Page 121 of All at Once

“Sure. I don’t mind taking all the credit.” Sofia raises her brows at her brother, before looking back at me. “Have you seen any pieces that stand out to you yet?”

I point toward a canvas that caught my attention just a second ago. “I think this one’s really cool. Are those raindrops?”

“No. They’re stars,” Luca chimes in.

“Are you sure? They look more like rain to me.”

He scans the bottom of the piece. “Yeah. Look. The title says it’s a photo of a galaxy.”

“I don’t know about that,” I say. “Maybe it’s just a metaphor then?”

He presses his lips together, trying not to smile. “Ametaphor? You don’t see the constellations next to the more scattered stars?”

I tilt my head forward, seeing it less and less. “Those are constellations? I thought that was a small table with two chairs next to it. Like the outside of a coffee shop during a rainy day,” I romanticize, while gesturing with my hands, to which he looks even more bewildered than a second ago.

“She’s right,” Sofia agrees. “Those don’t look like stars at all. I thought it was rain too.”

Luca rolls his eyes. “Why am I not surprised that you two agree with each other.”

“What?” I say innocently. “Isn’t art supposed to be subjective?”

Seeing him scowl on the inside without a response turns me on more than it should. It’s hot knowing how passionate he is about something like this.

When Luca and I walk away from the booth, I look at him with a smug grin. “Do you wanna know something?”

“What?” he replies, while looking at the pieces of art with such detail that’s only adding to his attractiveness.

I confess, “I find it so endearing when you get worked up about things.”

His attention shifts back to me as he smirks. “Okay. So all of your remarks this entire time have beenintentional, then?”

I lean in closer. “I’llnevertell.” As his lips remain curved, I notice a painting filled with a variety of iridescent seashells and eagerly walk toward it. “Can you take my picture next to this one?” I ask, and then giggle when Luca looks at me instead of at his phone, while taking the picture. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking your picture,” he says nonchalantly.

“How do you know the pictures are turning out okay if you’re looking atmeand not at the camera?”

“Because you’re in them.”

His comment leaves me a blushing mess as he hands me his phone. “How many did you take? 50?” I mock.

Then my lips quickly part open when I only see two photos. Both pretty great in quality, might I add.

I suddenly feel warmer at the image of him from a moment ago. He was looking at me like how you look at your crush when you think they’re not looking. Except I noticedallof it.

“I guess they’re decent,” I tease.

He laughs as we continue reveling at the artwork.

_________

Later in the afternoon, we stop by a charming eatery down the street to share some fresh paella. As Luca finishes the last bite, I see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “I kind of wish I submitted something now,” he says. “Maybe I’ll try next year.”

“Luca, that’s amazing.” Feeling beyond proud of him, I playfully add, “Although, I worry for your competition.”

He leans in, brushing his fingers over my hand from across the table we’re sitting at outside. “You don’t need to be this sweet to me. You already know I like you.”

I teasingly meet his eyes as I lean in closer. “I know. I’m just hoping for a chance to be yourmusenext time.”

---