Page 45 of Paint Our Song

Miles would be hurt if it weren’t for the wide smile Calvin gives him, dimples and all.

They head back to the inn, and Miles docks the boat at the nearest pier. It’s the weekly bonfire at the inn, and the fire’s already going with a small crowd surrounding it and the usual live music beingplayed. They walk toward the bonfire, and Calvin pulls his hoodie over his head in an attempt to be more subtle.

“We don’t have to stay outside,” Miles assures him.

“I don’t mind. I just don’t like it when people make a fuss about me and ask to play my songs.”

“Because you don’t like the attention?”

Calvin blinks at him. “Well, partly, I guess. But more like Jeanette and her band’s playing songs they’ve written, and people should hear it.”

Shit.He’s adorable. Miles didn’t think his crush could get any stronger, but Calvin keeps surprising him, anyway.

“Miles!”

He looks up to see Jeff pulling away from the crowd and jogging toward him, a huge grin on his face. Miles reminds himself not to make a face, because if Jeff brings up selling the inn again, he might just lose it.

Jeff comes to a stop in front of him, nodding at Calvin politely before turning to Miles. “I was hoping to see you. Does your inn still host weddings?”

“Huh? I think so.” There hasn’t been one since he came back, but he’s pretty sure that’s because of lack of interest and not because they’ve stopped doing it. “Why? Isn’t your wedding very soon, though?”

“Yes. It’s supposed to be held in Camilla, but Bridget saw your inn on social media and got very emotional about it.” He shrugs. “She said her grandparents had their wedding here, and realized it would actually be so much more personal and sentimental if wedid, too. We’ve got all the vendors covered and would just need to move the venue to your inn.”

“Oh. Uh. When’s the date? How many guests?”

“October twenty-fifth. We’ve got two hundred on the list right now.”

Miles reminds himself not to gape. What the hell—two hundred? “That’s barely three weeks from now.”

“I know, but—hear me out. Bridget and her friends are all pretty big in the fashion industry, and this could be good publicity for your inn as well. Also, I want her to get what she wants, so I can assure you I won’t spare expenses if you give us this.”

“I’ll… see what I can do. Text me all the details,” he says.

“Thank you.” Jeff sighs and rubs his chin. “Thank your friend, that guy from that huge band. Bridget’s a fan and has been talking my ear off about all the posts he’s been making about your inn.”

From how he says this without even looking at Calvin, it’s clear he has no clue that Calvin’s the person he’s talking about—probably doesn’t follow the band as much as his fiancee does.

After Jeff returns to the bonfire, Miles turns to Calvin, who tilts his head at him.

“You’re welcome,” Calvin says with a teasing smirk, andfuck,Miles’s heart flips. It does an entire somersault.

***

Miles isn’t sure if it’s related, but after hanging out with Calvin every day, he’s able to work on his art. It’s as if a switch in him has beenflipped. He’s been suspicious about Calvin’s effect on him since a few weeks ago, when he watched him jogging down the lake and had the urge to sketch, and is even more convinced that Calvininspireshim now that he’s filling out his sketchbook.

Mom finds him in the garden one late afternoon while he’s sketching—and this time, the papers aren’t crumpled and he hasn’t frustratingly run harsh pencil marks over his drafts.

“Hi.” Mom kisses his head and sits beside him. He nods and leans toward her, and she puts an arm around him. She asks, “Is this Calvin’s band?”

“Yeah, I’m giving him a painting in exchange for his help.”

“Oh, yes, you did mention that.”

Mom looks over the pages, settling on the one she likes best—the band lounging on the couch with relaxed expressions. Chase is lying on his side, his head on Gil’s lap, his ankle resting on Calvin’s thigh, and Theo is on the furthest side of the sofa with an arm around Calvin. It’s a mash-up of several photos Calvin sent him.

She asks, “Have you shown these to him?”

“No… are they any good?”