Lacuna (Book two to Attraction)

21.

My hands grasp the paintbrush as I finish making some final touches to the painting that I have been working on for three days. It's almost ready for Etsy.
After Paul and I got back to Forks from our two week honeymoon three weeks ago, I started taking painting classes again on my days off. He took a look at the other things I've painted and suggested that I sell them on Etsy because he thought they were beautiful and that I was being too modest about my skills. At first I said no, I mean, what if no one liked them? But after a couple of tries to convince me, I ended up putting one of them on Etsy and it sold for three-hundred dollars after a few bids. Now it's turned into not only a fun hobby but also a way to make some quick cash.
Eventually he bought me canvases, a worlds galore of painting supplies, and an easel so now I just do it at home in the garage. I really like painting, it's therapeutic. But the only painting I won't sell is the wolf painting I did of Paul, that one is mine that I'm keeping forever.

The sound of the front door opening fills my ears once I come back into the house to wash my hands and change out of my painting t-shirt.

"Paul?" I call out from the hallway.

"I've gotta go meet up with Sam, I'll be back! I love you." He responds swiftly.

"I love you, too!" I reply before the front door closes.

When I make my way into the kitchen, I'm starving, I haven't eaten all morning. I'm craving pickles, chocolate, and steak, luckily we have all of those things. I grab a cast iron skillet from under the cabinet and begin cooking my steak while biting into a bar of chocolate.

My eyes scan the jar of open pickles on the counter top, I wonder how pickles and chocolate would taste together... My fingers grab a pickle from the jar as I break off a chocolate square and pop both of them in my mouth. Just as I suspected, it tastes delicious.

"Whoa... Who knew." I mumble before taking another bite of the two foods together. The sweet totally compliments the sour.

When my steak is finished cooking, I sit at the table and eat it while continuing to eat the pickles and the chocolate together now. This is the best food combination ever, why didn't I think of this sooner?

After I finish eating, I wash my plate and go to the living room to watch a crime show on Hulu. I'm getting pretty into the show before I frown softly and get up from the couch. My legs hurriedly carry me into the hall bathroom before I rush to the toilet as the food I've just eaten comes right back up.

Okay... Maybe pickles and chocolate together really wasn't the best combination. But it tasted good!
I groan softly as I continue throwing up before it finally and thankfully stops. I can hear Apollo whining from outside of the bathroom door.

"I'm okay, baby, don't worry." I mumble softly before flushing the toilet.

I grab my toothbrush and start brushing my teeth, maybe I should make myself a cup of peppermint tea. That always helps with nausea...

After brewing myself a cup of tea, I curl up on the couch and continue watching the crime show until Paul gets home. He's only been gone for four hours. He walks in through the front door looking fresh and very attractive, he gives me a confident grin before leaning down and kissing my head.

"Hey, how's the painting coming along?" He asks curiously before scratching at Apollo's head.

"I just finished it today, actually." I tell him.

"Oh, can I see it?" He eagerly questions, I stand up from the couch.

"Sure!" I reply as we begin walking down the hallway.

We enter the garage and I flick on the light, I turn around to see Paul's reaction. He looks amazed and happy as he stares at the painting. It's a field of lavender.