Nate's confession to Lia marked a turning point, yet the following days weren't as seamless as the moment they shared. Relationships, he realized, weren't like paintings. They didn't come with a plan or a clear direction. And for someone like Nate, who had built his life around control and solitude, the uncertainty was both thrilling and terrifying.
But Lia? She was patient, understanding in ways that only deepened his admiration for her.
The first test of their budding relationship came one rainy afternoon in Cedarwood. Nate had been holed up in his studio, trying to complete a commission for a private collector. The deadline was looming, and the pressure gnawed at him, fraying his already thin patience.
When Lia arrived, she was carrying two steaming cups of coffee and wearing her usual warm smile.
"Thought you could use a break," she said, setting the cups down on a table.
"I'm kind of busy," Nate replied, his voice sharper than he intended.
Lia froze, her smile faltering. "Okay," she said after a beat. "I'll just leave this here."
She turned to leave, but something about her retreating figure tugged at him.
"Lia, wait," he called out, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean it like that."
She stopped, looking at him with a mixture of concern and hurt.
"What's going on, Nate?" she asked gently. "You've been tense lately. Is it the commission?"
"It's everything," he admitted, his voice heavy. "The gallery, the deadlines, this... us. It's all new, and I don't know how to handle it."
Her expression softened, and she stepped closer. "You don't have to handle it alone, you know. That's kind of the point of being together."
Nate sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm not used to this. Letting someone in. Trusting that you'll stay."
Lia reached out, her hand brushing against his arm. "I'm here, Nate. And I'm not going anywhere. But you have to let me in, even when it's hard."
That evening, they sat together on the worn couch in Nate's studio. The rain pattered softly against the windows, filling the silence between them.
"Tell me about your parents," Lia said suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Nate tensed, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Why?"
"Because they're part of you," she said simply. "And I want to know all of you."
He hesitated, the words feeling heavy on his tongue. But Lia's presence, her quiet patience, made it easier to speak.
"My mom was a painter," he began, his voice low. "She's the one who got me into art. My dad... he didn't understand it. He thought it was a waste of time."
Lia listened intently, her hand resting lightly on his.
"When she died, I couldn't paint for a long time," Nate continued. "It felt... wrong, like I was betraying her somehow by trying to carry on without her."
"But you came back to it," Lia said softly.
"Eventually," he said. "But I shut everyone else out in the process. It was easier to just... not feel anything."
Lia squeezed his hand, her warmth grounding him. "You're not that person anymore, Nate. You're letting people in. That's huge."
He glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You make it easier."
The rain had stopped by the time Lia left, the air outside fresh and cool. Nate watched her walk away, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights.
For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of something he hadn't dared to name: hope.
The next morning, Nate woke with a renewed sense of purpose. He spent the day finishing his commission, the strokes of his brush steady and confident.
By the time Lia arrived that evening, he was done.
"Wow," she said, admiring the finished piece. It was a vibrant landscape, alive with color and light. "This is incredible, Nate."
"It's for a collector in the city," he said, setting his brush down. "But honestly, I think you're the reason it turned out so well."
"Me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," he said, his voice sincere. "You've helped me see things differently. Feel things differently. And that's coming through in my work."
Lia blushed, her smile soft. "I'm glad. But don't give me too much credit. That talent was always in you."
As the days turned into weeks, Nate and Lia found a rhythm. They weren't perfect—there were arguments, misunderstandings, moments of doubt. But through it all, they kept coming back to each other.
One evening, as they sat together on the porch of Lia's apartment, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Nate reached for her hand.
"I don't know where this is going," he said quietly. "But I want to figure it out. With you."
Lia smiled, her fingers intertwining with his. "Me too."
And for the first time in a long time, Nate felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.