His Favorite Masterpiece

Chapter Six : Three Tickets and One Disaster

Saturday arrived with clear skies, warm sunshine, and Lily Martis behaving as though she were preparing to receive a national award.

She had changed outfits three times.

The first dress was too formal. The second made her look, according to Caleb, like she was attending a wedding she hadn't been invited to. The third was apparently perfect until she decided the shoes didn't match.

Now she stood in front of her mirror wearing a blue dress, holding two pairs of earrings and glaring at her reflection.

“This is ridiculous,” she announced.

Her phone rang on the bed.

Caleb's name appeared on the screen.

She answered without greeting him.

“If you're calling to insult me, I'm hanging up.”

“Good morning to you too, sunshine.”

“What do you want?”

“To know whether we're still going to the exhibition or whether you've decided to marry your wardrobe.”

Lily closed her eyes.

“I am choosing my earrings.”

“For how long?”

“Caleb.”

“Because I've been downstairs for fifteen minutes, and Adrian has checked his watch so many times that I'm beginning to think he's trying to hypnotise it.”

She glanced at the clock.

“Oh my God!”

“Ah. She remembers time exists.”

“Why didn't you call earlier?”

“I did. Twice.”

She looked at her missed calls.

There they were.

Two missed calls from Caleb.

She quickly ended the call.

Then she grabbed her handbag, chose the earrings nearest to her and hurried out of the room.

When she reached the entrance, Caleb was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. Adrian stood beside him, looking impeccably dressed and considerably less amused.

Lily slowed down as she approached.

“I'm here.”

Caleb looked at his watch.

“An extraordinary achievement.”

She smacked his arm.

“Ow. Violence before noon.”

“Keep talking.”

“I'm simply admiring your punctuality.”

Adrian shook his head.

“Can we leave now?”

Lily smiled at him.

“Of course.”

Caleb noticed the immediate change in her expression.

He had seen it countless times: Lily could spend ten minutes threatening to throw something at him, but one small smile from Adrian could make her forget what she had been complaining about.

He wondered when she would finally stop giving those little moments so much power over her.

Then again, he supposed everyone had their weaknesses.

Unfortunately, his had just hurried downstairs wearing blue.

He opened the door for her with an exaggerated bow.

“After you, Your Highness.”

She walked past him.

“That's more like it.”

“I'm going to regret being nice to you.”

“You already do.”

“Every day.”

“Good.”

They left together.

---

The exhibition was being held at a spacious gallery in the city, with several rooms devoted to paintings, sculptures and contemporary artwork.

Caleb had been talking about it for days.

Lily had spent those same days trying to determine whether Adrian would notice her new hairstyle.

When they entered the gallery, Caleb's attention immediately shifted to the paintings.

“Oh, this is beautiful.”

He moved towards a large canvas depicting a busy street, studying the brushwork with genuine interest.

Lily followed him, glanced at the painting and nodded.

“Very nice.”

Caleb turned to her.

“What do you think?”

“I think it's a painting.”

He stared.

She smiled sweetly.

“You asked.”

Adrian laughed quietly.

Caleb pointed at the canvas.

“Look at the details. The way the artist uses light, the movement in the street, the different expressions on people's faces—”

“Caleb.”

“What?”

“It's a street.”

He looked personally wounded.

“I brought you here to appreciate art.”

“And I am appreciating it. I appreciate that it exists.”

Adrian laughed again.

Lily turned towards him, pleased to have made him laugh, but his attention had already returned to the painting.

She swallowed her disappointment and followed Caleb into the next room.

For the next twenty minutes, the three of them wandered through the gallery. Caleb explained the meaning behind some of the works, while Lily made increasingly ridiculous guesses about others.

At one point, they stopped in front of an abstract painting covered in colourful shapes.

Lily tilted her head.

“I know what this is.”

Caleb looked suspicious.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Please enlighten us.”

“Someone spilled paint and decided to charge people for looking at it.”

Adrian burst out laughing.

Caleb stared at her.

“That is art.”

“Then my bedroom wall is a masterpiece.”

“You have no respect for creativity.”

“I respect creativity. I just don't understand why that painting costs more than my first car.”

Caleb looked back at the price displayed beside it.

He paused.

“Actually, that's a fair question.”

Lily laughed triumphantly.

“Thank you!”

They moved into the next room, where a series of portraits had been arranged along the walls.

Caleb slowed down, studying each one carefully.

Lily wandered ahead with Adrian.

She had been waiting for an opportunity to spend time with him without Caleb interrupting every conversation, but now that the opportunity had arrived, she couldn't decide what to say.

