Monday, February 10th

“Eden?” Justin hurried down the hall to where he was leaning back against the painted brick, waiting for Kell to finish teaching. “What are you doing here? I texted. Why didn’t you come to class?”

He flashed a questioning look at the man following behind his friend but only received a shrug, so he smiled at Justin and stood.

“I overslept...” he lied, swallowing a bit as he choked out the words. He really was a shit liar and he could already feel himself beginning to stress sweat. But, since the truth was, “After sucking our instructor off in the bathroom down the hall, I rushed home to get ready with the hope of fucking him in the darkroom, and only managed to catch my breath seconds before you got here,” a lie was probably the better option.

“Ah, so you wanted to come see what you missed?” Good thing his friend was too innocent and carefree to actually notice that stuff. “We went over how to use the camera, so you’re probably way behind now.”

Eden scowled at the joking and glanced at Kell one more time before he opened the darkroom door. He seemed calm. Maybe also a little lighter than usual. Or maybe Eden was just projecting that onto him. He couldn’t tell.

“What are you doing here?” he asked Justin, putting an arm around his shoulders as they followed their instructor into the dim, red-lit room.

“Oh, Kell’s giving me a few of his prints to study for lighting and expression.”

He sounded much too excited about that and Eden chuckled. “Teacher’s pet.”

“Nah, man. Just interested!”

Knowing his friend really was just that kind of guy, he gave him a quick nod and released his hold, walking over to see what Kell was shuffling through. He had a stack of large, glossy photos, and was pulling a handful out to set aside.

“Can I have a few?” Eden teased. He didn’t actually want any, he just wanted to try using the same tone Kell always used on him. It came out nervous and awkward, and he cleared his throat.

With a small huff, Kell turned and handed Justin what he came for. “These are good to start. Pay attention to the eyes and how the lighting frames the face.”

“Cool!” Justin gave a little bow as thanks then smirked at Eden. “Don’t take up too much of Kell’s time. I can help you learn too.”

I’m pretty sure you can’t help me with this.

Then his barely-twenty, naïve roommate was gone, leaving the adults alone in the dark. Eden usually considered himself an adult, but in this situation, maybe that was a stretch.

As soon as the door shut, he turned and was against Kell, pressing him into the low desk. Kell was in control now, though, his loss of composure from earlier gone. A palm gently covered Eden’s mouth and he chuckled playfully.

“Calm down, kid,” he said with a small laugh and Eden flushed, stepping back in embarrassment. “Before was... unlike me.”

“But you said to meet here...”

“Meet here, not fuck here. The darkroom is like a sacred place to me, I guess?”

“Then...” Eden wasn’t sure what was happening. He had quickly relieved himself earlier but that didn’t get rid of the desire, which must have been obvious because Kell flashed him that gorgeous, flirty smile.

“Do you have any more classes today?” Eden shook his head eagerly, and he laughed again. “Then we’ll go somewhere else to talk, and see what happens from there.”

“Not the greenhouse,” he interjected without thinking and Kell huffed.

“I’ll never live that down, will I?” The question was a tease, not meant to be answered, and in a lower voice he promised, “Somewhere private.”

Eden felt the heat from his cheeks spread to his ears and he nodded softly, then followed obediently after Kell as he led him back out into the hallway.

After the longest five-minute car ride of his life, all of it spent in uncomfortable silence, Eden stepped out onto a street he never knew existed. It was empty and run-down, but not in a slummy kind of way. Just abandoned and forgotten. The two were standing in front of what looked like an old warehouse, the brick worn but not in terrible condition.

Kell gestured for him to enter and directed him up the stairs to the second floor. Opening the single, metal door, they walked into a spacious art studio. From the view outside, this space must be the entire second story of the warehouse, and was completely open from end to end with large, floor to ceiling windows. Most of the area was gallery and workspace, framed and canvas photos hanging or on display, multiple raised work desks, and a few easels holding paintings. At the very end was an enclosed square corner. A bathroom, he guessed. Along the wall between that and the door ran a small, open kitchen with a dining table and two chairs, and in the very back was a massive, king-sized bed and a couple dressers.

Eden pondered the space for a minute, remembering what Justin said about Kell traveling and only agreeing to stay the semester to install an exhibit. If that was the case, was this all his? Was he renting or staying at someone else’s place? Did he move all of this stuff just for a few months, only to move again?

“I have multiple studios.” Kell was over his shoulder, speaking in his ear, and Eden jumped. “I have friends in the area, so I keep this one for when I visit or pass through.”

Fan-fucking-tastic. He’s reading my mind now.

Then a paper slipped into his hand and he glanced down. “I just got them back.” STI test results. Eden, you crazy moron. Were you just going to jump this complete stranger? “What about you?”

“Ah, a few months ago,” he said as Kell casually reached around and took the paper. “But Dean and I don’t have other partners, so...”

For some reason, Eden was suddenly reminded of the gap between them. A gap in age, a gap in experience – it was like they were miles apart. He could still feel the bit of heat from earlier making his chest tense, but Kell was so calm now, as if the man from the bathroom had been a dream. How did he do it? Wasn’t this conversation supposed to be awkward? It always had been before, yet this was so easy for him.

“Okay. I always check and use general protection, but you can decide what you’re comfortable with.”

Eden only nodded in reply. He probably should have asked more, since Kell seemed to sleep around, but he just couldn’t make himself say anything else. Instead, he looked around at the art. Most of it was photos, and from the style and subject matter, he assumed they were all Kell’s. Near a far window, however, a canvas on a tall easel caught his eye. It was different from everything else in the room and he shuffled over to it in awe.

There was nothing amazing or complex about it – just the profile of a young woman with long blond hair, wavy and a bit messy, large blue eyes, sparkling in the sun, soft features, and a warm, tender smile spread across her face. It wasn’t the best painting he’d ever seen, but the colors were unrealistically bright and everything about it screamed love. His eyes drifted to bottom right corner where two initials were scribbled – CK.

“My wife.”

He already knew who the woman was. He had seen her picture and she looked so similar to him, it was impossible to not recognize her. And it was obvious who had painted her this way. So many questions flashed in his mind but he wasn’t sure he wanted the answers to any of them, so he pushed them away.

“You really loved her.” No, that was wrong. This painting wouldn’t be sitting in the window like this if everything was in the past. “You really love her.”

Kell was at his side now, close enough to brush his shoulder, and he turned to see his brown eyes locked onto the smiling woman. He really did still love his wife, but it wasn’t a romantic love showing on his face. It was a little sad - maybe longing or remorse. Whatever had happened to separate them had nothing to do with how much they cared for each other.

With a small, resigned sigh, Eden backed away, then headed to the door. Throwing his bag over a shoulder, he looked up to see Kell staring. He was confused. Maybe disappointed. After that exchange, though, Eden wasn’t sure he could get that woman’s image out of his mind. The feeling it gave him was the opposite of a turn on.

“Where are you going?” Kell asked after a few long moments of the two gazing in silence. It wasn’t playful or kind or charismatic. It was surprised and hurt, and Eden winced at the sound.