’s apartment to meet her there, but Dalilah wanted to go with me in the limo to make sure that I got home okay. I was more than willing to share my limo with her.

We ended up going to the Shake Shack for strawberry milkshakes on the way home, and I also ordered a burger and fries to go, as I had promised Freddy that I would bring him something, and there wasn’t anything on the Eleven Park tasting menu that was suitable for him. But I knew how much Freddy liked his burgers and fries.

Finally, I arrived home. I so wanted to invite her up, but I knew that she had to get home to see her parents, who would be waiting for her. So, I kissed her passionately in the limo, and her body responded eagerly.

“I think that things just might be turning around for me, Dalilah, At least, I hope so. I want to give you the world, and I hope to be able to through my art. That would be the dream.”

“You will be able to, Luke. This opportunity is huge. I mean, it couldn’t be bigger. Once the critics and the patrons see your work, you won’t be able to work fast enough to satisfy them. You’re going to get the attention and acclaim that you deserve. And at such a young age, too. I knew that you would, Luke. I had no doubt. I told you to believe in yourself, because I really believe in you.”

“I know you do, Dalilah. I love you, Dalilah. I really do.”

“I love you too, Luke.”

I kissed her again, wanting the kiss to go on forever. I wanted to do so much more with her, and I might have, if she didn’t have to get home.

For once, I was starting to see a glimmer of hope that I might be good enough for her. Everything was finally coming together. I was going to get a huge platform to show myself to the world, and Dalilah was going to be mine. I could feel it.

We were going to be together.

Chapter
Twenty-Five

Dalilah

I was so excited for Luke, I was practically bouncing off the walls. I just couldn’t believe that Nottingham decided, all on his own, to give Luke a gig. It just goes to show that I probably should have had more faith and patience, instead of trying to meddle the way that I was.

And Luke…my parents loved him, that was plain. My mom was giggling like a schoolgirl about the jokes that Luke was telling, and he and my dad really did have a ton in common. Not just the fact that they are both artistic, but they also seemed to see the world in much the same way. Luke surprisingly knew a lot about my father’s passion, animal rights, and was able to engage him at length about different aspects of animal treatment. And, of course, my mom has the same passion, so the three of them talking about this topic took up much of the conversation. But I could tell that all three of them were getting along quite well.

When he kissed me in the limo, one thing was for sure – I didn’t want to stop. I wanted, so badly, for him to invite me up to his apartment and ravage me. And I think that is exactly what would have happened if I didn’t have to get back home to see my parents. They had a hotel room again, as the house in Montauk wouldn’t be ready to move into until Sunday. But I knew that they wanted to talk to me one on one some more. Especially after meeting Luke – I suppose that they really needed a post-mortem, so to speak.

I got back into my apartment, and my parents were both sitting on the floor, teasing each other. My dad was tickling my mom, and she was on the floor giggling and yelling at him to stop.

“Huh, Iris, you want me to stop, do you? Well, you know the magic word.”

She was laughing so hard that she could barely get the word out – Amsterdam. Then he stopped, as that word apparently meant
something to the two of them. But he was still laughing, and so was she.

They saw me and both of them stood up, a look of mirth still on both of their faces. “Dalilah,” my mother said. “Ryan and I were talking about that wonderful boy. Where did you find him?”

“He’s doing an art project. A portrait of me.” I didn’t mention that it was a nude. My parents didn’t quite know that I did that, unless blabbermouth Nick clued them in, as he no doubt knew about my nude modeling from Nottingham. I kind of wanted to keep that part of my life from my parents.

“Well, he has a real future,” my father was saying. “Especially if he’s getting a major gig this early in his career. Anyhow, your mom and I are very happy that you have finally found somebody. We were getting very worried about you.”

Then he paused, and I knew what was coming next.

I was right.

“That said, Dalilah,” dad was saying. “Nick told me that you are also dating an older man whom he considers to be somewhat dangerous for you. I’m not one to judge others’ lifestyles, but I really hope, Dalilah, that you aren’t getting into BDSM. That can be very destructive if you don’t know what you’re doing and you don’t understand that way of life.”

Both my mom and dad were just staring at me, hoping for me to reassure them that I hadn’t gone that route.

I didn’t really know what to say. So, I told them the truth. As shitty as the truth was.

“Oh, god. Now, I know what you’re going to say after I tell you this. ‘Dalilah, we raised you better than this. You shouldn’t use people.’ So, I already know that I shouldn’t use others, so, please, spare me the inevitable lecture.”

