Page 37 of Hera

Augustine couldn’t resist the surge of love he could feel welling up inside him.

She is so perfect.

So enthusiastic.

A joy to be around.

I need to tell her.

I have already fallen in love with her.

To go another week without telling her about my dragon would be torture.

He opened his mouth to get her attention when Phoebe began to speak. He sat back, determined to be patient and not spoil Hera’s fun.

I can tell her afterward.

“We’re going to start by sketching out the basic shapes of the scenery,” Phoebe said. “You will need your pencil for this, not paint.”

Picking up his pencil, he watched Hera pout as she changed her tool. “You’ll get to use them both,” he whispered encouragement.

She stuck her tongue out at him and he chuckled.

“Start with the horizon line. You want to make that just above halfway up your page.” Phoebe demonstrated on her canvas. “Next the shoreline. Give yourself some space to work with both the water and the land.”

Augustine tried to put his lines where the instructor told them and was moderately impressed by his success.

“Now, we’re going to sketch out the foliage. Just make roundish shapes. Don’t make them perfect or symmetrical. They’re only there to give you an idea of where to put your color.”

Beside him, Hera was bent so close to her canvas that her nose almost touched the fabric. Augustine nudged her ankle with his foot. “It does not have to be perfect,” he reminded her. “Have fun with it.”

“Right.” Hera blew out a long breath. “I’m not very good at this. I think I’m nervous about not being perfect in front of you.”

“Why?” Augustine asked, surprised. “I would rather know the real you than some fabricated perfect image of you. The one that brings rotten food on a picnic, that falls off her mare, that sends a complete stranger an invitation to her bed...” He winked and took one of her hands in his and stroked the soft skin on the back. “The woman who I am falling in love with is perfect forme, not perfection.”

Hera smiled at him. “You’re perfect for me, too.” She leaned closer to him and added in a whisper, “Although you’re pretty close to perfection.”

Augustine scoffed. “I am not. I—”

Phoebe started talking again, reminding him that they were not alone. “Remember, you’re sketching, not painting the nextMona Lisa. Now, we can start to work with color. We’re going to start with the darkest darks and the lightest lights. Use a dark brown and just give the foliage a nice thin coat right at the edge. Then, on the opposite side of that, give it some white. We’re drawing a sunset, so you can really lean into the shadows, but don’t forget that the last light of day will be making it all glow on the other side.”

The group followed the guidance of the instructor as the simulated sun set, illuminating the landscape with brilliant red, pinks, and oranges. At the end, each of them had completed paintings that, in Augustine’s opinion, looked incredible.

“What are you going to do with your painting?” Hera asked him as they walked hand-in-hand back down the stairs to the foyer.

“Hang it in my room,” Augustine replied. “I am very proud of myself. What about you?”

“I think I’ll ask Demi if I can put it on the wall of the bakery,” Hera replied. “I think it would look nice above the coffee station.”

“That would—” He was cut off by a shrill ringtone.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Hera frowned as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I put that on ‘Do not disturb,’ so only emergency calls would get through... Oh!” Her expression cleared as she read the screen. “Chloe’s baby is coming! I have to hurry. I’m sorry to cut our date short—”

“We have to go, now.” Augustine quickened his pace and held the front door for her. “Chloe needs you.”

CHAPTER11

Hera gaveAugustine a quick kiss at her door and ran inside, changing her clothes with a snap of her fingers into something more comfortable for being up all night. She grabbed a bag off a hook and started filling it with little bottles. Then she remembered she hadn’t replied to the text.

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