If- Nina G. Jones Page 0,44

and wanted.”

“Well, seeing as he just came in looking like he was attacked by a rainbow and it was a draw, I can tell he’s got something wild about him. He’s weird, and I mean that in the whole interesting mysterious artist way.”

“Yeah . . . I dig that he’s different.” I shrugged as I turned to pull the food out of the microwave and smiled secretly to myself. I liked that Ash was hard to figure out. It made me feel special being the only person he had even remotely let in.

“So. How big is his—”

Just then, Ash walked out of the bathroom wearing his boxers and one of his white tees. He looked fresh and his tan made his sage eyes pop. I caught myself staring at Ash a few more beats than I should have as someone who was trying to play it cool. He was just so easy on the eyes.

Jordan and I pretended to be engaged in our separate activities. When I glanced his way, Jordan gave me a knowing smirk.

“I brought you some food,” I said to Ash.

“Thank you,” he mouthed like it was our secret, and then he took one bite and left the rest of the food on the plate.

“Alright Jordan, show me what ya got,” Ash said.

“Let me think.” Jordan strummed a few times. Then he started playing Smashing Pumpkin’s “1979,” complete with vocals. Jordan was no Billy Corgan, but he could hold a note just fine.

“Niiiiice,” Ash said. This side of him was so fun. He was engaging and affable and energized. I loved that he could be either pensive or outgoing depending on his mood.

Ash pulled me over, spinning me, making me squeal with laughter. He drew me in close, so that I collapsed onto his chest, and whispered in my ear. “Let’s add to our tree.”

He carelessly squeezed some red and yellow on the palette and agitated them with the brush. Just like the last time, he guided my hand from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. I laughed as he dotted the paper with orange leaves through my hands. His chin rested on the side away from Jordan and he snuck in faint kisses on my neck that tickled and made me giggle as he swayed his hips from side to side with me. It was like he was drunk on us, and I was comforted in not being alone in that. The music and the painting flowed and I forgot for a second Jordan was there, but not in an exclusionary way. In fact, Jordan was seamlessly part of the scene, his music floating in the air around us.

Jordan closed out the song, and Ash pulled away.

“Do you mind?” Ash asked him.

“Not if you don’t mind me cutting in with the lady.”

“As long as she doesn’t mind,” Ash replied playfully.

I instantly recognized the first few notes. I didn’t even know Ash could play the guitar. And how could he know I loved that song? He couldn’t have known that. It’s just that we both liked a lot of the same things.

Jordan stuck out his hand, and I accepted with a curtsey. He playfully guided me in a simple two step, as Ash sang the song, but replaced “Layla” with “Birdie.”

As if Ash couldn’t be more brooding and hot, now he’s singing me a song.

Like Jordan, Ash was no Eric Clapton, but his voice was smooth. Ash could play the guitar surprisingly well. I remembered him telling me once that he could see different colors and shapes corresponding with notes and chords and I wondered if that helped him learn to play.

Jordan chimed in on the chorus along with Ash. I had these two wonderful guys singing to me that I had them on their knees and I was filled to the brim with love and light. Jordan led me in dance so that I felt like I was gliding, barely touching the ground. When they sang my name I giggled. I could feel my cheeks changing color from being the center of their attention. Every time Jordan sang the chorus, he would crouch a little bit so we were eye to eye and pretended to beg me pitifully as he sang.

We spent the next few hours lazily sprinkling leaves on the tree, dancing and singing.

I didn’t have much, but at that moment, I felt like this was as good as life got. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

That night was magic.

BIRD

“PSSST .