His Favorite Masterpiece

Chapter Ten: The Invitation

By Monday morning, Caleb Allen had received forty-three messages about his exhibition.

Lily Martis had received exactly one.

It was from Caleb.

Caleb: Your review of my exhibition is overdue.

Lily: Good morning to you too, unemployed artist.

Caleb: I'm working. You're the one who promised to give me a review.

Lily: I said your paintings were decent.

Caleb: That's not a review. That's an insult wearing a nice dress.

Lily: Then take it to a tailor.

Caleb: I'm blocking you.

Lily: Finally. Peace at last.

He sent her a voice note.

Lily played it while brushing her teeth.

“Lily Martis, you are the single most ungrateful person I have ever met. I invited you to an exhibition, fed you—”

“You did not feed me!” she shouted at her phone.

“—and allowed you to insult my life's work without charging you. And this is how you repay me? With disrespect?”

She laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her toothbrush.

By the time she finished getting ready, she had forgotten to reply.

Caleb sent another message.

Caleb: I see. Silence. The weapon of guilty people.

She typed a response.

Lily: I was brushing my teeth.

Caleb: Your teeth needed three minutes of attention?

Lily: Some of us practise personal hygiene, Allen.

Caleb: Some of us have exhibitions to celebrate.

Lily: Congratulations again. Now go and annoy someone else.

She put her phone away before he could respond.

Unfortunately, her day was only beginning.

At eleven, her manager called to remind her about an upcoming charity concert. At noon, she had a meeting about the event's performance schedule. By two, she was in a recording studio, arguing with a producer over a line in her newest song.

The producer wanted her to change it.

Lily refused.

He suggested a compromise.

She refused that too.

Eventually, he leaned back in his chair and sighed.

“Do you always have to win?”

“No,” Lily replied. “Sometimes I allow people to be wrong in peace.”

The engineer behind the soundboard laughed.

The producer did not.

Lily smiled sweetly.

“Shall we try the chorus again?”

They did.

Three takes later, even the producer admitted that her original version worked better.

Lily left the studio feeling victorious.

She checked her phone in the car and found a message from Adrian.

Adrian: Are you coming to the charity concert on Friday?

She stared at the screen.

Adrian rarely asked about her professional schedule unless their family was involved or he needed something. Seeing him ask about an event connected to her music surprised her enough that she read the message twice.

Lily: Yes. I'm performing.

Adrian: Good. I'll be there.

A smile crept across her face.

Lily: You will?

Adrian: I said I would.

She bit her lower lip, trying not to look too pleased.

It wasn't a declaration of love. It wasn't even particularly romantic.

But Adrian had spent much of the previous week occupied with business, and the thought of him attending something important to her felt nice.

Perhaps he was finally making an effort.

Perhaps he had noticed how much the concert meant to her.

Perhaps—

Her phone rang.

Caleb.

She answered immediately.

“What?”

“Good afternoon to you too, sunshine.”

“What do you want?”

“To borrow your car.”

“No.”

“You haven't even heard why.”

“Because I know you.”

“I need it for an important reason.”

“Is the important reason that you want to drive somewhere?”

There was a pause.

“Sometimes I wonder why I tolerate you.”

“Because I'm charming.”

“Because you have my number and refuse to delete it.”

She laughed.

“What do you actually want?”

“Come with me somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere.”

“Caleb.”

“Lily.”

“I'm not leaving my house without knowing where you're taking me.”

“Fine. There's a small photography exhibition downtown. I thought you'd enjoy it.”

She considered that.

“Photography?”

“Yes.”

“Like pictures?”

“No, Lily. Like potatoes.”

“I'm hanging up.”

“Wait! There's a café nearby, and they sell that cake you like.”

She narrowed her eyes at the phone.

“Chocolate cake?”

“Yes.”

“With the caramel filling?”

“Yes.”

“And you're paying?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Lily sat up straighter.

“What time?”

Caleb laughed.

“Six.”

“Pick me up at five-thirty.”

“Five-thirty? The place is twenty minutes away.”

“I need time to look beautiful.”

“You need time to decide which earrings will make you look less troublesome.”

“Caleb Allen, I will cancel this outing.”

“Five-thirty it is.”

He ended the call before she could threaten him again.

Lily shook her head, smiling.

Then she glanced at Adrian's message.

For a moment, she considered asking if he wanted to come along.

She even opened their chat and typed the question.

But she stopped before sending it.

This was supposed to be an afternoon with Caleb. They had been friends long enough for her to know that he occasionally planned things just for the two of them, and she didn't want to turn every outing into an opportunity to include Adrian.

Besides, Adrian had already promised to attend her concert.

That was enough for today.

She deleted the message and put her phone away.

---

At five-thirty, Caleb arrived outside her house.

At five-thirty-two, Lily came downstairs.

At five-thirty-three, Caleb checked his watch.

At five-thirty-four, Lily reached the car.

He looked her over.

“You look like you spent two hours getting ready.”

“One hour and forty-five minutes.”

“Ah. A woman of efficiency.”

She opened the passenger door.

“Keep talking and I'll make you drive me back home.”

“Then I'll finally have a peaceful evening.”

She climbed in and shut the door.

Caleb started the car.

They had been driving for barely five minutes when Lily turned towards him.

“Why photography?”

“Why not?”

“Because you paint. I sing. You're usually the one dragging me into art galleries.”

“Maybe I'm expanding your education.”

“I'm already educated.”

