His smile returned. “So are you. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Showing up.”
“Helloo, Hunter!” Maude appeared, her caftan flowing behind her as she hugged his waist like they’d known each other forever. “Britt told us you did the ten-minute challenge.”
“I tried.” He turned and grabbed a manila file folder off the counter. But when he started to open it, she pinched it shut.
“Britt should be the first one to see your masterpiece.” Maude beamed, then glanced at X. “Right, dear?”
X rolled his eyes, then smiled at Britt. “Whatever you say, my love.”
“Why don’t you show him our education room, Britt,” Maude said, prodding Hunter toward her. “You two can talk about his drawing alone—I mean, without distractions.”
There weren’t any distractions in the empty store. And Britt didn’t think she was ready to be alone with him. Maude and X were supposed to be witnesses after all.
“I can show her here.” Hunter looked at Britt. “There’s notmuch to talk about anyway.” He shoved his bangs off his forehead, appearing uncertain again. “It doesn’t resemble a seashell at all.”
“I’m sure it’s better than you think.” Britt took a step toward him, not wanting him to disparage his work and get discouraged.
“Britt can give you some extra tips.” Maude put her arm around them both, and they all moved in tandem toward the education room. “I’ve been trying for years to convince her to teach classes here,” she said as they squeezed down the scrapbook and photo storage aisle.
“I prefer being online,” she mumbled. If she’d known Maude was going to be so pushy, she wouldn’t have agreed to meet Hunter here.
Maude finally dropped her arms and walked into the room. Britt and Hunter had no choice but to follow. Britt did like this room, and it was ideal for teaching all kinds of classes. Maude and X taught their fair share of them. X was an expert on sculpture, pottery, and kids’ crafts, while Maude was skilled in all paint mediums, jewelry, and yarn crafts.
“Make yourselves at home.” Maude grinned, then disappeared.
Breathe in... breathe out...
“This is a cool room.” Hunter glanced around at the art displayed on the walls, shelves, and small display cases. “Any of your pieces in here?”
She faced him, taking in his gray V-necked T-shirt, jeans with small holes in the knees, and the same boots he’d had on the other day. Again, they were all a perfect fit. “Uh...” Oh no. What had he asked her?
Hunter moved to stand in front of her, his expression serious. “We don’t have to do this,” he said. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
He seemed sincere, and his kindness helped her find herwords. “I’m always uncomfortable in new situations,” she admitted. Then she stilled. She’d never confessed how she felt to a stranger before. And that’s what they were, even though they’d exchanged messages. She didn’t know anything about him outside his questions about art and the magic words he’d written in his first message—uncomfortably comfortable.
“Been there myself,” he said. “More than once. Like now, showing a famous artist my ten-minute attempt at a scallop.”
“I’m not famous.”
“Famous enough.” He blew out a breath and presented her with the folder.
***
Hunter was surprised at how tense he was as he handed her his artwork. Tense and a little embarrassed. He’d practiced all Saturday night and also when he got off work on Sunday, rewatching her ten-minute challenge video so many times he’d lost count. With each viewing, he learned something new, and finally, three hours ago, after filling a trash bin with failed attempts, he came up with something that looked like it might live in the sea—emphasis onmight.
But this wasn’t the only time he’d been nervous since meeting her on Saturday. His anxiety had heightened throughout the weekend, and he’d had to double focus at work on Sunday so he didn’t make a mistake. What if she didn’t show up? What if she laughed at his shell? What if she showed up, didn’t laugh at his shell, but still thought he was a creep?
All that had been simmering inside him when he drove into K&Bs parking lot. When he saw her car, he was relieved, but still nervous. He was ten minutes early and glad that X had engagedhim in small talk right away. That helped calm him a little, along with whatever smell was in the air the second he walked into the store.
Then Britt appeared. Her hair was in a fluffy ponytail, and she looked comfy in her casual T-shirt and jeans. But her expression was what had him back on edge. She was tense—extremely so—and her wide-eyed stare had unnerved him a little. When Maude suggested they go to the education room, she looked like a deer standing in front of headlights.
She might have shown up, but he was sure she didn’t want to be here.
Even now as she looked up at him, then back at the folder, she seemed at a loss. He’d tried to set her at ease by sympathizing with her. He really did understand. Since he was a kid, he’d learned how to hide his insecurity with a veneer of bravado.
