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Mark’s lips press into a thin line "I prefer your expression to be contained on the canvas"
"Or in your bank account," Chris muses, and while his tone speaks of jest, there is a sharp undercurrent to his words thatfenize from an earlier, rather unfriendly chat, interrupts us and their intense interest in Chris is evident The woiddy with exciteood lord, she sounds breathless, when only fifteen minutes before she’d been pretentious and borderline rude toseconds that the couple seems to be oblivious to, before Chris turns his attention to his admirers
"I’ve been known to answer to that na smiles that I’ve learned pack a real punch
"Oha lock of red hair fro her hand at Chris "I love your work"
Avoiding Mark’s gaze, feeling so, I watch how Chris interacts with the couple Eventually the husband wrangles Chris’s hand from his wife’s, to shake it himself, before he turns to do the sauests in all the right ways, don’t you, Mr Coht"
Chris’s eyes meet Mark’s and even in profile, I can tell Chris is barely containing a smile "I was more than happy to attend," Chris co here" The couple hang anxiously on Chris’s words, and though Mark shows no reaction, I’m pretty sure he is too "I’s out of his leather jacket, a state I believe, and a waiter quickly takes it
The couple erupts into laughter I don’t dare indulge in, and turn expectant gazes on Mark I wonder which is worse for Mark--the use of his first name, or the request for a beer "Oh please," the wo us a Corona, too What fun to tell our friends we had a beer at a wine tasting with Chris Merit"
"Unfortunately," Mark replies, proving he can roll with the proverbial punches, "the beer didn’t arrive as expected" He waves at a waiter who rushes over "But I can certainly supply wine"
Chris doesn’t push for the beer I doubt he really wanted, and soon we all lift our glasses in a toast "To the painting I’ to leave with by Chris Merit," the wife declares
"I can’t believe you asked for beer," I whisper when he takes lass
His eyes twinkle with mischief "Believe it, baby I’lasses to a waiter