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My oil pastel rendition of Nolan turned out no better than a kindergartner’s stick figures, and in Nolan’s colored pencil portrait of me, my head and boobs are disproportionately larger than the rest of my body.
Yet still, he paid an extortionate amount of money to get our artwork framed in big, overpriced wooden frames. As he loaded them into the trunk of his SUV, he promised to hang my portrait on his bedroom wall along with Stella’s drawing collection where he can see it every day.
Although this evening has been so much fun, there’s been a raincloud over my heart this whole time. I can't figure Nolan out. What he said last night? About missing me when I leave? The way he wrote I love you with his fingertips on my skin? It spoke to me. Called to me.
But it hurts that he couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud. I really wish he’d be honest with how he feels, with whatever it is that he truly wants out of our relationship.
I’m absolutely in love with this man. And although he won’t say it, I know that he loves me back.
Our situation is exhilarating. It’s also scary as fuck. A part of me wants to explore all the possibilities, to allow myself to be saturated by this feeling. But another part of me wants to curl up in a little ball and tuck my heart away in a safe place where he’ll never find it, where he can’t ever break it.
Despite the confusion brewing inside of me, I try to keep up my happy face. Now, we’re strolling around the festival grounds, enjoying the works of our Starlight Falls friends.
“Ooh! Let’s go over there!” I tug Nolan to where a small crowd has gathered around Rainbow’s husband, Jimmy.
The sullen lumberjack is known around town as a man of few words and many talents. On paper, he earns his living as a farmer. But in addition to being one of the most gifted guitar players around, he’s made a name for himself as a skilled artist, too.
As we approach, the crowd is cooing in wonder and admiration as Jimmy sits at his easel, stroking his paintbrush across a large canvas.
“This is an absolute Renaissance-style masterpiece,” I hear the local sheriff declare.
The mayor nods in agreement. “Right along the lines of The Birth of Venus and The Creation of Adam and The Mona Lisa.”
Rainbow blushes as her husband puts the finishing touches on the painting. “Jimmy calls this piece The Garden of Eden, Reimagined.”
When I finally lay my eyes on the painting, my jaw hits the ground. It’s a portrait of a heavily-bearded middle-aged man and a bejeweled hippie woman with multicolored hair. The couple is just lounging together on a rock in a dense, vibrant rainforest, surrounded by lush vegetation and feeding each other fruit.
Completely nude.
No loins or foliage covering up their private bits. None of that. The goods are just hanging out there for all to see.
Jimmy turns to the crowd and grins, confirming my suspicions. “My lovely wife is my muse, my inspiration.” When he kisses her hand, Rainbow blushes like she just won a beauty pageant.
While the crowd continues to swoon over the painting, Nolan lowers his head, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. “This town will be the death of me.” The poor guy looks traumatized.
I stifle a laugh. Oh my god. Starlight Falls is such a great town. I’m really going to miss it. “I think I need another drink. Do you need another drink?”
“I totally need another drink,” he confirms.
Fingers still interlocked, we take off again. Halfway to the makeshift bar, I hear someone calling my name.
“Inez! Inez!” I turn and spot Thalia across the festival grounds. She’s with a small group of friends, sitting on the curb with their sketchpads propped on their knees.
“Oh, hi, hun!” I wave at her, pulling Nolan along behind me. “Come, babe. I want you to meet someone very special.”
I introduce Nolan and Thalia, and she shows us some of the drawings from her sketchbook. They’re really impressive. She’s so talented. Drawing truly is her niche. I’m glad she has this outlet for expressing herself.
“Well, it was really nice seeing you.” Thalia closes her sketchbook and gives me a hug.
“It was,” I say, squeezing her tighter. “We should try to hang out before I leave town. If not, you’ve got my phone number.”
“I do. I’ll text you. Bye.” She waves at us.
Nolan gives her a little nod. Then he and I walk off, hand in hand, toward the bar. We join the back of the line and wait to be served. It’s nice to be on the other side of the beer counter for once.
“I still can’t believe we took a Saturday off of work to be here,” I say as I people-watch from the line.
Nolan hooks his arm around my waist to smack my butt. “No work talk tonight. The bar doesn’t exist right now.” He slips his hands into the back pockets of my denim cut-offs. He grabs two greedy handsful of my ass and pulls me closer to him.
