Page 75 of Finding Romance
“Ready for the big show?” he asks me.
I nod. “Almost. You’re coming, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. How is the happy couple today?” he asks as he looks from Kasen to me.
Kasen pulls me against him. “Good. We’re just heading over to the gallery now to check on a few things,” he says.
“Did you hear the rumor about the corporate coffee place moving into our block?” Hutch asks Al.
“No, I hadn’t heard anything,” Al says with a surprised look.
I take a bite of muffin and moan. “Cam, there’s no way a corporate place can compete with these muffins. What do you put in them, crack?” I ask.
“Yes, it’s why they are so highly addictive,” she says deadpan.
I giggle. “That explains everything.”
“Come on, artist, let’s go,” Kasen says to me, and I smile up at him, loving my latest nickname.
“See you guys at happy hour?” I ask.
They all nod and we walk out to Kasen’s car. It’s only a two-minute drive to the gallery. He parks out front and we walk inside. I take a long moment to look at my work. I can’t believe I’m getting my own exhibit.
Kasen comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. “You did good, artist. It looks amazing,” he says. “I’m so proud of you.”
We walk around and I check the placement of a few pieces. And then we get to the one I wanted him to see first. It’s a piece I’ve been working on when I can spare a few minutes from him.
He stops in his tracks and looks up at it. “It’s…how…when?”
I grin. “When you were busy working.” He walks over to it and examines it more closely. It’s a portrait of us curled up in bed, the sun shining through a window. You can’t really tell it’s us unless you look closely.
I see the moment that he finds the little placard with the name of the piece. He turns to me and grins, and I grin back. Then he takes two steps toward me and takes me into his arms, kissing me deeply. He gives me one final peck and leans back, looking over again at the name of my painting.
“I’m buying this one,” he says. “Finding Romance is coming with us on Saturday.”
