Page 58 of One More Shot
Chapter NineteenELIOTT
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so awful in my entire life. Every inch of my body aches and I’m having to fight to keep my eyes open. It doesn’t help that the groom-to-be hasn’t said a word in ten minutes.
He’s sitting on the opposite end of this bench, scrolling through his phone to avoid making eye contact with me while we wait for his fiancée to emerge from the toilets in her second outfit change of the afternoon.
I don’t usually mind engagement shoots. They’re typically fun and the couple tends to still be in that sickeningly in love phase that makes for a good time and great photos. But I’m not quite sure my current couple, Will and Tanya, have ever been in that phase.
Point in case, while Tanya shows up to the park we’re shooting in with a full face of make-up and a small suitcase filled with outfit changes, Will has arrived in a pair of rattyold jeans, a shirt that could do with another round of ironing, and hair that doesn’t look like it’s ever seen a comb. He keeps an impassive look on his face the entire time I’m shooting them, only cracking a ghost of a smile when Tanya quietly begs him to.
It’s awkward. And we’ve still got another hour – and at least one more outfit change from Tanya – to go. If this were any other day, I’d try to spark up some polite conversation with Will as we wait. But today my head is throbbing and it’s taken all my control to keep myself balanced and upright on this bench.
I’ve definitely caught something. There were a lot of snotty noses and chesty-sounding coughs at a wedding I photographed a week ago, and I’m pretty sure I’m finally feeling the effects of the copious amounts of germs I inhaled that weekend.
Will gives me a sideways glare as I break out into yet another coughing fit. I throw him a weak smile. As shitty as I feel, I still have to be professional, I suppose.
‘Have you picked a date for the wedding yet?’ I ask, my voice noticeably hoarse.
He shrugs and turns his attention back to his phone. ‘Nah.’
‘Oh,’ I say before trying again, determined to get something from this man. ‘How did you propose, by the way? Were you planning it for a while?’
‘Nah.’
I wait a few beats to see if he’s going to elaborate, but nothing comes. Great. I glance over at the toilets, hoping to see Tanya striding back towards us in another gown, but no luck.
Fine.
If Will doesn’t want to be polite, then I won’t either. I don’t have the brainpower to dedicate to this right now, anyway. All I want to do is curl under my blankets and sleep for an eternity – or at least forty-eight hours straight. I glance at my phone to check the time and spy a message from Dane waiting for me.
Just the sight of his name lifts my mood marginally.
DANE
still feeling crap?
ELIOTT
Awful.
Awful clients today too.
One hour left and then I can slip into a Night Nurse induced coma.
DANE
that doesn’t sound safe
ELIOTT
Probably not, but I’m too bunged up to think straight.
DANE
sorry baby
tell Sasha to take good care of you tonight
ELIOTT
