I adored this back-and-forth with him.
Lacing my hands casually behind my back, I came to a stop below and beside him and faced the class.
Knowing the drill by now, most of the Locc residents and other Gulf Shores community members had already claimed their seats, with the couple of stragglers taking the ones left as I spoke.
“Good morning, everyone. It’s a beautiful day to paint a beautiful man, wouldn’t you agree?”
I smiled at their whoops of agreement, amused as I recalled the way Cody had laughed when I told him about watchingGrey’s Anatomyreruns with Aunt Ari and Uncle Gil in the afternoons.
There was movement in the corner of my eye, but I kept my attention focused on the class for fear I wouldn’t be able to do so if I looked at him now.
“By popular demand, we’re doing a figure drawing class today,” I explained as I gestured to the stations set up at each easel. “There are more than just paints set out, so if you’d like to experiment with charcoal, pencil, or pastels today instead, feel free to do so. Miss Lynae chose the music to start, so when it runs out, whoever is first over there can choose the next one.”
I invited questions, and when they had none, I granted myself a look at Cody, finding him already looking right at me. As predicted, I almost couldn’t force my gaze away, riveted on the complexity of his intense expression.
“Let’s do this!” Miss Lenny called a few moments later from her easel directly in the middle. “Mr. Professor Liem, do you think the model would be so kind as to take off his shirt?”
A low, pained sound came from behind me, and I took it to heart as his answer.
“No, Miss Lenny—maybe not today. Let’s challenge ourselves and see how we fare with drawing clothing. It can be quite tricky.”
Cody’s relief was like a living, physical thing, and I swore I felt it like a caress on the back of my neck.
“Thank you, LL,” he murmured.
I swiveled on my heel and looked up at him. “Always, Dezi. Now,” I said, raking my eyes over him in a more professional way. In theory. “What kind of pose would you be most comfortable in?”
The classroom was shaped a bit oddly, with the only light coming from high, rectangular windows that lined the top of two of the four walls. The morning sun currently streamed in through them, illuminating Cody beautifully.
“Umm, I don’t know,” he answered with a frown, gripping his thighs. “Can you help me?”
“Of course I can.” My heart broke, healed, and came alive all at once at the familiar question.
I stepped closer and reached into the pocket of my pants. “I got you something for this. I think it will help.” I pulled the black-and-silver ring from my pocket and lifted it toward his hand. “May I?”
His breath caught just as a loud gasp sounded from behind us.
“Oh my stars,is he proposing?”
Smiling to myself for the hundredth time today, I ignored the class in favor of Cody, who swallowed thickly as he hesitantly lifted his hand toward me.
“It’s a fidget ring,” I explained as I grasped his palm and slid the ring onto his index finger.
He made some kind of noise in the back of his throat in response, and I paused as unexpected goose bumps raced over my body. Forcing down a shiver, I held his hand for a long moment before I dragged my gaze up to his.
His hazel eyes were molten as I tapped the top of his hand and instructed, “Watch.”
He reluctantly dropped his gaze to our hands, and I kept my eyes on him as I dragged my thumb over the silver inner ring, spinning it from within the outer black one. “It’s best if you don’t move too much for the next hour or so, but spinning this would be fine. And don’t worry, it’s just sterling silver. Nothing too fancy.”
He stared at the ring for a moment longer and then, with just a little hesitance, spun it with his thumb. His eyes lifted to mine, the greens reminding me of dense forests after heavy rainfall. “Thank you, LL.”
“You’re welcome, Dezi. Now, for the pose.”
I swept my gaze down him, then in a deliberate way, pointedly stopped after I made the track back to his shoulders.
He dropped them.
I lifted my lips in approval and met his hazel eyes again, almost getting lost in that green that was even more prominent now than it was before.