She glanced at him.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah. It's nice.”

She smiled.

“I'm glad you came.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Why wouldn't I?”

The question caught her off guard.

She shrugged.

“I don't know. You're usually busy.”

“I have free time, Lily.”

“You don't act like it.”

He frowned slightly.

“What does that mean?”

She immediately wished she had chosen a different answer.

“Nothing. Forget it.”

Adrian studied her for a moment, but before he could respond, Caleb appeared beside them.

“There's a room at the back with some incredible sketches. You two need to see them.”

Lily gave him a look.

“Must you appear every time I speak to Adrian?”

Caleb blinked.

“Would you prefer I disappear?”

“Yes.”

“Wonderful. I'll go and enjoy the exhibition without you.”

He turned dramatically and walked away.

Lily caught his arm.

“Caleb, wait!”

He looked down at her hand.

She released him.

“Don't be dramatic.”

“Me? Never.”

“Please.”

He smiled.

“Ah, the magic word.”

“Don't make me regret saying it.”

“Too late.”

He led them towards the back room.

---

The sketch room was smaller than the others, with drawings displayed in frames and several notebooks protected behind glass.

Caleb immediately became absorbed in a series of charcoal portraits.

Lily stood beside him, trying to look interested.

One drawing caught her attention. It showed a woman laughing, her head tilted slightly backwards, one hand covering her mouth. The artist had captured the expression so naturally that Lily almost expected the woman to turn towards them.

“That's actually beautiful,” she said.

Caleb glanced at her.

“See? You can appreciate art.”

“Don't ruin the moment.”

He laughed.

Adrian moved to another display, where he began reading the information about the artist.

For a few minutes, Lily and Caleb stood quietly together.

Then she nudged him.

“Do you think you could draw something like that?”

He looked at the portrait.

“Probably.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“Probably?”

“Would you prefer me to say I'm the greatest artist alive?”

“I would prefer honesty.”

“Then yes. I could.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

“Good. You can draw me next time.”

Caleb looked at her.

“Didn't you ban me from drawing you?”

“That was before I discovered you might actually possess talent.”

He placed a hand against his chest.

“I'm moved.”

“Don't be. I still haven't forgiven you for the cat.”

“It's one of my finest works.”

“I'm going to destroy it.”

“You'll have to find it first.”

Lily gasped.

“You still have it?”

Caleb grinned.

“Perhaps.”

She grabbed his sleeve.

“Caleb!”

He laughed and gently freed himself.

“Come on. Adrian is waiting.”

But Lily wasn't quite ready to move.

She glanced at the portraits again.

“Seriously, though. You'd draw me?”

Caleb looked at her.

For once, he didn't immediately respond with a joke.

“Of course I would.”

Something about the simplicity of his answer made her pause.

No teasing. No bargaining for pastries. No ridiculous conditions.

Just of course.

She had known Caleb for years. She knew he could draw, knew he enjoyed art, and knew he was perfectly capable of turning a simple conversation into an argument.

Yet she couldn't remember the last time she had asked him to do something for her without expecting him to make fun of her first.

“You're being suspiciously nice today,” she said.

His familiar grin returned.

“Don't worry. I'll recover soon.”

“There he is.”

“Missed me?”

“Not even slightly.”

“Your face says otherwise.”

She rolled her eyes and followed him out of the room.

Neither of them noticed Adrian watching them for a moment before he followed.

---

By the time they reached the café next door, Lily had almost forgotten how much effort she had put into getting ready.

Almost.

They found a table near the window and ordered food. Caleb spent most of the first few minutes complaining about the prices, despite having insisted on visiting the gallery in the first place.

“This is robbery,” he declared, examining the menu.

Lily took a sip of water.

“Then call the police.”

“I might.”

“Tell them you were attacked by an overpriced sandwich.”

Adrian laughed.

Caleb pointed at him.

“Don't encourage her.”

“I'm not doing anything.”

“You're laughing.”

“Am I not allowed to be happy?”

Lily burst out laughing.

Caleb stared at them both.

“I'm surrounded by traitors.”

Their food arrived, and the conversation moved from the exhibition to music, upcoming projects and a ridiculous story Caleb told about accidentally sending an unfinished drawing to the wrong person.

Lily laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.

For a while, everything felt easy.

Adrian was relaxed. Caleb was entertaining. Nobody was arguing about vegetables or threatening to destroy anyone's belongings.

It was the sort of afternoon Lily wished they could have more often.

At one point, Caleb reached across the table and caught her glass just before her elbow knocked it over.

