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“Not tonight. Not on date night.”

“Another time, then.”

“For sure. I’d love your opinion on some things.”

“Okay.”

“How was work?” he asks.

“It was fine. My manager was in a meeting all day, so I didn’t have to deal with her or anyone else. I finished early and started looking for a new job,” I tell him.

“Any leads?”

“Not really. They’re hiring for some construction work, but unless I want to learn how to weld, I don’t think I’d be a good fit.”

“Probably not.”

“I’ll keep looking.”

We arrive in Maple Creek, and Luca parks in the ceramics parking lot. We hop out of his car, and he takes my hand.

“I hope you don’t expect me to actually sculpt something,” he warns me.

I laugh. “No, this is strictly painting pottery,” I assure him.

He opens the door for me as we enter. Our instructor checks us in and leads us to a table in the back corner. She explains the process before leaving us to select a piece and choose our paint colors.

Luca follows me as we examine the pottery options. I decide on a bowl, and Luca grabs the same as me.

“What are you planning on painting?” I ask as we look over the paint colors.

“I’m not sure yet. Maybe polka dots or…flowers? What’s easiest?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never done this before.”

He nods and grabs a few different colors. I decide to try my luck at making little hearts, so I grab red and white paints and head back to the table.

We talk as we work. Luca tells me about growing up with Milo, their time in school, and when he decided to join the military.

“Why the Army? Or the Rangers?” I ask as I add another coat of paint.

“I’m not a huge swimmer, so the Navy and Marines were out, and I’ve never had any interest in flying, so no Air Force. That left the Army.”

“Why go into special forces?”

“I wanted to serve my country. I wanted to make a difference,” he says quietly.

“You did,” I assure him.

“I tried.”

“You did,” I promise. “I’m sure of it.”

He nods, and we work in silence for a while, both of us getting lost in our painting.

“That looks great!” our instructor says once we’re finished. “Remember to initial the bottom with this pen.”

I flip my bowl over and write my initials, then pass the pen to Luca.