However, when the month of July eventually came, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I had asked Chris if I could stay until the end of June in his apartment and he said yes, excited that we'd have two full weeks to ourselves, but he didn't say anything else about the future. I knew I'd have to go back to New York eventually, but what then?
                          
The fear of the answer kept me from asking. I knew he wanted me and cared for me, but in what way did he envision us together? Since he never brought up the subject, I avoided it. I knew sooner or later we'd have to talk about it, but for now I just wanted to live in blissful ignorance. 
                          
I shook off those thoughts as I walked down the corridor to the kitchen, finding Chris stirring my hot chocolate, his chest bare. His apartment was warm enough in the daytim that he could walk around in just shorts, and I sure wasn't complaining.
                          
He asked me to spin around so he could take in my appearance. 
                          
"Beautiful," he said. "Now eat. You can't go to work on an empty stomach."
                          
As I ate, we discussed at what time Chris would arrive at the exhibition, how we'd behave in public, how we were planning on coming back to his apartment at he end of the night without anyone seeing us. We decided it was best to keep our distance and come home separately. After all, there were going to be many people from Evergreen present. It was still too soon to show our affection in public.
                          
I left the apartment shortly after, taking an Uber to the gallery. It was a modern space, completely different from Kent's first exhibition. He said he wanted the space to reflect his more modern approach, and that's why this gallery in an up-and-coming part of town was ideal.
                          
When I arrived, the gallery workers were getting the paintings out of storage to place them on the walls. David had arrived earlier than me and had already started giving them instructions. He smiled as he saw me come through the doors, relieved that I was finally there to help him.
                          
We spent the whole day getting everything ready, from hanging the paintings in the right place to discussing with the light technicians how the pieces should be illuminated. We even had a word with the catering team to check if everything was running smoothly. 
                          
Kent arrived an hour before the doors opened to the public, at five o'clock. Right behind him was Chris, his right hand man. They were both beaming as they walked inside the massive room.
                          
Kent hugged David and I, squishing us in his tight embrace. He was beyond grateful for our help, thanking us for the fantastic work.
                          
"There's no need to thank us," said David. "We only did this because we wanted our names on the wall."
                          
As David said this, he waved his hands in front of our names which were written on the wall in a smaller font under Gary Kent. Kent already had a smart response on the tip of his tongue.
                          
"And I'm glad, because that's the only payment you're gonna get."
                          
This time, Chris and I exchanged looks, shaking our heads in disbelief. It was the first time we looked at each other since he arrived and it was damn hard to not show him any affection. 
                          
Would it really be that bad if David found out about us?
                          
Would it really?
                          
I kept my gaze on Chris a little longer. Maybe that way David would find out, maybe he'd feel the energy in the room and I wouldn't have to confess that I was in love with our professor.