“Careful.”

Lily looked at the glass, then at him.

“I had it under control.”

“Of course. The glass was simply trying to escape.”

She took it from him.

“Thank you.”

He blinked dramatically.

“I'm sorry. What was that?”

“Don't ruin it.”

“Did you just thank me without insulting my entire existence?”

“I can take it back.”

“No, no. This is a historic moment. Someone should document it.”

She kicked him lightly beneath the table.

He laughed, and she found herself laughing with him.

Adrian checked his phone.

“I need to make a call.”

Lily's smile faltered slightly.

“Now?”

“It'll only take a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

He stood and stepped outside the café.

Lily watched him through the window for a moment before looking down at her hands.

Caleb followed her gaze.

“He'll be back.”

“I know.”

“You don't look like you know.”

She sighed.

“Can you stop analysing my face?”

“Can you stop making it so easy?”

She kicked him beneath the table.

He winced.

“Violence! Again!”

“Keep your voice down.”

Caleb rubbed his leg.

“You're lucky I'm a peaceful person.”

“You are the least peaceful person I know.”

“And yet, you keep me around.”

Lily didn't answer immediately.

Then she smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

He grinned.

“I'm honoured.”

For a moment, she watched him quietly.

Caleb had spent the afternoon making jokes about her lateness, her opinions on art, and her inability to choose earrings. He had also listened to every ridiculous observation she made, remembered what she liked to eat, and caught her glass before it spilled.

None of those things was extraordinary on its own.

But together, they made her feel strangely comfortable.

She didn't have to work for his attention. She didn't have to invent a reason for him to listen.

He was simply there.

The thought surprised her enough that she quickly looked away.

“What?” Caleb asked.

“Nothing.”

“Lily.”

“What?”

“You're doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“Looking at me as though you've just discovered I have two heads.”

She burst out laughing.

“There is something wrong with you.”

“Several things, actually. You'll have to be more specific.”

She shook her head.

And just like that, the moment passed.

Caleb didn't ask what she'd been thinking. He only smiled and returned to his food.

He was grateful for that.

Because he wasn't sure he wanted to know what had made her look at him so differently.

---

Adrian returned a few minutes later, apologising for the interruption. They paid the bill and headed outside.

The afternoon had been enjoyable. Lily had laughed, eaten well and spent time with the two people she had known for most of her life.

Still, a small part of her wished Adrian had been a little more interested in staying.

She pushed the thought away.

There was no point spoiling a good day by demanding that it become something else.

As they reached the car, Caleb held the door open for her.

“Did you enjoy yourself, little worm?”

She looked at him.

“Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“The exhibition was nice. The food was nice. The company was tolerable.”

“I'm touched.”

“Don't be.”

He smiled.

“Same time next week?”

Lily laughed.

“Absolutely not.”

Adrian shook his head as he got into the car.

“You two are impossible.”

Caleb and Lily exchanged a glance.

Then they answered together.

“We know.”

Their laughter filled the car as they drove away from the gallery.

For the first time that day, Lily wasn't thinking about whether Adrian had noticed her dress or whether he'd enjoyed spending time with her.

She was thinking about the sketch Caleb had promised to make.

She wondered what he would draw.

A ridiculous caricature? Another cat?

Or something that might actually surprise her?

“Caleb?”

He turned towards her.

“What now?”

“You'd better not draw me with a huge nose.”

He looked offended.

“I would never.”

“And no whiskers.”

“Now you're limiting my artistic freedom.”

“I'm serious.”

“So am I. A huge nose would ruin the proportions.”

She gasped.

“CALEB!”

He burst out laughing.

Adrian glanced at them through the rear-view mirror, shaking his head.

Lily folded her arms, determined to remain offended.

She lasted all of ten seconds before laughing too.

Caleb watched her, smiling.

He had spent years making Lily laugh. He knew the sound of her genuine laughter from the polite kind she offered strangers, and he could usually tell when she was pretending to be fine.

He also knew that if he told her how much he loved being the person who could make her forget her worries, she would probably throw something at him.

So he kept the thought to himself.

For now, being her best friend was enough.

At least, that was what he kept telling himself.

Then Lily turned towards him again.

“Promise me you'll actually draw me.”

Caleb met her eyes.

“I promise.”

She smiled, satisfied, and looked out of the window.

He watched her for one second longer before turning away.

He had no idea how he was going to draw her.

That was a lie.

He already knew exactly which expression he wanted to capture.

The problem was that it was the one she wore when she was laughing at something he said.

And he wasn't sure he could explain why that expression mattered so much.