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Chapter 20

Ruben

With our heads down, we hurried toward the museum entrance. The icy wind whistled around our ears, and it had started to drizzle.

“That was simply delicious,” I said for approximately the hundredth time.

Shane leaned lightly against me. “Who would’ve thought that beetroot risotto could taste that extraordinary? I’ve rarely eaten anything so delicious. The only thing that can compete with it is walking beside me.”

I jerked my head up and narrowed my eyes. “Stop it,” I hissed, trying in vain to suppress my grin.

“I’m glad the restaurant still took us after we were almost twenty minutes late.”

“Mhm.” I shook my head slightly, weighing up the situation. “We didn’t have to make out.”

“Yes, we did,” he continued undeterred. “I’m not going to pass up an opportunity to make out with you teenager style.”

My smile was stapled to my face today. Even if I thought such things, I would never say them out loud. That was what attracted me to Shane. Yes, he was different from me. But that was what I needed. Desperately. His comments might seem flippant to outsiders. But for me, they contained the right dose of solvent to loosen up my sticky thoughts. My chest turned warm. But because I was the way I was, I didn’t respond to Shane’s flirting but shared my concerns with him. “We can be glad the deputy turned a blind eye. Someone else would have reported us for public indecency.”

I was shocked when the police officer knocked on our window, I had hit my head on the car roof. But it was his interruption that saved us our table at the restaurant.

A line had formed in front of the museum entrance, and we shifted from one foot to the other.

Shane put his arm around my waist. “Thanks for taking me to the restaurant. I really enjoyed it.”

I turned to him that our faces were almost touching. “You’re welcome! I’m glad you did.”

Shane closed the last bit of distance between us and rubbed our noses together. “I’m always interested in new things. I love to broaden my horizon.”

I closed my eyes and enjoyed Shane’s breath as it brushed against my skin. “I like routine.”

Shane backed away slightly. “Then I keep my fingers crossed you’ll like the exhibition. It would be a real shame if the second part of the date was a flop.”

Date. We were on a date. Officially. “It’ll be fantastic. Either way.”

Shane took my elbow and pulled me forward. The line finally moved, and we made it to the entrance area.

Relieved, we took off our scarves and opened our jackets. After handing everything in at the coat check, Shane paid for us and we entered the exhibition.

Although the word “exhibition” didn’t do justice to what awaited us there.

It was an experience. With our first step, we found ourselves surrounded by the works of Beauford Delaney. They enveloped us. The mood, the expression, the power were multiplied by the intense projections.

Music reinforced the impressions. We went from room to room. Sometimes thoughtful. Sometimes light, as if I were floating. But always deeply impressed by the colors, the complexity and simplicity of the images.

I paused at one light installation. The image Scattered Light colored the walls, ceiling, and floor. I turned around. Slowly at first. Then faster.

It felt as if the splashes of color were penetrating me. Filling me with color.

I stood there overwhelmed.

Shane laughed and held me by the arm. “Good?”

Still grinning, I shook my head. “This reminds me of a kaleidoscope. It’s fascinating.”

“Overwhelming . . . good?” he asked again.

I took a step toward him and tapped his chest lightly. “Of course it’s good. Fantastic.”