“That’s not true, Amber. To be honest, I didn’t give it much consideration, I simply wanted to–”
“Control me.” She completed his sentence before he could.
“I don’t wish to control you.”
But even as he said it, she could see his frown deepen as he pondered the words which had fallen automatically from his lips.
“Are you sure?”
He opened his mouth to speak but grimaced instead. “I’m not usually in the habit of analyzing my actions to such a degree.”
“Then perhaps you should start. I’m a free spirit and I don’t wish, or need, to be controlled. And, unless you understand that, then I don’t think there’s any point you standing there gripping the wall as if you think you’ll fall over.”
“That’s one of the things I love about you—your free spirit—why would I want to capture it?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Hang on a minute, what did you just say?” She reflected on his words. “Did you say ‘love about me’?”
“Yes. I love lots of things about you—your free spirit, your warm heart, your beauty, your kindness, your sweetness, your—”
She stepped toward him. “Go on,” she said, more softly now.
He shook his head and his eyes never left hers. “I can’t. I’ve forgotten. Whenever you come close to me, I forget what I’m going to say.”
She stepped a bit closer. “David, I have a question.”
“Anything.”
“Why are you gripping the wall?”
“Because I’m terrified, I’ll walk right over to you, put my fingers through your hair, hold your face still and kiss you.”
“Hm,” she said, taking another step closer. “I’d like to see that.”
“You would?”
She nodded. “I would.”
“Does that mean you’ve forgiven me? Because, you know, I don’t underestimate you, and I don’t want to control you.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s just habit to jump on in, and take over, to seal the deal.”
“You like sealing the deal, don’t you?”
He loosened his grip on the wall and thrust his fingers through her hair, and brought his head close to hers. “I do. Preferably with a kiss.”
She lifted her face to his. “Is that how you sealed the deal with Pop?” His lips were smiling as he pressed them to hers.
“So,” he said breathlessly as they pulled apart. “Am I forgiven?”
“Yes. It probably seems silly to you, after all you did it to try to make me happy. But I’m not the kind of person who can be made happy by fake gestures. I really wanted to succeed, to share my art with people, not just one person.”
“I get it. But promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t stop creating your art. Because itisbeautiful and you just have to find the right audience.” He hesitated as if he were about to say something else, but Amber knew what it was.
“And the audience at the gallery wasn’t the right one, was it?”
“I don’t think so.”
