Page 14 of One More Shot
I make the grave mistake of catching my mother’s eye across the room. She nods her head pointedly in Amber and Finn’s direction and then raises an unimpressed brow at me. I glance away, refusing to rise to the bait.
And anyway, Eliott and I are officially alone again. Though she doesn’t look pleased about it. I exhale a quiet breath and lean against the nearest wall. She’s deliberately not looking at me, instead choosing to fiddle with her camera.
I’m not an idiot and, contrary to what she said earlier, Icantake a hint. I know when someone isn’t into me. Doesn’t happen often, but I’m not pig-headed enough to try to force something that isn’t there.
Not anymore, anyway.
Maybe there was something between us two years ago, but whatever it was, it’s definitely gone now.
‘Look.’ There’s music and laughter all around us, but the sound of my voice makes her snap her head up sharply, like I’ve just shattered a silence. ‘I get it. You’re not interested. I can handle that.’
She opens her mouth as if to say something, but then seems to think better of it. Her lips purse slightly and she rocks back onto the balls of her feet, waiting for me to continue.
‘But things don’t have to be awkward between us. We’re both adults. I think we can navigate being around each otherwithout this…’ I trail off, clicking my tongue as I try to figure out what exactly it is I’m feeling between us. ‘Tension, I guess?’ I’m still not sure it’s the right word, but it’s the closest I can get to whatever it is I’m feeling right now.
Eliott arches a brow. ‘We don’t need to be navigating anything at all. My professional relationship is with Bailey and Cash. There’s no need for us to interact directly whatsoever.’
That gets out a low laugh out of me. ‘I’m the best man, Eliott. Pretty sure I’ll be on “wrangling all the old aunts and uncles” duty for photos on the big day.’
Her eyes widen for a second, like she’s actually considering the possibility that Bailey and Cash might put me on photo duty. They wouldn’t – if anything, that’s an Amber job – but Eliott doesn’t know that.
Then she shrugs. ‘I haven’t actually agreed to photograph the wedding. I might not even be available.’
‘You’d pass up a job just to avoid me?’ It’s not funny at all, but I can’t help but grin. ‘Should I be flattered? I didn’t know I made such a big impression on you.’
Her eyes flit downwards for half a second. ‘Nothing big about it.’
I laugh, and the sound seems to startle her. ‘If I’m remembering correctly, you didn’t have any complaints.’
‘If you were remembering correctly, you’d recall how I leftunsatisfiedwith our last encounter.’
‘Through no fault of my own,’ I say with a shrug. Call it being cocky or overconfident or whatever, but I know what I bring to the bedroom. The problem definitely wasn’t on my end.
‘Maybe you’re just not as good as you think you are?’
‘I’ve never had any complaints.’
She grits her teeth. ‘Consider this your first.’
I laugh again and her eyes narrow, as if the sound annoys her. ‘I don’t know why you’re trying to pretend like we weren’t having a good time together before you decided you weren’t feeling it anymore—’
Something flashes across her face. For a brief moment, she looks almost pained, like I’ve said something that cuts to her very core. But before I can comment on it, the look is gone, replaced with one of unbridled irritation.
‘Exactly. I wasn’t feeling it then and I’m not feeling it now.’ She grips her camera a little tighter, the tips of her fingertips going pale as she wraps them around its frame. ‘Glad we could both agree on that.’
‘Eliott—’
‘I’m still on the clock,’ she says sharply. The change in topic is so fast, it almost gives me whiplash. ‘If you’re done bothering me?’
She pushes past me without so much as a second glance and purposefully strides across the room, putting as much space between us as possible.
‘Didn’t Bailey tell you to leave Eliott alone?’
I scowl as Cash approaches me. He raises a brow as he glances at me, then over to Eliott, still rushing across the room, and then back to me again. ‘What’d you do?’
‘You know, you’re very much Team Bailey these days,’ I grumble as Cash leans up against the wall beside me. ‘I’m not a fan. Tread carefully, or I might just take back my blessing.’
Cash snorts out a laugh at my pointless threat. ‘Definitely too late for that.’
