Chapter 62: : Chapter 62

“Where are we going?” I ask as Archer entwines our fingers, and I frown when I realize his hands are clammy. He seemed nervous over the last couple of days, and I can’t figure out why. “You’ve been acting super weird all day, Arch.”

“It’s a surprise,” he says, his expression tense.

I frown as he pulls me through crowded streets, unable to figure out what he’s up to. The last couple of weeks have been an adjustment, like he said it’d be. Tyra moved in with Ezra as all four of us try to figure out our new normal, and it hasn’t been easy.

She and I don’t talk as much as we used to, and I miss her, but I don’t think either of us knows how to be around the other anymore. Every time we’re together, Tyra still gravitates toward Archer. It’s clear she’s hurting and she still needs him, but she’s trying her best to be respectful toward me, and I’m not sure how to handle it. I didn’t want anything to change, but everything has, and I’m not sure if it’s for the best. It feels a lot like Archer and I are being selfish at her expense, and it’s hard not to let guilt consume me.

“Here we are,” he says, pausing a few steps away from what appears to be an art gallery.

I raise a brow and smile. “You’re taking me on a date?” I ask, laughing. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

He looks into my eyes and smiles tightly. “Not exactly,” he says, before guiding me into the building.

My breath hitches halfway through the door, when I realize that almost every single piece I’ve ever painted lines the walls, including some of the ones I painted as The Muse. This is a gallery that exclusively showcases my work, and it’s buzzing with people dressed in incredibly expensive clothes, all of them admiring my art.

“There’s a secret I’ve been keeping from you,” Archer says, turning toward me and grabbing my shoulders, his expression filled with sincerity. “I bought every single one of your paintings…except for one that I couldn’t get my hands on. I did it because…” He looks around, his smile becoming a little more tender, a little more intimate. “Because you painted memories of us that I wanted to collect and keep forever. I thought I’d lost you and that this was all I’d ever have, so I created this place for myself. It’s where I’d go when missing you became unbearable, and for a few moments, I’d feel your presence all around me.”

I place one hand over his heart, the other moving behind his neck. “Archer,” I whisper, my voice breaking. I thought he’d been getting over me, but all the while, he was doing the exact same thing I was doing—losing himself in memories of us.

“I was scared that you’d find out I bought your work and you’d think that I did it for the wrong reasons. I know how your mind works and how you undervalue your work, so this…all of this…this is for you.” He cups my cheek, his thumb brushing over the edge of my lips. “You see all these people here? I invited them because each and every one of them reached out to me in an attempt to buy your work off me when they saw it through the windows of this gallery. I wasn’t willing to part with it then, but I think I am now—bar a few of my favorites, of course.”

He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “I don’t need the memories when I’ve got the real thing, and I need you to see how well-loved your work is. I can’t deprive you of your growth by hoarding your work when it should be out in the world, for everyone to enjoy. Your kind of talent? It only comes around once every generation. Those masters you admire? You’re one of them, Serenity. You just don’t see it yet.”

“God, I love you,” I whisper, rising to my tiptoes as I throw my arms around him and kiss him with all I’ve got, wishing my touch could convey my feelings and knowing nothing I can ever do or say will be sufficient to express how I feel about him.

He groans, his lips lingering as he pulls away. “I love you more, darling,” he says, his eyes twinkling with equal parts pride and love. “Come on,” he says, stepping back and grabbing my hand. “There are a lot of people who are dying to meet you.”

I’m in a complete daze as Archer begins to make introductions, and dozens of people express their admiration for my work. I’ve always been anonymous as The Muse, and I mostly kept my identity hidden for the work I signed my own name on too, never using more than my first name. There’s never been a face to either brand, nor have I ever spoken to anyone who’s loved my art. I’ve even specifically stayed away from Muse fan groups, since my art was always just mine and I didn’t want it to become anything more than that at the time.

Archer smiles at me as Ezra appears out of nowhere and takes the stage. “It is a true honor to be standing here today,” he says, addressing the crowd. “Most of you might not know this, but Serenity Solutions was named after Serenity Adesina, my younger sister, and this auction is a true moment of pride for me. I convinced my business partner to name our company after my sister because I saw limitless potential in her, and I’d hoped to channel that. Seeing all of you in this crowd today, each of you appreciative of her work, fills my heart with unbridled joy. It means that she has done exactly what I always expected of her. Serenity exceeded my expectations and more than lived up to her potential, even if the road to get here wasn’t as smooth as she may have wished.”

