"What about this one?"
"Too small."
"Okay, how about this one?"
"Not the right colour."
"This?"
"No."
"Aria!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up. "It's just a canopy."
My sister clicks her tongue and continues to type on her laptop. "It's not just a canopy Troye. It has to seat approximately fifty people and we still need to figure out placement for the house band. The stage I hired is ten-by-ten and at this rate we'll have guests sitting on the lawn."
"Remind me again why this needs to be such a big affair?"
Aria's gaze flicks towards me. "It's the twentieth anniversary Troye. Our parents have been married for two decades."
"So? What's so special about two decades? Some people make it to five!"
"When you're married you'll understand." Aria says impatiently.
"Then how is it you understand and you're not married either?"
"Because," Aria grins and bops me on the nose. "I'm older and wiser than you."
"Well you certainly look the age part."
I laugh when Aria punches me in the arm before turning back to the catalogue I had been flicking through. "What about this one?"
Aria peers over my shoulder. "Oh, that could work. How many people can it sit?"
"Seventy, but take away twenty people and we'll have enough room for the stage."
Aria nods. "Perfect, text me the number and I'll call them to book later."
I pick up my phone and send her the number before standing up and stretching. "I'm going to make coffee. Do you want anything?"
Aria points to her half-drunk latte on the table. "Still going."
I make my way through my sister's house and into the kitchen. Aria's house was nice with its modern furnishing but she had enough possessions to make it feel lived-in.
Seeing as she was rarely home these days, she had managed to keep her house clean and warm. Not to mention the two felines that were asleep on the floor, keeping the house occupied.
"Shove Oscar," I groan when the grey Siberian cat refused to move away from the fridge, looking up at me through annoyed eyes.
"Fine." I scoop the cat up in my arms as he protests loudly. "Then I'm just going to have to do it for you."
Animals were never my thing, though I adored our pet dog Scout growing up.
As the coffee maker heats I take out my phone to text Jack. He'd gone into the office this morning to finish some work, leaving me to sort through boring canopies and cakes with my sister for our parent's wedding anniversary.
Just getting into the heart of it now. Jack wrote. Be home by two.
I can't believe you're making me sift through wedding catalogues alone with my sister. I typed back. You owe me big time for ditching me.
I'll make it up to you later :) is all I got as a response before Aria was calling my name from the living room.
Grabbing my mug from the counter, I head back to where piles of catalogues were scattered across Aria's coffee table.
With a sigh, I crossed my legs and started flicking through more pages.
***
By the time I make it home it's late afternoon. Having gone to gym after my sister's, all I wanted to do was take a hot shower and curl up on the couch with my best friend and watch a movie.
"Jack," I call as I unlock the door to our joint apartment. "I'm home."
When I get no response I frown. Jack's car was downstairs so I know he's here.
"Jack?" I call, checking each room as I move throughout the apartment. "Jack!"
I knock on his bedroom door and open it. "Jack? Where are yo-woah."
Jack looks up at me from where he's standing by his dresser strapping his Rolex on. "Oh, hey Troye."
I step further into his bedroom. "Where are you going?"
Jack is dressed in a very un-Jack like fashion. Clad in his biker jacket over a blue tee, dark jeans and boots, my best friend smiled softly at me. "I have a date."
"A date?" I echo.
He nods. "Sorry, it completely slipped my mind this morning."
"It's fine," I reply, part of me still numb with shock at seeing my friend dressed up. After his last relationship, Jack had taken a break from dating but seeing as he had signed up for the same dating website as me, it should come as no surprise.
I clear my throat. "I-um, who's the guy?"
"His name is Tanner." Jack shoves his phone in his pocket and swipes up his keys. "He messaged me a couple weeks ago and we've been talking. He wants to meet up for drinks."
"Oh, um, okay." is all I can manage.
Jack looks at me funny. "You okay Troye?"
I nod. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little surprised is all."
He laughs. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you this morning but I brought home some pizza from the office. It's in the fridge."
"Thanks." I mumble as Jack slips past me. I follow him to the front door.
"So what time will you be back?"
"I'm not sure." Jack shoves his wallet in his pants before looking at me nervously. "Do I, um, do I look alright?"
I give him a once over before nodding. "You look great Jack."
He nods gratefully and opens the door, turning to smile at me. "Don't wait up for me okay?"
I nod slowly, in a daze as Jack shuts the door behind him and is gone. I guess my plans to come home and watch a movie together were no longer viable.
Deciding to busy myself, I take my long-awaited shower and dress in something more casual before taking a seat on the couch, pizza in hand.
