Page 59 of Always the Baker

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Now go make some art, Hopkins.”

With a deep breath, I dipped my brush in brown paint and made the first stroke. As I worked, I could hear Brax chatting with the crowd, hyping up my art like I was already famous. He went live on his socials, which led to me getting more followers and more people showing up. His enthusiasm was infectious, and soon I lost myself in the flow of creation. The wall slowly came to life under my hands.

Hours flew by. As the sun began to set, I stepped back, realizing I’d completed a good chunk of the mural’s base layer. My arms ached, my clothes were splattered with paint, but a fierce pride burned in my chest.

“Looking good, sweetheart!” Brax was seated on a nearby bench with his guitar. He’d been strumming quietly, providing a soothing soundtrack to my work.

I grinned, wiping sweat from my forehead. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he affirmed, setting his guitar aside and walking over. He studied the wall, then turned to me with a soft smile. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

At that moment, covered in paint and standing in front of my half-finished mural, I finally started to believe it.

I set my brush down and turned to face Brax. My heart swelled with emotion.

“This feels surreal,” I admitted, gesturing to the mural. “A few months ago, I was just a graphic designer with a sketchbook. Now look at me.”

Brax chuckled. “You were never ‘just’ anything, Bill. You’ve always been extraordinary. I’m just glad the rest of the world is finally catching up.”

I playfully swatted his arm, leaving a smear of blue paint. “Smooth talker. But seriously, I couldn’t have done this without you. You pushed me to take risks, to believe in myself.”

“Hey, I just gave you a nudge. You did all the hard work,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Remember that bar where we first met? You looked so out of place, cute, but definitely out of place. But there was this fire in your eyes when you talked about art. I knew then you were something special.”

I laughed, leaning into him. “God, I was so nervous that night. And you were so intimidating with your presence. Even with you being so open and kind, I was so nervous.”

“Baby, you had nothing to be nervous about. As soon as I saw you, I wanted you. I was going to do whatever it took to make you mine. But seeing you here, living your dream... It's amazing. You’ve come so far.”

Tears filled my eyes. “We both have. You’re not exactly the same guy who used to hide behind his guitar with posts on social media created by others. You’re actually living these days and sharing more than just music with the world. You’re sharing yourself too.”

He nodded with a hint of vulnerability in his smile. “Yeah, well, having you in my life... it’s changed everything.”

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other with the weight of our journey settling around us.

Suddenly, Brax straightened up. “Shit. I almost forgot. I’ve got a surprise for you. Close your eyes.”

“Brax, what—”

“Just trust me,” he insisted with his hands covering my eyes.

I felt him guiding me, careful not to let me trip. But I did, and as he laughed, he picked me up to carry me. After a minute, we stopped, and he set me on my feet.

“Okay, open your eyes.”

I blinked, adjusting to the light. We were in a small courtyard near the mural site with fairy lights strung up in the trees. In the center was a table set for two, complete with candles and a bottle of champagne.

“Brax, what is all this?”

He grinned, looking proud of himself. “Dinner. To celebrate your success. I thought you might be hungry after all that painting.”

I threw my arms around him, overwhelmed. “It’s perfect. But I’m a mess. I’m covered in paint!”

Brax laughed, pulling me close. “You’re beautiful. Now come on, let’s eat. I’m dying to hear all about your plans for the rest of the mural.”

As we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but marvel at how far we’d come. From strangers in a bar to this moment, celebrating my dreams coming true. It wasn’t always easy, but with Brax by my side, I felt like I could conquer anything.

I gazed at Brax across the table, my heart swelling with emotion. The candlelight flickered across his face, highlighting those warm brown eyes that had captivated me the first time I saw them.

“I’ve never felt more like myself than when I’m with you.”

---