Over the past couple weeks, Zora and Leon have gone on many more dates.
He'd taken her back to the flower shop, and he actually got to pay for the pretty roses she'd picked out.
Picnics by the water, munching on fruit and watching the ducks swim in the pond, til the sun started to melt in the sky.
Drinks at Nicole's, where Leon told her more about his past antics, and Zora shared a little bit more than she had, making him feel a little more at ease.
Now they're putting their own spin on a paint & sip, courtesy of her spacious living room and art supplies from Michaels.
"Thank god for low coffee tables, huh?" Leon says from the other side of the table, sitting with his long legs stretched out, painting a balloon flower.
He'd told her he was gonna plant some just to see if one could actually pop the petals.
"Right. Ma knew I would need it for something other than propping my feet on top," she hums a laugh, while painting a bell flower.
Her legs are also stretched out, her bare feet just touching his sock-covered ones.
"Sorry, I'm not a wine person. A buzz ball is the only way I'll participate," he raises his lime-rita to her strawberry-rita, a smirk on his lips.
"It's okay, like I told you, I only like white wine on occasion. This is perfect." She replies, clinking the rounded cans together as they take a sip.
"What you paintin' over there?"
"It's supposed to be a surprise, Leon."
"Why?"
"Cause," she chuckles, dipping her brush in the water mug, before dipping it back into her blue-purple mixture.
"Cause?"
"Cause I said so. That good enough?" She looks at him over her glasses, catching the goofy look on his face as he looks back at her.
"Mhm," he nods, pursing his lips together. "Good enough."
Carrying on painting and sipping, the pair nod along a playlist, courtesy of Leon and his surprisingly good taste.
"I like this song."
Blk oddysy's funkentology bumps through the black, rectangular speaker that's sitting on the floor. Also courtesy of Leon.
"I'm glad. Sharing music can be nerve wracking."
"Sharing can be nerve wracking." She adds, fanning her canvas with her hand.
"Still painting over there?" She asks.
"Nah, I was waiting on you."
"Oh, my bad. I tend to zone out a little."
"No worries," he shrugs. "I just hope it doesn't look like a child painted it." He jokes.
She laughs, giving him the finger. "First and last time you'll be invited over."
"Damn, that quick?"
"Childish, huh?" She squints, making him laugh this time.
"Touché." He says, turning his canvas around to share his painting.
"Wow," she admires the picture, "you've got skills!"
He chuckles, humbly thanking her with a low hanging head.
"I try, I try."
"Let's see yours, now." He motions toward it, catching how shaky her hand became as she lifted it from the table.
