If You Can't Stand the Heat...
Niall spent the next two weeks in an intense funk.
He didn’t go out. He didn’t exercise. He didn’t play guitar. He didn’t even shave.
His time was occupied with laying on his couch or in his bed contemplating his bad luck in love. There was much self-pity involved, and more than a little alcohol.
Sylvia checked in on him and made sure he was fed. She never stayed long. Niall wasn’t in the mood for company, and she usually stopped in just before she was going out.
Niall told himself she was busy with preparations for the fundraiser, but in the back of his mind, he suspected it was more than that. He didn’t want to think about who she might be spending her days - and nights - with.
Week three, and Niall was compelled to re-join the ranks of the living. Classes were starting again at the Folk School, and he had something to focus on other than his non-existent love life.
It was good to see his friends, fellow teachers, and students. Niall cleaned up his act pretty quickly after a few pep talks from Colleen and some choice comments from the administration.
Week four, and he was ready to get back to his regular routines. He felt much better, and he didn’t think of Liam. Very often, anyway.
~*~*~
The night of the fundraiser arrived.
It was black tie, so Niall had had to rent a tuxedo. He hated seeing the money go essentially to waste, but he knew how important it was he attend.
Sylvia knocked on his door about an hour before they were due at the hotel where the event was being held.
“Looking good, kid.” She was wearing a smart cocktail dress with a metallic silver long-sleeved top and black skirt. The neckline was tasteful, but did scoop a bit. She had matching silver heels and a sequined clutch. Her jade drop earrings completed her ensemble.
“Except for this damn bowtie.” Niall groused as he attempted to force the tie into submission.
Sylvia motioned him toward her and took either end of the bowtie.
“My ex-husband never was able to get the hang of this, either.”
“Did you go to a lot of things where he needed to wear a tux?”
Sylvia nodded as she finished making a perfect bow. That was probably all she was going to say regarding her ex. She never talked about him much.
“You look great, by the way.” Niall slipped into the tuxedo jacket.
“Thanks, kid.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, then brought it up in front of Niall.
“What are you doing?”
“Picture time.”
“Why?”
“So you can show your mother. Smile.”
Niall complied. It had been a while since he’d contacted his mum. He should rectify that.
With a swoosh from her phone, Sylvia sent the picture to Niall’s mobile.
“There. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
~*~*~
Swanky.
That was what kept running through Niall’s head as he made his way through the ballroom to his assigned table.
He checked his place card again, then spotted Colleen. She waved. Niall turned to Sylvia, who hadn’t stopped.
“Is this not your table as well?” He asked.
“Art school folks are on the other side. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Niall frowned. He guessed the organizers had figured not many people from the art school would know the Folk School guests, and vice versa. Still, mixing the crowd would have been a nice idea.
As his eyes followed Sylvia, Niall soon changed his mind. When she reached her table, Mr. Model stood to greet her. He took her hand and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Niall rolled his eyes, and when his gaze settled again, he instantly felt his stomach lurch.
Liam was there as well.
“Niall? Aren’t you going to sit down? Order a drink, relax.” Colleen indicated an empty seat. “The auction items are in the adjoining ballroom, if you want to see them at some point.”
Niall joined Colleen and her husband and a few fellow teachers at the table. He tried to keep a pleasant expression on his face.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to afford any of those auction prizes.” Niall chuckled.
“Doesn’t hurt to look.” Colleen called a waiter over.
Niall requested a beer, then slid his phone out of his pocket and texted Sylvia.
Did you know he was going to be here?!
From across the room, Sylvia caught his eye and shook her head.
Son of a bitch. Niall typed furiously.
Sylvia was on her phone now.
Calm down, kid. There are enough people here that you can avoid him. Don’t let it ruin your good time.
Yeah, right. Niall shoved his phone back into his jacket.
“Everything okay?” Colleen asked.
“Brilliant.” Niall replied.
The food wasn’t bad. The speeches weren’t too boring. Overall, it was a very nice evening. Or it would have been, had Niall not been preoccupied with trying to avoid Liam.
When the live band that had been playing unobtrusive dinner music started an up tempo tune, Niall figured out there was going to be dancing. He quickly excused himself and headed for the bar.
On his way, he spotted Liam moving in the same direction, so Niall ducked into another room.
He peeked out from behind the doorframe. Liam was at the bar, chatting with the bartender. Niall was trapped, at least for a few minutes, so he took in his surroundings.
This was the ballroom with the auction items. Right now Niall had the room to himself, so he decided to have a look around and see what rich people liked to spend their considerable disposable income on.
There were things like luxury vacation and spa packages, yacht rentals for a day, even a test drive in a Lamborghini. There was also art available for bids, of course. Sculptures in various materials, paintings done in a variety of styles, and some things that Niall didn’t quite know what to make of.
