Page 23 of Perfectly Imperfect Us
I pulled a pink petunia from the hanging flower baskets that lined the white overhang in front of the art shop and tucked it behind Ava’s ear. She bit her lip, her hazel eyes twinkling. The breeze kicked up and sent a few strands of her dark hair flying, the smell of summer surrounding us and making me wish to stop time. I completely forgot what I was about to say to her, struck dumb by the beauty of the moment. Ava lifted an eyebrow and I knew if I didn’t find my train of thought fast, she’d kick me off the tracks with some sassy comment that would make me even more enamored with her.
“Hey, I just want to be clear about my intentions. I won’t write an essay about it or anything.” I smiled wryly remembering how she teased me about kissing her. “I know there’s more to you than the face you show the world and I want to get to know that girl. There’s more to me than some model in a magazine and I hope you want to get to know me too.”
Ava’s hand came to rest on my chest, her touch causing my heartbeat to speed, a fact she could easily pick up on. “Relax, Ryder. I wouldn’t be here at all if I didn’t want the same thing. Having you see me yesterday was, well, it was terrifying. But it was equally amazing. So thank you for that.” She glanced through the windows of the art studio. “And thank you for planning this date.”
I slid my hands over her hips, pulling her into me gently. She tilted her head back and I leaned down, kissing her simply and all too quickly. We were in broad daylight and I couldn’t maul her in public. Thankfully no one had recognized me yet, but that was a probability I had to think of. I didn’t want anyone taking our picture and pulling Ava into the spotlight when she didn’t want that.
“Hey, lovebirds. Your slab of clay is drying out,” a friendly voice called from the doorway behind Ava.
We jumped apart and Ava’s cheeks heated. We followed the woman inside the art studio, but I made sure to whisper in Ava’s ear before we sat at our work stations.
“I love when you blush. Even your neck gets in on the action.”
She sucked in a breath and smacked me on the arm. “I swear, this makeup is just failing me left and right.”
I shrugged. “Can’t keep a good woman hidden.” I smiled up at the instructor, ready to get started on our art project. With Ginnie’s help, I intended to help facilitate a change in Ava, starting today. I wanted her to see herself like I saw her. Honestly, when I first caught sight of her skin color, I’d been intrigued, wanting to know what other secrets she held back. In my mind, the vitiligo just made her more unique. The airbrushed models didn’t do it for me. They seemed fake and not-quite-human in their perfection. Give me imperfect, but real.
“Okay, welcome to Art-by-the-Sea. We do all kinds of art here, but today is my favorite. Clay pottery.” The instructor clapped her hands and then grabbed some brightly colored fabric on the table in front of her. “And here are your blindfolds.”
“Wait, what?” Ava nearly came out of her metal chair, looking ready to fight.
“I’ll let you take the pink scarf.” I took the bright blue one from our instructor’s hands, not at all worried, having known this was part of the class.
I once did a photoshoot fully blindfolded while riding a horse. How hard could pottery be? Ava didn’t seem to have the same experience I did with blindfolds, considering the pout on her pretty lips while the instructor helped tie the scarf behind her head. I put mine on, glad she couldn’t see the smile splitting my face.
“Today is all about feeling. Not seeing. Okay, let’s begin by placing our hands on the lump of clay before you and letting it warm with your own body heat. Really dig your fingers in like you’re a kid again, playing with mud in the backyard. Don’t worry, I won’t yell at you for getting messy like your mom would.” The instructor giggled at her own joke and I for one, couldn’t wait to see what handmade treasures we came out of this class with. As much as I enjoyed seeing Ava, I couldn’t wait to dive into my other senses with her.
* * *
“So, what is it exactly?” I asked, staring at Ava’s lump of clay. It didn’t look that much different than when we showed up to the art studio. A two-hour class and that’s all she made? I held in the laugh, seeing the serious expression on her face.
“It’s a little vase to put a single flower in.” She held up her palm, the shiny clay there leaning heavily to one side like the Tower of Pisa after an earthquake.
We’d just finished dinner and stopped by the art studio to pick up our pieces that had gone a round in the kiln while we ate. Despite having vastly different experiences the last twelve years since we’d both lived in Nickel Bay, we’d had plenty to talk about over dinner. I didn’t want the night to end.
Tugging on her hand, the one that had been laced with mine the whole time we walked down the cobblestone sidewalk after dinner, I pulled her to a stop. The balmy night air came off the ocean with a cool breeze and the unmistakable scent of summer. The day had been perfect, exactly the type of date I’d always wanted to go on but couldn’t seem to produce. Maybe it was the location, but I leaned as heavily as Ava’s vase into the notion that it was the woman I was with.
“Let’s stay here tonight. I can get a room with double beds and we can make this night last a little longer.” I didn’t think before I blurted it out.
Ava sucked in a deep breath, her eyes softening. A strand of hair blew into her face and I reached up to tuck it behind her ear.
“I’m going to have to buy you a headband or something,” I muttered.
She huffed out a laugh. “Why did you have to turn out so sweet?”
I tilted my head. “I’m sorry?”
She laughed again and I knew that had to be the best sound in the world. “I’d love to make this date last longer, so as long as you can promise me two beds and a line down the middle of the room that you won’t cross over, then let’s do it.” She shrugged. “It’s our first date, you know. I can’t be selling out so quickly.”
I slammed my lips down on hers, not willing to give her a second to rethink her decision. She kissed me back, pressing every gorgeous curve of her body into mine, taking the kiss from innocent to dark and heated in a split second.
Somehow, someway, we finally made it to a little hotel not far from the art studio between stolen kisses under the moonlight. They had a room available and with a short fight over who’d pay for it—I won—we were in our room.
I couldn’t have said what the furnishings looked like or what the view from the window held. My gaze was locked on Ava, afraid that if I blinked, she’d be gone and this magical night would end.
Ava sat down on one of the beds and slipped her shoes off. I followed her lead, coming to sit on the opposite bed, our knees almost touching in the small space. She gave me a shy smile and dug her phone out of her tiny purse.
“Let me just send a text to my parents so they know I’m not coming home tonight.” She thumbed out a text and then looked up, cringing. “I told them I’m with Skylar. It would be too much to explain about being here with you.”
