Page 42 of King

Amara shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. “It was just one photo. Right place, right time.”

“Bullshit.” King grinned. “You don’t justaccidentallyend up inLifemagazine. That takes talent.”

She looked down at her cup, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Maybe.”

King watched her for a moment, then softened his tone. “So, what else don’t I know about you?”

Amara exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. “That’s about it.”

“So, you’re just a gamer girl turned photographer who loves her family and is fiercely loyal,” King said, his voice warm. “Oh, and got a picture featured inLifemagazine.”

“Pretty much sums me up,” Amara laughed, exactly what King had been going for. “Dull, huh?”

“Far from dull.” His grin softened as he studied her. “Pretty exceptional, actually. What was the picture of, Amara?”

She hesitated momentarily, her gaze unfocused as if she had been pulled back into the memory. “I did some volunteer work after a tornado hit a small town in the area,” she began, her voicequieter. “It was devastating. Homes leveled, families shattered. We went in to help once first responders cleared the area, and of course, I had my camera.”

King leaned in slightly, listening intently.

“I saw an elderly couple standing in front of what used to be their home. It was as if a bomb had gone off...nothing but rubble. But they weren’t crying, they weren’t screaming. They just stood there, facing each other, their foreheads touching, holding on to each other like they were the only thing left standing.” She exhaled.

King remained silent, waiting for her to continue. She was unique in so many ways, but her heart was what drew him to her.

“I snapped the picture. It was a black and white photo because I feel that captures the sorrow more than color ever could.”

King watched as emotions flickered across her face, the weight of that moment still clinging to her. She was beautiful, but more than that, she had a depth to her, an empathy that made his chest tighten.

“Abel and Jackie Abner,” she continued, a small, sad smile on her lips. “They were high school sweethearts, married for fifty-five years. That house was their whole life. It was where they raised their kids and built their memories. And in seconds, it was gone.”

King nodded, feeling the weight of her words. “So, what did you do? Send it toLifemagazine, hoping they’d publish it?”

“No.” Amara shook her head. “I posted it on my social media page, hoping to get them some help. To this day, I’m not reallysure. I guess someone fromLifesaw it. I got a call the night I put it up. They wanted to buy the rights to the picture.”

King arched a brow. “You sold it?”

“Yes, but only under one condition...that every cent went to Abel and Jackie. They lost everything. It wasn’t mine to profit from. I would never profit off of someone’s heartbreak.”

King stared at her, admiration swelling in his chest. “You don’t see it, do you?”

She frowned, confused. “See what?”

“You,” he said simply. “You’re not just some photographer. You see people. You capture moments most would overlook. That’s not just talent, Amara—that’s heart.”

Amara looked away, a little flustered, but King wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily.

“So, what happened to them?” he asked. “The couple?”

“They rebuilt,” she said, a soft smile returning. “With the donations, the money fromLife, and the kindness of strangers, they got a new home. A smaller one, but it was theirs.”

King nodded slowly. “That’s an incredible story.”

She met his gaze, something unspoken passing between them. “I guess I just believe that even in destruction, there’s still hope.”

King’s jaw tightened slightly. He wasn’t sure if she realized it, but she wasn’t just talking about the Abner’s at that moment. Maybe, in some way, she was talking about herself.

“Have you ever seenThe Twilight Zone?” Amara’s voice pulled King from his thoughts.

“What?” He wasn’t sure he had heard her right.

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