The TV only entertains me for so long before I wonder back to my room. The apartment had always been boring without Jack here.
I take out my laptop and sit down on my bed. If Jack was going on a date tonight then I suppose I better find one too.
I send a quick hello message to Gabriel and a moment later receive his reply.
Hey, I was wondering when I was gonna hear from you again :)
Sorry, work has been super busy this week but I'm free now :)
My notification beeps. I understand, don't sweat it. Remind me again when you're coming to New York? I really wanna meet you, Troye :D
In about three weeks. I want to meet you too.
We continue our exchange for a few minutes before I receive a message that startles me.
Wanna exchange phone numbers? It would be easier to talk somewhere other than here.
Before I can type my reply Gabriel sends me another message. Sorry if that seemed forward, I just meant that the app doesn't always work that great so it would be easier to talk over text. Don't hate me XD
Haha, of course not. I'll admit you surprised me but it's alright. I type before taking a deep breath. Here's my number.
Sweet, thanks!
A moment later my phone goes off beside me and I pick it up to read the message. I know it's from Gabriel as the number is not saved in my contacts.
Hey, it'll be much easier to talk on here. Plus we can call :D
I agree. I hesitate before typing the next sentence. Do you want to call now?
I'd love to! Just give me a sec.
My breathing increases as I wait for Gabriel. Was I really going to do this? He would hear my voice for the first time and I would hear his. Was I ready for that?
Okay, I'm ready now :)
Yes, I was ready.
I hit the call button on my phone and hold the device to my ear, squashing my nerves further with each ring. Gabriel picks up almost immediately.
"Troye!" he says excitedly. "It's so nice that we can finally call. How are you?"
I nearly die right then and there. His voice was like Heaven as his sweet tenor drifted melodically through my phone speaker.
"I'm alright," I say, attempting to not let him hear how nervous I am. "What about you?"
"Hot damn," Gabriel drawls. "You have such a sexy voice!"
I laugh. "Thank you, I like your voice too."
"Most people say I sound like a chipmunk."
"A chipmunk?"
"Yeah, cause my voice goes really high when I laugh."
Another laugh escapes me. "Are you serious?"
"Tell me a joke and find out."
"I'll take your word for it." I chuckle and he joins me.
"So how's work lately?" Gabriel asks after our laughter dies.
I shrug even though he can't see me. "It's pretty busy right now since the company is preparing for Fashion Week. What about you?"
"Oh I just work at a boring coffee shop in Brooklyn." Gabriel says. "But it's the only job that I can schedule around school so that's why I keep it."
"Yeah, that's fair. Are you enjoying school? You study art, right?"
"Correct. I love art. I got into the school on a scholarship so it keeps me busy."
"Hm, funny and smart." I smile.
"And a very talented artist." Gabriel says flirtatiously, drawing a laugh from me.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Very."
"And what kind of art do you major in Mr Oh-So-Talented-Artist?"
I can hear his smirk through the phone. "Visual arts, but my area of speciality is drawing."
"Have you drawn anything I would know?"
"How about you let me draw you and find out." Gabriel flirts, extracting more laughs from me.
"I love your laugh."
I blush a deep shade of red and Gabriel chuckles through the phone. "I hope that wasn't too forward."
"No, it's fine."
"You're just so beautiful."
"Oh my God." I chortle. "That was so cheesy!"
Gabriel chuckles. "But you liked it right?"
A lone laugh escapes me. "You have no shame do you?"
"None."
I smile. "A photo can only portray so much of a person."
"True, but as an artist, I have an eye for detail."
"And what do you see in me?"
The line goes silent and I take the phone away from my ear to check if it's still connected. "Gabriel?"
"Yeah, sorry." Gabriel says instantly. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"You."
"What about me?"
It's silent again for a minute before Gabriel responds again. "I see a lot of strength and good in you, Troye."
"You got all that from a picture?"
"The eyes can never lie."
I blush and look down, tracing the pattern slowly on my duvet. "Maybe they don't want to."
"So have you ever been to New York before?" Gabriel asks, changing the subject and our conversation flows easily.
I don't know how long we talked on the phone. By now it's dark outside and I'm laying back on my bed when the slam of a door startles me.
"Hey I'm sorry, I have to go. I think my roommate just got home." I tell Gabriel, sitting up.
"Yeah no worries," he says. "I should go to sleep anyway. It's two in the morning here."
"Sweet dreams." I smile.
He laughs. "Yeah, you too Troye. I'll talk to you later."
"Bye."
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