I was starting on my third glass of wine, without question a record of moderation for me, even at art openings, when Armand joined me. “Quite a success for Justin.”
I raised my glass. “And for you.”
Armand gave a dry smile. “And for me. Although now that Virginia has gotten him into her clutches, I suspect my access to Justin’s work will be somewhat reduced.”
I thought about that for a minute. “Justin won’t forget you gave him his start.”
Armand nodded. “I liked his work from the beginning, but what he’s doing now? I’ve never seen an artist progress this much in one year. Never. The maturity and completeness of this work is beyond anything I expected, even given how impressed I was with the early pieces.”
We’re not surprised, even though Armand is.
“Kalli said the same thing, but…”
He laughed. “I know. It’s just as with Justin, their youth is an obstacle to believing in their abilities.
I’m wondering if that really applies to Justin. I think perhaps it’s not his youth that can hold Justin back, but other things…Hmm.
But she’s also like Justin in that working with her, I’ve completely forgotten her age. She has extraordinary instincts.” He took a glass of wine off the bar, and sipped it. “And Justin has an extraordinary talent and something most artists his age don’t have, the opportunity to devote himself to it full time.”
Shut up now, Armand.
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I bit back a caustic reply that I wasn’t keeping Justin, and just smiled.
I probably wouldn’t have been so restrained. Brian did well with this.
“I was surprised to hear he’d signed with Virginia. She’s pretty much the top of the food chain.”
“Adrienne Bennett introduced them.”
Kalli nodded. “Although I’m not sure Virginia would even represent Adrienne.”
Hmmm…Am I forgetting something about Virginia and Adrienne’s connection? (Remind me which chapters mention Adrienne, and I’ll re-read)
Justin dropped into the seat next to me, and put his hand on my thigh. “I just ran completely out of energy.”
I laughed. “I hope not completely.”
He smiled at me, looking a little evil. I put my drink down and stood up. “Kalli, can we drop you anywhere?”
Heee!
He seemed a little quieter than I’d have expected, but his eyes were sparkling and he was holding my hand.
I shifted myself a little, to see what he’d do, and he slid into the opening I’d created, his body warm against my side. I kissed his hair and smiled.
*happy sigh*
I went and took a shower, and when I came out, a towel around my waist, Justin was outside on the terrace, looking at the skyline. I stood inside, watching him through the glass, looking at the tall buildings, some of them edged with holiday lights, some just dotted with the random lit windows of Manhattan office buildings.
My favorite paragraph of the chapter, so far. Great image.
rambly feedback, part 10
I raised my glass. “And for you.”
Armand gave a dry smile. “And for me. Although now that Virginia has gotten him into her clutches, I suspect my access to Justin’s work will be somewhat reduced.”
I thought about that for a minute. “Justin won’t forget you gave him his start.”
Armand nodded. “I liked his work from the beginning, but what he’s doing now? I’ve never seen an artist progress this much in one year. Never. The maturity and completeness of this work is beyond anything I expected, even given how impressed I was with the early pieces.”
We’re not surprised, even though Armand is.
“Kalli said the same thing, but…”
He laughed. “I know. It’s just as with Justin, their youth is an obstacle to believing in their abilities.
I’m wondering if that really applies to Justin. I think perhaps it’s not his youth that can hold Justin back, but other things…Hmm.
But she’s also like Justin in that working with her, I’ve completely forgotten her age. She has extraordinary instincts.” He took a glass of wine off the bar, and sipped it. “And Justin has an extraordinary talent and something most artists his age don’t have, the opportunity to devote himself to it full time.”
Shut up now, Armand.
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I bit back a caustic reply that I wasn’t keeping Justin, and just smiled.
I probably wouldn’t have been so restrained. Brian did well with this.
“I was surprised to hear he’d signed with Virginia. She’s pretty much the top of the food chain.”
“Adrienne Bennett introduced them.”
Kalli nodded. “Although I’m not sure Virginia would even represent Adrienne.”
Hmmm…Am I forgetting something about Virginia and Adrienne’s connection? (Remind me which chapters mention Adrienne, and I’ll re-read)
Justin dropped into the seat next to me, and put his hand on my thigh. “I just ran completely out of energy.”
I laughed. “I hope not completely.”
He smiled at me, looking a little evil. I put my drink down and stood up. “Kalli, can we drop you anywhere?”
Heee!
He seemed a little quieter than I’d have expected, but his eyes were sparkling and he was holding my hand.
I shifted myself a little, to see what he’d do, and he slid into the opening I’d created, his body warm against my side. I kissed his hair and smiled.
*happy sigh*
I went and took a shower, and when I came out, a towel around my waist, Justin was outside on the terrace, looking at the skyline. I stood inside, watching him through the glass, looking at the tall buildings, some of them edged with holiday lights, some just dotted with the random lit windows of Manhattan office buildings.
My favorite paragraph of the chapter, so far. Great image.