“Wow. So that’s a greeting I can get used to. I assume it’s okay to come in then?”
“Yes. More than okay.” I kiss him again. “I want to show you something.”
“I like the sound of that.” He shuts the door behind him and follows me into my spare room where I have set up my painting studio.
“I’m sorry this is so messy.” Boxes filled with brushes, different types of paint, books on technique crowd the room. The lighting is dim as I prefer it.
“Is this what you’re working on?” He points to the painting of the beach. I nod. “You’re really good. I had no idea.”
“Surprise!” I lift my hands up as I say this. “I have others stored away from when I painted years ago. This is only my second finished piece since I stopped way back in college.”
Jimmy steps toward the painting and leans down to take a closer look. It’s like he’s evaluating every single stroke and understanding the love I put into each one.
“You’re so talented.”
The studio is warm but that’s not why my cheeks are burning. “I mean, I do the best I can.”
“Reese, take a compliment. You’re an artist. You need to believe that.”
His face softens and he tilts his head to the right. He’s not just saying this. He’s being honest.
“I do. I don’t know why I stopped. Blaming work is easy. I don’t like to admit I gave up without really trying. Once I graduated, I found a job and that was it. I put down the paintbrush for a paycheck, forgetting I could do both.” My eyes burn as the tears build behind them. “I lost my passion for it. Then you came along.”
I reach my hand out for his and he doesn’t hesitate to take it. “That means so much to me.” He pulls me to his chest and presses his lips to mine, slipping his tongue in as he unties the back of my apron.
“Ow!” I squeal out as he tries to pull the apron off and it catches on my neck.
“What’s going on here?”
I take my hand and move it up to the back of my neck. “It’s tied here, too.” I smirk as I pull the knot out and yank the apron off.
“Do you always paint in a tight tank top and shorts?”
“Do you like it?”
He glides his tongue across his lips. “I’d like it a lot better off.”
Like two wild animals we rip each other’s clothes off, not caring we’re on the floor of my studio. Something has changed in this moment, like I’m escaping the chains that surrounded my heart for years, allowing my passion to come free in both my art and whatever this is I feel for Jimmy.
Love. I think it’s love.
“This may beyour best idea ever.” I take the graham cracker and crumble it over the vanilla ice cream. Jimmy brings his arm around from behind me and squeezes chocolate sauce onto it. Then I take a spoon, scoop an oversized portion of Cool Whip from the container, and plop it on top.
“Shall we eat this on your studio floor?”
“Let’s curl up on the patio steps and eat it.”
“You’re in a t-shirt and panties and it’s still almost eighty degrees outside. That will melt.”
I dip the spoon in and help myself to a large portion. “Then we better eat fast. As far as what I’m wearing, we’re literally the only two houses on this block. I think we’ll be fine.” With no time to argue, I take Jimmy’s hand and lead him outside.
While it’s still fairly hot outside, a breeze has set in and it’s actually pretty pleasant. The sun has been exchanged for the moon, and on what feels like a completely perfect night, the stars have come out to join us.
“I love living here. The city is not too far away, but we’re far enough inland that street lights don’t interfere with the beauty of the night. I’m so happy we can see the stars.” I wrap my arm around his and reach my other around to take a bite of the ice cream. “Tell me about your grandparents.”
His body loosens as he draws in a breath. “I miss them. As a kid, I saw them all the time. My parents brought me here and I’d play catch with Grandpa in the backyard. He taught my dad about woodworking, which my dad passed onto me.”
“Was your dad close with him?”
