Page 77 of Forgotten Romance

“Huh” is all Mack says.

“Evening. Who do we have here?” the young waitress asks, pulling out a tablet.

“The booking is under Eiser.”

“Got it. I’ve set the lovebird seat up for you. This way.”

She leads us to a spot in the back. It has two deep chairs that feel like a hug and a wide cement table between them.

“You can get started creating art whenever you like, and I’ll be out with drinks and food soon.”

Mack’s gaze roams from her to the canvas and then over to me. “We’re painting?”

I laugh at the way his voice squeaks higher. “Sure are. Portraits of each other.”

“You’re kidding me.”

I squeeze some paint out onto the dish, having no clue what I’m doing but trying to look confident about it anyway. “The night is what we make it.”

He still looks torn, but his desire for this to go well wins out. “Fine. But I hope you know it’s going to be bad.”

“Baby, I’m counting on it.”

The soft redness that creeps up Mack’s cheeks fills me with the urge to lean over the table and kiss him. But that’s not what tonight is about. Tonight is for us to reconnect, and dammit, I’m going to make it happen.

“Read any more of that book today?”

He almost drops the black tube of paint he’s wrestling with. “Stop trying to embarrass me.”

“I’m not. I’m genuinely interested.”

His eyes narrow as he fills the dish with paint and picks up a brush. “Might have finished it.”

“Oh, really?”

“And started on the second.”

I want to laugh so bad, but I hold back. “Enjoying them, huh?”

“Yes, but it’s not what you think! The plot is really good.”

“You’re reading for the plot. Got it.”

“I am.”

I pretend to act skeptical, but Mack’s always loved fantasy-type books. The fact he was able to finish it in one night is impressive. “Told Beau you’re reading it yet?”

He shakes his head, studying me for a moment before he starts to paint. “Too awkward. Don’t think I will.”

“Eh, I’m just glad you’re enjoying it again.”

“What about you? Built anything new?”

“Hmm …” I concentrate on getting Mack’s face shape right while I work through how it felt in my shed the other day. “I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

“Well, I wanted to the other day, but when I went out there … I dunno, Mack. It didn’t feel right. That room felt like it was taking me away from you all, and I’ve done that more than enough.”

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