I stare at my brother in pure disbelief, and he grins at me as he officially opens up the auction, one painting after the other being carried on stage. The room quickly becomes heated, and I look around in shock as my paintings are sold for prices ranging from thousands well into the seven figures. It’s mind-blowing that people would pay that much for my work, but that’s perhaps not the most shocking part. It’s that the room is filled with celebrities. From where I’m standing, I can spot Elena and Alexander Kennedy, Silas and Alanna Sinclair, Raven and Ares Windsor, Sierra and Xavier Kingston accompanied by several other Kingston family members, and of course, Celeste and Zane Windsor. Some of the richest people in the world are standing right in this room, and they’re all bidding for my work.

“Serenity?”

I turn around to find Tyra approaching us and instinctively move away from Archer, but he just pulls me back, his hand wrapping around my waist possessively. Tyra glances at the way he’s holding me and pauses for a moment before looking up to meet my eyes. The awkwardness between us hurts, but Archer is convinced that dancing around her and being overly cautious won’t help anyone. He thinks it’s best for all of us to get used to Archer and me being a couple, but I don’t have it in me to hurt her.

“I’m so proud of you,” she says, stepping closer and gently pushing one of my curls out of my face. “Look at everything you’ve accomplished, Ser.”

I smile and pull away from Archer to hug her, and she squeezes me tightly. I know it isn’t easy for her to be here today, but she still showed up for me. Even if it hurts, she’s trying her best to keep me in her life, to find a new normal that doesn’t involve us losing each other.

“I hope you won’t be mad at me,” she says, pulling back. “But I brought guests.”

She steps away, and my eyes widen when my parents turn the corner. Dad smiles, but Mom looks at me with a hint of reluctance blended with disdain. One look, and it’s clear she’s only here because Dad made her.

I’m so startled to see them that it takes me a moment to realize that my dad is holding a canvas. “It was you,” Archer says, sounding somewhat aggravated. “You bought the one painting I couldn’t get my hands on.”

Dad holds it out and looks at it, smiling ruefully as he takes in the painting of a girl standing in a field of tulips, the sun shining down on her. It’s a self-portrait, one that depicted me at my happiest. “I’m not willing to sell it,” he says, his tone resolute. “But I brought it because I felt it deserved to be on display here.”

One of the gallery employees takes it from him, and all the while, I just look at my father in disbelief. “You bought one of my paintings?”

He grabs my hand and nods. “Of course I did, honey. This may not be the career trajectory that I’d have chosen for you, but it’s something you clearly excel at. It may take me some time to understand it all, but I’ll do my best to be supportive in the meantime, like I should have been all along.”

He looks at Mom then, his expression expectant. She looks into his eyes, and then she sighs. “Your father and I are on the same page in that regard,” she says, her tone conveying her displeasure. “I do not understand your art, but it’s clear you’re successful at what you do, and ultimately, that’s what mattered to me most. Financial security and independence, that’s what mattered to me, and though I don’t like to admit it, I was narrow-minded in my views of how to get there.”

Dad smiles at her like he’s pleased with her words, and I can’t help but grin. It’s more than I’d ever expected of them, and the relieved look in her eyes makes me suspect I owe a lot of it to Tyra. I have no doubt that she spent hours wearing Mom down.

Archer pulls me back to him, his hand wrapping around my waist like it was before, and Dad’s eyes widen, pure confusion crossing his face. “What do you think you’re doing, grabbing my little girl like that?”

Archer freezes and looks down, like he didn’t realize he’d been touching me. It’s so instinctive for him these days. He won’t go more than a few moments without touching me if I’m anywhere near him, and I don’t think he’s aware of the quiet reassurance he’s been seeking.

Mom tenses for a moment, looking between Archer, Tyra, and me, and then the edges of her lips turn up. “He’s merely holding his girlfriend, Caleb,” she says, shaking her head bemusedly.

“His what?”

Tyra chuckles and takes my father’s arm. “His girlfriend,” she repeats. “I distinctly recall you once saying that he’s a fine young man that you consider family, so I can’t imagine it being a problem if he ever does become family, right?”

My dad stares at her speechlessly, and I burst out laughing, my heart overflowing with joy and contentment. I didn’t think we’d ever fully recover the happiness we experienced months ago, but we did.

This is it.

This is the happiness I’ve always dreamt of.