ashley
34 YEARS OLD
I’m not completely surprised when our night together turns into two and then three. What I am still struggling to believe is that it’s been two weeks now. She’s stayed for two weeks. We take turns at each other’s places. Right now, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Serenity is going to have to make a decision soon, though, on leaving or staying here, because I overheard her on the phone with work. They’ve been allowing her to work remotely from her computer, but she’s going to have to check back in with the office soon. So, before she leaves again, I want to make sure she’s aware of all her options. That I’m an option. Whether it be here in Sunshine Coast, or in California, as long as we’re together.
“I want to show you something,” I tell her as we ride in my truck along the back roads. After a few minutes, I park on an empty lot that looks out over the river. I’ve already got a blanket on the ground with a picnic basket. Next to that are my paint supplies and canvas.
“What’s this?” she asks as she climbs out of the truck.
“I wanted to try something different with one of my paintings. It involves you.”
“Are you going to paint me like one of those French girls?” With a dramatic flair, she throws her hair back and pouts her lips while batting her eyelashes at me.
“I’m actually proud of myself for getting your Titanic reference. But no. Go ahead and have a seat. Open up that basket and get comfortable. I’m going to stand over here and begin.”
She smiles at me as she makes herself comfortable on the blanket, opening the basket and grabbing a few grapes, a sandwich, and a bottle of water. Serenity looks out and sighs. “It’s gorgeous up here.”
“Something, isn’t it?”
“I could spend the rest of my life with this view. How come you didn’t show me this place before? Keeping it for yourself?” she teases.
I fight back a smile as I apply a coat of white on my canvas. We talk about this and that, nothing in particular, as I work on drawing what’s before me. When I’m finally satisfied with my work, I call Serenity over. She gasps and stares in awe. “That’s incredible. You’re so talented. I love your style when it comes to art. The way you add the details and brushstroke effects. Sorry, I don’t know the correct terms.”
“There are some details missing, though. If you could add a house anywhere on here, where would it be?”
She studies the land and then looks back to my painting. “Here. I think here would be the perfect place.”
“What are you thinking? Farm style? Cabin? Mansion?”
“Cabin. Two story. With a balcony to sit and drink coffee on every morning. Or a glass of wine at sunset.”
“Shutters?”
“Red.”
I chuckle and go to work. Silently, she watches me. Her arms wrap around me from behind. After a while, she whispers in my ear, “That looks like a dream.”
“Really? I think it looks like a future.” I take her arm and pull her around to sit on my lap. I go back to painting and whisper, “I can picture you planting some flowers right… here.” I pat the brush against the canvas. “Roses. And right about here, we’ll have a grassy area for the kids to play.”
“Maybe a dock? Or a big wraparound porch?”
“What else do you see? Tell me what you want, and I’ll paint our future.”
“Our future?”
“Where do you see home, Serenity?”
She turns her head to face me. “I see it every time I look at you. But… it’s not that simple.”
“This canvas is like our life. It’s ours to make it whatever we want. It’s going to get messy, mistakes are going to happen, but sometimes, those turn out to be beautiful. Just like our lives.”
“As long as you’ll keep bringing color to my world, I’ll survive all the mess.”
“I plan to have you bursting in color with every stroke—” I press my growing erection against her.
“Ashley!”
“Think I’m gonna dip my brush—”