He recognized Sylvia’s series of Harry baking tarts. Finished, it was four semi-abstract panels in several colors. Sylvia had real talent, at least in Niall’s layman’s eyes.
He continued waking, and, then, there it was.
His dream guitar.
Apparently, Nothing But Treble had made a donation of the instrument Niall had been wishing for since he first spotted it in the shop’s front window.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to afford even the opening bid, but Niall was curious if anyone had taken an interest in it. He approached the table and resisted the urge to run his fingers over the shiny surface of the guitar. He picked up the clipboard next to the instrument.
Opening bid - $3,500.00
Niall nodded. That was about what he had figured. He sighed longingly.
Beneath that were the numbers of the bidders and their offers.
Niall scanned down the list. The most recent bid was $6,000.00.
Holy crap.
Niall set the clipboard down. He couldn’t even fantasize about owning the guitar at that price.
He figured it was safe to go back to the main ballroom, or at least have another peek in, so he turned around. Only to see Liam heading toward him.
Niall thought about ignoring him, or exiting the room via an alternate door, but before he could make a choice, the investment banker was standing opposite him.
“Hi, Niall.” He said.
Niall pursed his lips.
“Liam.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d talk to me, but I did want to at least try to say hello.”
“Why?”
“I’d like us to be on good terms.”
“Why?”
“Listen, I’m sorry for the way things went down between us, but now that we’ve both had some time to digest everything that happened, I don’t see any reason we can’t be friendly.”
“Oh, you don’t?”
“Maybe I hurt you more than I realized at the time. I really am sorry, Niall. I tried to be as honest with you as possible.”
“And you were. You don’t want me. End of story.”
Liam looked down and scratched the back of his neck.
“That’s being overly simplistic.”
“It’s all that matters.”
“Okay.” Liam’s brown eyes had a touch of sadness in them. “I hope you’ll at least accept my apology.”
“Maybe.” Niall answered. “But not tonight.” Then he left the ballroom.
Niall was nursing a whiskey in the hotel bar when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder.
“Hey,” Sylvia said when he turned.
Niall gave her a nod.
“How are you holding up?” She remained standing instead of taking an empty barstool.
“Dunno. I really thought I was completely over him, but it hurt to see him tonight.”
“Sorry you got blindsided. None of us knew he was going to show up.”
“Not even Harry?”
“I asked him. He said he talked to Liam about three hours before the fundraiser, and Liam told him he wasn’t coming.”
Niall sipped his drink.
“Wonder what changed his mind.”
“Maybe he wanted to see you.”
Niall snorted.
“I’m not saying it was a smart move,” Sylvia brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.
Niall drained his glass.
“He did apologize.”
“That’s something.”
“I suppose.”
“You feel any better?”
“Not really.” When the bartender came by to refill his glass, Niall shook his head. “I’m going home. You staying a while?”
“They’re about to start announcing the winning bidders of the auction.”
“Then I’m definitely leaving. I can’t bear the thought of some rich bastard walking away with that Gibson guitar, which he’ll probably never play.” Niall put some bills on the bar.
“Just try to think of the money that will go to the Folk School.”
“Right. Have a good night, Sylvia.”
~*~*~
The fundraiser turned out to be quite a success. Apparently, rich bastards liked their art and music.
Even better news on a personal level, Sylvia’s painting series had sold to a famous pastry chef who co-owned an exclusive and ridiculously expensive restaurant in Manhattan.
Niall would have loved to take his friend for a fancy dinner to see her piece on display, but, with his current budget, the taco special at Garcia's would have to do.
“To the professional artist at table number 4!” Niall raised his can of Diet Coke to toast with Sylvia.
“Thanks, kid.” Sylvia took a sip from her straw. “Have to say, I quite like the sound of that.”
“Rolls very easily off the tongue.” Niall dug into his rice and refried beans. “So they really won’t tell you what the final bid was?”
“They don’t announce that, and I’m not privy.”
“It’s not driving you crazy?”
Sylvia shrugged.
“As long as it made money for the schools, that’s all that really matters.”
Niall shook his head.
“Besides,” Sylvia dipped a tortilla chip in some salsa, “I don’t want to start thinking of my art as currency.”
“Fair enough. But if I ever sold a song, I’d frame the cancelled check and hang it on my wall.”
“That’s perfectly legitimate as well.” Sylvia stood. “Excuse me.”
Niall ordered dessert, then took out his phone. Nothing urgent. He was about to put it back when it pinged with a text.
Can we talk sometime?
Liam.
Niall blinked.
Did you mean this for me? He shot back.
Definitely.
Niall thought of all the things he could respond. None of them would probably be the best choice.
He typed, No.
His finger hovered over the send icon. Then it tapped the delete key, and typed:
Later tonight.
He hit send just as Sylvia was returning from the ladies’ room.