The Painter and His Poet by Bea Paige

Harlow

Stepping onto the stage at a downtown bar as my alter ego, Friday Love, I surrendered to the raw pulse of music within me. That same night, I encountered a brooding and mysterious stranger named Sterling. Our connection was instant, and the passionate night we shared felt like everything I’d ever wanted. But as dawn broke, I slipped away, leaving only a note that said: “Thank you for seeing me.”

Four months later, fate intervenes at my mother’s wedding when I discover that Sterling is the estranged son of the man my mother is marrying. The magnetic pull between us is as fierce as ever, but can a single night blossom into something deeper with family ties complicating everything? Am I ready to risk it all for a love that feels both electric and forbidden?

Sterling

I see the world in colours—thanks to my synesthesia, music creates vibrant hues every time I hear someone sing. That night at the bar, Friday’s voice painted a masterpiece I never wanted to end. Our connection was undeniable, but waking up to an empty room and a note that said, “Thank you for seeing me,” left me reeling.

Now, at my father’s wedding, I’m confronted with the woman I’ve been searching for since that night—Harlow, the daughter of the woman my father is marrying. The intensity between us has evolved into something dangerously complicated. Can I navigate this web of desire, obsession and family ties? As we confront the boundaries of love and expectations, I know I must embrace the colours of our connection, no matter the cost.