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When she finished her post, Libby clicked on the notification at the corner of her screen. In the long list of

new followers, one name stood out. ReaganSotoCeramics. It wasn’t catchy or easy to remember. Not great for a brand.

Libby shook her head. Even the profile picture was wrong. A clay jug wasn’t distinct enough.

After kicking herself for failing to have followed each other on the socials already, she followed her and went into her profile. Pots, ceramic dishes, and the occasional sculpture littered her page. Taken against boring white backgrounds, it was hard to appreciate the beauty she’d crafted with her fingers and palms. There was a playful fluidity to her craft, but it was lost in poorly lit pictures. The more engaging posts were the ones she’d taken of her students. Libby couldn’t suppress her smile as she stopped scrolling.

Reagan posing in the middle of a pack of smiling octogenarians holding out brightly colored vases was beyond endearing. The passion oozed from her dark eyes like candlelight, and based on the picture, it was contagious. If she were a stranger pursuing her page, the image would be enough to make her sign up for a class.

Libby: We need to work on your online presence.

Reagan: What’s wrong with it? I’ve got a website and everything.

Libby: First of all, you need to have a profile picture of your face across all platforms. People are significantly more likely to engage with you if they can see you’re a real person and not a piece of pottery.

Reagan: lol . . . I suppose that makes sense. I will take it under advisement.

Libby: And take way more pictures of your classes. They get a ton of activity and they’re really sweet.

Reagan: I’ll be sure to take as many as I can tomorrow.

Libby: What’s tomorrow?

Reagan: Every few months I do a little art installation at the studio. Gives my students a chance to show o to friends and family. They love it.

Libby: Is your GF invited?

Every second that Reagan didn’t respond upped Libby’s anxiety. Had she pushed too far? Made it weird?

Reagan: Do you want to come? There aren’t any fancy foods or free champagne. I don’t know if it’s your speed.

Libby: Do you think I’m really that much of a snob?? Give me a little credit!

Reagan: I’m just trying to set appropriate expectations! I don’t want you to get here and be disappointed. It’s really simple and something I do for them, you know?

The warmth that spread through Libby’s chest should’ve been getting familiar, but it still quickened her pulse.

Libby: So . . . are you inviting me or what??

Reagan: Ms. Elisabeth Cassanova, would you like to come to my studio tomorrow afternoon?

Libby: I thought you’d never ask! By the way . . . how did we meet? At one of your art shows? Or maybe I came to take a class?

Reagan: And what . . . did we fall in love over a pottery wheel like in Ghost ?

Libby: Have you ever actually watched that movie?? That’s so not what that pottery scene is about lol.

Reagan: What . . . are all ceramic artists required to watch that movie??

Libby: Meh it’s overrated anyway. And also, a little creepy.

Spoiler alert. Patrick Swayze is dead the whole time.

Reagan: Wait . . . so when he gets it on the wheel he’s . . .

Libby: Yep. Ghost sex.

Reagan: Well now I regret not having watched it. It sounds a lot more interesting than I realized.