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“Good,” he said, taking the shot and swallowing it down, wincing at the burn of the whiskey.
Now that we were ready I unlocked the car and got out, most of them following. Collin helped Ellie out, then moved the seat to let Bear out as well, helping him without hesitation. It was nice to see Collin no longer holding himself back. They’d have an easier time getting to know each other if they didn’t let awkwardness get in the way.
“You’re being a creeper,” Ellie hissed, turning me around as she hooked her arm in mine. “Don’t stare.”
“Our little Collin is branching out, this is a big deal,” I whispered back. Her laughter was adorable. Ellie didn’t drink often so she was already loosening up with the first shot.
“This was a good idea,” she said. “These are so much fun. I did one with Tori right after I got my job in the city. It was insane.”
“You, Tori, wine, and paint? That sounds like chaos,” I laughed.
“Oh, it was,” she assured me.
The moment Ezra opened the door I was hit with the scent of paint. The front room was full of canvases and supplies, several rooms branching from that.
“There you are!” Cindy called out. “Is this your pack?” She was wearing paint-stained overalls and her hair was in a messy bun. Definitely a difference between her usual business attire I saw at the real estate office.
I nodded and grinned at her. She was a bubbly omega who I’d helped out a few times so she jumped on the opportunity to return the favor.
Not that I expected anything in return. It was in my nature to try and help or fix things when I could. Which was exactly why I took the lead on tonight’s date.
“A fine-looking bunch. You already chose your painting, so everything is set up in the fantasy room.” She pointed to the right. The room beyond was painted with a mural of a forest, the tables a solid wood and the canvases already set up for us. Fairy lights and mythical creatures peaked out between the trees, giving it a whimsical feel that fit the name of the establishment.
“Thank you, I appreciate the save,” I told her, giving her a wink that had her waving me off with an eye roll.
“Stop that flirting, you’re mated and I’ve got a lovely girl at home,” she teased. “You’ve got until close, no rush! The wine is already opened and waiting for you.”
“Do we have an instructor?” Collin asked as we all walked into the waiting room.
“I opted out so we had some privacy. That’s also why we’re all in a circle like this,” I said, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
Ellie started singing Kumbaya under her breath and Ezra shot her a glare before turning it on me.
“I hate you,” Ezra muttered.
“At least this way we can’t see everyone’s work until the end,” I offered in my defense.
“And there’s wine,” Ellie said, waving to the three bottles sitting on the front desk, white, red, and sparkling. She went up and grabbed the sparkling, filling her glass first. “Anyone else want sparkling?”
“Hell yes,” Dean said. She poured his then glanced around before putting it back.
“White? Red?” she offered the rest of us.
“I’ll pour red,” Collin offered, taking it and handing her the white wine. They had everyone’s cups full in a moment and I sipped the white wine before bothering with the paint pallet in front of me.
“So, it’s supposed to be…” Bear trailed off, tilting his head to the side. “A beach?”
Ellie mimicked his movement as she tried to look at the lines drawn on her canvas. “And moonlight or sunlight? We get to do what we want, right?”
“We do,” I said. “There’s the finished product.” The beach with palm trees and a sunset was hanging on the wall, painted with precision. I knew ours would look nothing like this.
“I’m waiting until I finish at least one glass of wine,” Ezra said. “Then I won’t have to worry about how terrible my art is.”
“I’m taking mine slow since I’m driving,” I said. “I’ll have no excuse when mine is terrible.”
“Nothing is considered terrible when it comes to art. Tell me we can make a collage of our pictures for the pack house. Maybe the dining room or something?” Ellie said with a grin.
“We’ll discuss it,” Collin said. “I’m not putting them up if it looks like a kindergarten classroom.”
