He remembered Javier. They even spoke fromtime to time, but seeing him with Chantelle brought up memories.Sometimes he spotted Chantelle talking to him in high school.Javier had eyes for her then. Not much had changed.
“I’ll leave her alone,” Grant said.
“Want me to check it out?” Lance asked. Thegroup stared, and he shrugged. “What?”
“She’s your ex. You don’t think that’ll beobvious.” Pete pointed out.
Grant sighed. “Don’t worry about it. I’m gladshe’s getting out there. She deserves happiness and not worryingabout her job all the time.”
“Her job’s not going well?” Lance figuredthat was all behind her. Was something else going on that Chantelledidn’t tell him?
Grant sipped from his glass. “She claims noone takes her seriously.”
“She can write somewhere else,” Lance said.“There are other magazines out there. All she needs to do is sendout resumes.”
“Sounds simple to me.” Pete agreed.
Grant’s forehead wrinkled. “She’s not doingthat. I love my sister, but she’s stubborn. She’s never backed downfrom a challenge.”
Lance nodded, recalling his own conversationwith her. Though his skin itched at seeing her with another man, hekept his distance and even allowed Pete to change the subject.
“So… bachelor party.” Pete rubbed his handstogether. A snake tattoo curved around one of his tanned arms.
Craig added. “I got it all planned out as wesay goodbye to another member of the group.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grant asked,his mouth quirking up.
Craig gestured between Lance and Grant. “Youtwo are off the market. Once you’re married, the fun’s over.”
Grant gulped his drink. “I disagree. It’sonly the beginning for me.”
Pete asked. “What does that mean?”
Grant gave a slight smile. “It means,everything I thought it was, I was wrong. Spending every day withElise is amazing. She loves me for me. I love her. It’s hard, butworth it.”
“Elise is an incredible woman.” Pete thenswallowed a fried pickle. He nudged Craig’s shoulder. “This one’sjust jealous.”
“Not jealous,” Craig replied. “It didn’t workout for me and Cassie, but it’s cool. I’m over her. I’m planning alife with Sylvia.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re over it to me,”Lance said.
Craig continued. “I missed the woman for awhile, but she went her own way, and I went mine. Case closed. Imet Sylvia and I look forward to the future with her.”
Pete bobbed his head. “So what’s all thattalk about the fun being over?”
Craig dismissed his comment with a shove tohis friend’s shoulder. “It’s a big deal, okay? I want to make sureI’m ready.”
Lance looked over at Chantelle once more.Despite the dim lighting, she glowed. Facing the bar again, henoted his own reflection in the mirrored wall behind the bar. Heclutched his half empty glass as the laughter of the crowd echoedin his ears.
“What do you think, Lance?” Pete asked.
“What?” Lance said, straightening in hischair.
“More fried pickles?” Grant asked, lifting aneyebrow. “You okay?”
Lance sipped the remaining liquid left in hisglass. “Sure.” He wouldn’t turn around to look at Chantelle again.“Everything’s fine.”
***
The following evening Chantelle admired thecolor-coded paint tubes on the shelf and the adjustable easel inthe center of the room. A nearby table had sketch paper with a jarfor pencils, markers, and pencil crayons. The fan whirred while thefaint sounds of ambient sounds played in the background. Paints andoils filled the air along with pencil shavings. Inching closer tothe table, Chantelle felt the smooth spindle of a paintbrush.
“What do you think?” Javier asked.
“I like it.” She moved to where he stood infront of the easel. The canvas was blank. “You haven’t startedyet?”
Javier held a brush out to her. “Afteryou?”
Chantelle shook her head. “Oh, no.” Shestepped back. “I’m not an artist.”
“It can be abstract. No judging, I promise.”He smiled.
A slow smile built on her lips. She inchedcloser and took the brush from his hand. “I don’t know what todraw.”
“How about a bird?” Javier suggested.
“I don’t know how,” she said.
Javier stood close behind her and placed hisfirm hand over hers. He dipped the brush into the paint and broughttheir hands to the canvas.
“Start with a teardrop.” He instructed her.“This will be the head.”
Chantelle let him lead her with the brushstrokes, listening as the brush swiped the paper. Drawing theteardrop, they dipped the brush into more of the navy blue paint.Were they painting a blue jay? Either way, she swallowed andfollowed his lead. Her body went still with his breath at herear.
They had talked on the phone the last fewdays, getting to know each other better. Chantelle saw Javier had apassion for art. He loved creating pieces that reflected the worldas he saw it. It was breathtaking to see his paintings scatteredacross his studio.
She also discovered his genuine heart. He wasa man of his word. Javier didn’t keep her guessing either. She knewhe was interested in her. If only the gnawing feeling wasn’t in thepit of her stomach. What was missing? She liked him. He was a niceguy. He treated her better in their short time together than Bryceever did.
Chantelle blinked, focusing her eyes on thepainting. Still, the thought wouldn’t leave her mind. She was withan incredible man. Why wasn’t it enough somehow? Was she expectingtoo much too soon? She sighed. Perhaps they needed more time.Javier deserved that much for being the gentleman he was.
“So far, so good?” He asked.
“Uh, huh.” The hairs on the back of her neckraised. The intimacy of the moment. No denying it. With him soclose, all she had to do was lean into his embrace. Chantelle kepther composure.
“Now we’ll draw the body.” He swooped thebrush in the form of an “S.” Chantelle followed his movements,staring at the canvas as it came to life with a bird. Once theyfinished the wings, Javier stepped away from her and allowed her tofill in the bird with more colors.
“What do you think?” She asked.
“Looks great,” he said. “See, that wasn’t sobad.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, but a grinescaped her lips. “Thank you.”
Javier wiped his hands with a paper towel andhanded a piece to Chantelle. Wiping her hands clean, she admiredher artistic skills.
“I guess it’s not too bad.” She smiled as hereyes squinted at the painting.
“That’s what
