Page 41 of Painting Celia

“Of course,” he said flatly, then stalked back to the pool house.

“Not real social, is he?” Trevor asked.

Andrew began peeling the label off his beer bottle, sprawling in his chair nearly as low as Kelsey. “He’s like this when he has trouble painting.”

Celia set the beer and food on the arm of her chair and pulled her sweater tighter around her. She had trouble painting too, but was still polite.

“Is he making anything good, Celia?” Kelsey asked.

“I haven’t been in to see.”

The sliding door on the pool house grated again, but she didn’t look, eyes staring through the fire.

Something touched her head, and she jumped, her hand flying up to feel something weightless and fluttery.

A…hat? A paper hat?

León stood over her as she took it off to see. He’d cut paper into a wild fringe and folded it around a disposable bowl.

“I couldn’t paint it,” he said. “It would have taken too long to dry.” He took it from her hands and set it back on her head. “I didn’t know it was your birthday. You never said.”

León aimed a scowl at Andrew, who grinned crookedly and spread his hands. “Read the group chat sometimes.”

León’s black eyes snapped back to Celia. So, he was still annoyed with her? Was it because she’d talked back in the gallery?

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.

She held the hat on her head to look up at him. His face, seen through the silly fringe, was hard-edged in the flickering firelight.

“Yes,” she glared. What did he care, anyway?

He raised fingers to the hat, pushing aside the fringe that hid her eyes. “That’s not true, is it?”

“Man…” Andrew started. Celia looked around hopefully, but he said no more.

“It’s a thing we’re doing,” León said, still poised above her. “Emotional honesty. Or else she’ll never paint.”

Andrew and Trevor exchanged frowning glances. Kelsey turned to sit sideways in her chair, watching. No one was going to rescue her here.

Celia swallowed and gave it a shot. “I’m embarrassed that everyone’s making a fuss.”

“Why?”

“I guess I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.”

“Let’s ask them.”

Trust León to make this happen out loud! Andrew swallowed some beer as León raised his eyebrows at him.

“You don’t have to do anything,” Andrew said. “We just want to celebrate. We like you.”

Trevor fell under León’s gaze next.

“You are doing something. You’re hosting us again. Only you didn’t get to cook this time.”

Kelsey didn’t wait for León. “We want to enjoy your birthday too. Let us.”

León’s head swiveled back to Celia.

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