Page 55 of Somehow You Knew

“The sight of you two right now sure is something,” Judy says.

I take my camera out of my bag, adjusting the settings. “Blame Diane for this.”

Judy smiles, but it’s a sad one. “If she were here, she’d be laughing right along with you two.”

Gage and I share a look but before either of us can respond, his phone starts ringing from inside his dressing room.

He rushes in to grab it and comes out looking concerned “Shit. I need to take this.”

I nod. “Sure.”

He walks back toward the front of the store to take the call outside, but not before I hear him answer. “Hey, Miranda…”

My stomach clenches.

Who the hell is Miranda?

I quickly turn back to Judy, forcing a smile. “Sorry. I’m sure he won’t be long.”

Judy waves a hand. “No problem, dear.”

A few minutes later, Gage returns.

“Sorry about that,” he says, running a hand over the stiff blonde wig. “But you should have seen some of the looks I was getting from people walking by.”

Even though my mind is still spinning with questions, I force a laugh. “Serves you right for interrupting our photo shoot.”

I try to pretend I’m not affected and go back to prepping my camera. Once I’m happy with the settings, I direct Gage to stand in front of the empty wall to our right.

“All right, Gage. Strike a pose.”

He just stands there, arms limp and his expression blank. I lower the camera, unimpressed. “Come on, at least try to have some fun with it.”

He rolls his eyes, but eventually purses his lips, juts his hip out, and tosses a hand in the air.

“Yes! Work it!” Laughing behind the camera, I take a few more shots and then hand it to him. “All right. My turn. But for the love of God, please be careful.”

Gage takes my camera from my hands—and immediately pretends to drop it.

He laughs, but I do not.

My face is flat as stone when I tell him, “Just remember that you’re in a vulnerable position right now, dickhead. It would be very easy for me to sucker punch you in the balls.”

“Oh relax, Hazel, and go stand in front of the wall.”

I do as I’m told, holding my fake belly and grimacing, trying to channel my inner Grinch. Judy giggles from the side, and my husband even cracks a smile or two.

My husband.

I hate how easily that thought slips in.

“This is fucking great,” he says, snapping a few more shots.

Judy walks over and takes the camera from Gage, motioning for him to join me. “Now let’s get a couple you together.”

Reluctantly, he awkwardly clomps over to me in his heels and too-tight dress.

"For the record," I say, peering up at him, "you’re the prettiest wife I could have asked for."

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