Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
As the day turns to night and I look out over the never-ending blue waters ahead, I can’t help but wonder…
What if…what if coming here wasn’t a mistake?
My gaze travels over the people I’ve met this week, my eyes catching on Mason’s briefly before they continue across the horizon.
Tentatively, maybe even subconsciously, my hand falls to my belly.
What if I’m right where I’m meant to be?
CHAPTER THREE
Payton
Now, July 3
“Knock, knock.” The soft whisper has me looking toward the hall to find Mia sneaking in on her tiptoes.
Deaton whips his head around so fast he almost falls off my lap and instantly starts speaking baby talk as he clenches his hands together in excitement at a new face to play with.
I lift him, spinning him to face her on my lap, and take his hand, waving it at her. “Say hi, Mia.”
“So he is awake,” she singsongs, her feet carrying her faster across the room until she’s stealing him from my arms and lifting him into the air. “And here I thought you didn’t come to brunch because someone was napping.” She points a raised, red brow my way.
“So what’s up?” I ignore her comment, pushing to my feet and using the moment of free hands to pick up the mess of toys, socks, and more.
“Oh, you know, another day, another shitstorm.” Mia follows me into the kitchen, Deaton in her arms.
I give her a questioning look and drop my head back dramatically, laughing when Deaton tries to stick his hand in her mouth.
“So I have a problem. Well, not me, and honestly, I don’t even know why I’m trying to help at this point, but—”
“Mia, come on.” I fight a smile. “Out with it.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. “Ever wanted to photograph a wedding reception?”
My brows snap together. “I’m listening.”
Mia nods and goes into explaining how her client, whose wedding dress Lolli was modeling yesterday for last-minute alterations, was cancelled on and is now in need of a new photographer. “So I thought of you…but I also sort of already told her you would do it…”
“Mia,” I chuckle, shaking my head. “I’ve only been interning with Embers Elite for, what, six months or something. And that’s sports photography.”
“Same thing.”
“Not even a little bit.” I laugh lightly, fighting with the stupid bottle scrubber to work with me. “I take action shots…mostly.”
“See!” She smiles. “Come on. It’s no pressure. The ceremony is covered, so it’s just the reception, and they only want candid shit, no posing. So snap a few pics, no contract, and get a fat paycheck from a spoiled-ass Southern chick. It’s a win.”
I chew my lip, ideas of what moments I would want to capture already flying through my mind at warp speed. My expression must show the internal excitement at the opportunity, because Mia squeals.
“Yes!” she shouts, dancing around with Deaton, making him grin like crazy. “And before you start worrying about not being able to go for this or that reason, Ari and Noah were very quick to offer to babysit.”
Sadness blooms in my chest for the couple that’s been through more than anyone should go through in a lifetime, but before I start comparing their rotten apples to my sour oranges, I shut that train of thought down.
“Yeah, okay. Deal.” I agree before I think too hard about it. It’s not like I’m in a position to turn down work anyway. But honestly… “I’d love to.”
Mia makes a giant, overexaggerated happy face for Deaton’s benefit, and then without a word to me, she heads out the back door, taking my son right along with her.
I don’t wait around to see when she’ll pop back in but take advantage of the moment and run to the shower.
This is good, perfect even.
Today, I’ll be out all afternoon with Mason’s and Nate’s parents. Tomorrow is the holiday, so everyone will be around, talking a mile a minute and taking up every moment I could possibly have. Later that night, when my subconscious fights against sleep, I’ll spend the time getting my camera bag ready. Then the wedding will be here, and it will be the perfect distraction to make it through. I can do this.
I can.
“Isn’t that just the sweetest thing you’ve ever even?” Vivian gushes, the gleam in her eyes one of happiness, but the way her hand raises to her chest at the same time tells me a little part of her is thinking of the loss her family faced not all that long ago.
Mason’s mom, Vivian, is one of the kindest women I have ever met, along with Lolli’s future mother-in-law, Sarah. From the moment we met last year, those two have become something I didn’t know I needed—women to look up to.
I’ve always known my mother was a horrible woman, but I guess I never stopped to think of what it meant to be a good one. Not to your core anyway, and these two? Well, I’d say they were one of a kind, but there’s two of them.