My mother raised an eyebrow. “Not liking where this is going. But go ahead.”

So, I told them the entire story.

My dad took a deep breath and said “so you’re only dating Nottingham because you want him to help Luke. Sounds like that was unnecessary, if you didn’t really have to talk him into featuring Luke. Nottingham evidently came up with that on his own.”

“Yes, that’s ironic. But, it means that I can stop seeing Nottingham now. That’s good, right?”

My mom shook her head. “Dalilah, Dalilah, Dalilah. I know you don’t want to hear it, but what are you thinking? People are not on this earth for you to manipulate as you wish. This is a fine kettle of fish that you have gotten yourself into. A fine kettle of fish.”

I looked down at the floor, ashamed. To think that I was felt like I was turning over a new leaf. Trying to be a better person. Yet, I ended up doing something shitty and, it turns out, unnecessary. And Alaina was right – I was in over my head. I had no idea how Nottingham was going to react when he found out that I didn’t want to see him anymore.

I had dug myself into a hole, and I knew that I had to keep on seeing Nottingham until Luke got his show. I didn’t know for sure, but Nottingham might do something stupid like pull Luke’s show, if he is really upset with me. After all, it was I who brought the subject of Luke up to him in the first place. He might pull Luke’s show just to spite me.

If my mom and dad could read my mind, and see that I was going to keep on using Nottingham for the next month or so, they would have blown a gasket.

“I did it for a good cause,” I said weakly. But, judging by the looks on both my parents’ faces, they were unconvinced, to say the very least.

“No cause is good when it comes to toying with people’s emotions, Dalilah,”
my dad was saying. “And you are right. We
did
raise you better than this.”

I looked at my mom, steaming. How dare she put the guilt trip on me, when she left dad when she was pregnant with me and didn’t even tell him until I was like four months old. Once again, I
questioned how any of them, including Nick, could have any kind of moral authority.

Then I calmed down as I thought about the fact that it is their job as parents to try to keep their children from making the same mistakes that they did. They did stupid stuff in their youth, and they no doubt drew the line when I wanted to do similar stupid stuff.

“So, what am I supposed to do?” I asked them. “I got myself into this. How do I get myself out?”

“Come clean,” my dad said. “Tell Nottingham the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.”

“Oh, no. No. That will get Luke’s show pulled for sure. No. There is no way that I’m going to put his future in jeopardy just because I made a huge mistake. And you can’t ask me to do that.”

My mom just sighed and shook her head. She looked sad. “Well, Dalilah, I suppose it’s a case of inexperience and youth getting in your way. God knows your father and I have made worse mistakes than this when we were your age. So, yeah, there’s nothing that can really be done here. Just please get away from that Nottingham man before he does something to hurt you.”

I was quiet, not wanting to tell them that I felt that I had to carry out my relationship with Nottingham until Luke had his show. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. I mean, Nottingham probably wouldn’t pull Luke’s show just because I dumped him, but he might. He might, knowing that I was Luke’s advocate. He seemed unstable that way.

I desperately wanted to change the subject. “So, dad, what did you really think about Luke’s art work? I know that you’ve had the chance to really look at it on his website.”

“Very original stuff. He has taken elements of some of the best influences in his genre and put his own spin on it. So, his work is fresh, yet represents the best of the modern impressionistic movement. His show really should be a hit, especially if it is going to center around his paintings on the ballerinas. Those are magnificent.”

I nodded my head. “I think so, too. I don’t see how his show won’t be a hit.”

My parents and I, once again, talked into the early morning. They told me about what was going on with their animal rights foundation, and I told them as much about my life was I was willing to share with them. Which meant that I admitted to feeling lonely and isolated, and I also told them how Luke brought me out of that. How he was bringing me back into the living, and had awakened a passion in me for life.

I didn’t tell them that Luke had also awakened a passion in me for other things, but I didn’t think that it was necessary to tell them that. I hated discussing such intimate matters with my parents.

My mother kissed me on my forehead. “Dalilah, we’re so happy that you finally found somebody. Especially as somebody as kind and seemingly even-tempered as Luke. He seems to be your artistic and intellectual equal, as well, and I know how important that is to you. So, we’re happy. Don’t do anything to mess it up, though, like continuing to see Nottingham as well.”

I took a deep breath, not telling her the truth, which was that I was going to continue to sneak around with Nottingham. Just until the show was underway and Luke got his acclaim. Then I would let Nottingham down gently.

Dumb strategy, but one that I had to see through.

I was in it, and I had no idea how to get out of it.