The vibes of this place are immaculate. The room we’re in is bright white but the walls are decorated with the paintings of past customers. Not only is it date night but it’s also old-school R&B night so our instructor’s melodic voice is accompanied by the sweet sounds of Whitney Houston, New Edition, Sade, Brian McKnight, and so many others. A few of the people at the event sing along with the songs when our instructor, Emerald, isn’t talking and one of the couples even gets up to dance when Keith Sweat’s “Nobody” starts to play. The man next to us whispers something in his woman’s ear, and whatever he said makes her giggle intensely. I notice that instead of painting the picture with long, black, curly hair to match the instructor’s painting, she’s painting hers to have burgundy locs to match her own. Her man has altered his painting as well. Instead of the short twists and full beard depicted in the original, his reflects his own long, dark locs, thin mustache, and light chinstrap. The woman notices me admiring their altered drawings and introduces herself as Chenille and her man as Quentin.

Kai brought a cooler that held a charcuterie board and sparkling wine for us to enjoy while painting. Chenille and Quentin brought assorted chocolates, cheese, grapes, and white wine. Chenille offers to share her chocolates with us, so I offer her a choice of our snack options and she takes me up on the cucumbers. This prompts the couple across from us to join the group. The shorter man, who I learn is named Jalen, offers to share the beer he brought while his partner, Sean, offers their praline pecans. Before I know it, the six of us have our own party going on. While our instructor walks around to check on everyone’s progress, Chenille leans in to ask how long everyone has been together. Jalen and Sean answer together for five years, married for two. Chenille and Quentin answer one year. When the question comes to us, I debate how detailed we should be and then I remember that Christmas is around the corner. That means it’s been three months since I’ve been back in Austin. Three months. I came in with every intention to keep my emotional distance from Kai but in three months’ time I’m now going to sleep with my legs wrapped around his waist and waking up with his face between my thighs every morning. I chuckle at the complete lack of willpower I have against this man, but then I hear his answer to Chenille’s question. “Well, Olivia has owned my heart for twenty years.”