“You once asked whether a portrait was a photograph.”

“It was a very realistic portrait!”

He laughed.

Lily folded her arms, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her smile.

It lasted approximately twelve seconds.

The exhibition was held in a renovated building with tall windows and white walls. The photographs were arranged in different rooms, each displaying a collection centred on a particular theme.

There were photographs of crowded streets, quiet homes, old buildings, and people caught in ordinary moments.

Lily stopped in front of a photograph of an elderly woman sitting beside a window.

The woman was looking outside, her hands resting in her lap. Nothing dramatic was happening. There were no bright colours or unusual angles.

Yet Lily couldn't stop looking at it.

“What do you think?” Caleb asked.

She tilted her head.

“I think she looks lonely.”

“Maybe she is.”

“Or maybe she's waiting for someone.”

“Those aren't mutually exclusive.”

Lily glanced at him.

“Since when did you become so philosophical?”

“Since I realised you're not paying me for my company.”

She rolled her eyes.

They continued through the exhibition, discussing the photographs. Sometimes they disagreed. Sometimes Caleb made ridiculous observations until Lily had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

At one point, she caught him studying a photograph of a little girl standing in the rain.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“You've been staring at it for ages.”

“I'm looking at the composition.”

“Of course.”

He turned to her.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you're an artist and I'm supposed to believe everything you say about art.”

“Exactly.”

She nudged him with her shoulder.

“Liar.”

He grinned.

They reached the final room just as a staff member announced that the exhibition would be closing in fifteen minutes.

Lily looked around, surprised by how quickly the time had passed.

“I actually enjoyed this.”

Caleb placed a hand over his chest.

“I'm so proud of you.”

“Don't ruin it.”

“Too late.”

They left the building and walked to the café nearby.

The chocolate cake was, in Lily's opinion, worth the entire trip.

She ate half of it before Caleb had finished his first bite.

He watched her with mild disbelief.

“Where do you put all that food?”

“In my stomach.”

“Fascinating. And here I thought you stored it in your shoes.”

She pointed her fork at him.

“Do you want some?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She took another bite.

Caleb reached across the table and stole a piece.

Lily gasped.

“YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT ANY!”

“I changed my mind.”

“That's my cake!”

“It's on the table. Public property.”

“That's not how property works!”

“Perhaps you should consult a lawyer.”

“I'M GOING TO BECOME A LAWYER JUST TO SUE YOU!”

He laughed so loudly that the couple at the next table turned to look at them.

Lily sank into her chair, embarrassed.

“Stop laughing!”

“You threatened to sue me over cake!”

“And I'll win!”

“On what grounds?”

“Emotional damage!”

He was still laughing when she stole a piece from his plate.

His expression changed immediately.

“Lily.”

She chewed slowly.

“Yes?”

“That's my cake.”

She smiled.

“Public property.”

Caleb stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.

“Unbelievable.”

“Thank you.”

They finished their food and sat talking until the café began clearing the nearby tables.

For once, their conversation wandered without either of them trying to steer it anywhere. They talked about the exhibition, a ridiculous film Caleb had watched, and a song Lily had been struggling to finish.

Caleb listened when she described the part that wasn't working.

He didn't pretend to understand every detail of music production, but he asked questions until she could explain what she meant.

Then he offered an opinion.

It wasn't the answer she had been looking for.

Unfortunately, it made sense.

Lily narrowed her eyes at him.

“I hate it when you're useful.”

“It's a terrible burden for both of us.”

She laughed and checked the time.

“Oh, I should go. I have an early recording session tomorrow.”

Caleb paid the bill despite her protests about the price of the cake, and they headed back to the car.

During the drive home, Lily rested her head against the seat and watched the city lights pass outside the window.

“Thanks for today,” she said.

Caleb glanced at her.

“Did you hit your head at the exhibition?”

“I'm trying to be nice!”

“It's unsettling.”

She threw a crumpled receipt at him.

He laughed.

When they arrived at her house, Lily unbuckled her seat belt but didn't immediately open the door.

“Caleb?”

“Hmm?”

“I'm glad you're my best friend.”

His hands remained on the steering wheel.

For a brief moment, he said nothing.

Then he turned towards her with the familiar, irritating smile she knew so well.

“Of course you are. Who else would tolerate you?”

Lily laughed.

“Goodnight, Allen.”

“Goodnight, Martis.”

She got out of the car and waved before heading inside.

Caleb waited until she disappeared through the front door before driving away.

---

Upstairs, Lily changed into comfortable clothes and checked her phone.

Adrian had sent another message.

Adrian: What time is your performance on Friday?

She smiled and replied with the schedule.

Lily: Why? Planning to arrive early for once?

Adrian: Don't get carried away.

Her smile faltered slightly, but she decided not to read too much into it.

At least he was coming.

She placed her phone on the bedside table and opened the notebook where she kept unfinished lyrics.

For a while, she stared at the page.

Then she wrote a new line.

It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

She read it twice, crossed out one word, and tried again.

Outside her window, the evening settled into quiet.

Lily had spent the day looking at photographs of strangers, laughing over cake, and listening to Caleb talk about things that mattered to him.

It had been a good day.

A simple one.

And when she finally put her pen down, she realised she hadn't spent the entire afternoon wondering what Adrian was thinking.

She hadn't even checked her phone for nearly two hours.

Lily smiled faintly at the page.

Then she turned off the light, unaware that Friday's concert would bring all three of them into the same room for a very different kind of evening.