Page 76 of Paint Our Song

“Got it.” Chase winks.

When Calvin shuts the door behind him, Chase’s laugh is loud even through the walls.

Chapter Twenty

Days pass by so quickly and when they’re not hanging out, Miles is actually able to sketch. It doesn’t feel like a chore to actually make art, and it’s all thanks to Calvin.

Though it would probably be better if he could sketch anything other than Calvin and cats. If he could work on the painting of the band, and of other pieces for the gallery, that would be great. Still, it’s progress.

Sadly, the band’s leaving that weekend because of a gig, and Miles would rather not think about that yet. That’s two more days with Calvin in town. He at least knows that whatever this is will change as soon as Calvin leaves town, and they’ll no longer be in their small little bubble.

For now, Miles is going to enjoy it.

He must have spaced out because he’s thinking about Calvin’s stupidly hot, tattooed arms when Gabby snaps her fingers to get his attention.

“Can you go downtown today?” She points at the seventeenth item on the wedding checklist. “I can’t reach the contact person for the wedding rentals. It says their phone’s out of service. I want to make sure they’re going to deliver it right on time tomorrow.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Be sure to be here tonight. Need to make sure their rehearsal dinner goes great. So, don’t spend all day with Calvin again, maybe.”

“Shhhh.” His face heats.

Miles yelps when she punches him on the arm. Gabby seems to have more to say but then the main door opens and she stands on her tiptoes and peers over his shoulder. “Hi, Matthew! Hi, Meg!”

“Hey,” Matthew calls out. He’s got boxes in his arms that go up to his nose, and so does Megan. Gabby and Miles immediately get up to help them out. The boxes smell great—sweet and tart.

Greeting them, Megan pulls her laptop out and takes a seat as the rest of them get right to work setting up the dessert display. Miles moves quickly and energetically, much more than usual, and Matthew studies him a second too long as he passes him boxes to put away.

Miles’s phone buzzes, and he quickly pulls it out, his face splitting into a grin. It’s a text message from Calvin, asking what he’s up to today.

Me: Need to run errands downtown :’D

Cat-Vin: Can I tag along?

Peering at him from over the dessert display, Matthew smirks. He asks, voice low enough so Megan won’t overhear, “You’re seeingsomeone.”

He splutters uselessly, staring at Matthew in alarm. Gabby, who’s next to Miles, snickers.

“Are you going to share with the class?” Matthew turns to Gabby. “I take it you already know.”

Gabby winks. “I neither confirm nor deny the allegations.”

Matthew guffaws. Miles finds it weird, talking about this with Matthew. It’s weird and also nice. There doesn’t seem to be any bitterness in Matthew’s expression. Maybe they really have moved on from each other and are in a much better place.

“Good for you, Miles,” Matthew says, too sincere.

“Thanks,” he mumbles, going back to his phone to see if Calvin’s replied.

Gabby peeks at Miles’s phone. “You need to change Calvin’s name on your phone. It’s not as funny as you think.” And just like that, she’s exposed who he’s texting, and Matthew’s eyebrows raise by a fraction. She snaps her head up when she realizes her mistake. “Shit, I’m sorry, Miles.”

“It’s cool,” Miles says with a shrug. He is, however, thankful that Megan’s still engrossed in her own work and oblivious to their conversation. At least she’s not part of this. “Stop teasing me so much, though—geez.”

“Okay. My bad. You do need to change his name, though.”

“Why? I like it.” Calvin probably has him saved as “Miles Curtis from Hannah’s Inn”, which makes the silly Cat-vin nickname even funnier to him, only because Calvin seems like the type of guy to be that formal. Then there’s Miles, who has his contact saved under the most juvenile nickname he could think of.

Across the lobby, the elevator doors open, and Calvin steps out. Miles stands up straighter, his heart jumps, and a grin spreads across his face. He doesn’t miss how his friends smirk at each other.