Page 9 of The Heart Shot
It shouldn’t have been surprising. She and my mom had become closer recently. Maya’s dad had taken off when she was a kid, abandoning her, and her mother lost it as a result. She was no longer present in Maya’s life, absorbed in herself and her career. Maybe my mom felt a need to be the parent Maya didn’t have now that she wasn’t fighting for her life.
Even so, I couldn’t hold back an eye roll.
“This one is different,” my cousin promised. “I know her personally, and she’s incredible. I know you’ll like her if you give it a chance. Bring back Mr. Sunshine and say yes.”
I snorted at the nickname that most people in Meridel called me, wishing it was that simple. But there was something about Maya and her meddling that got beneath my skin, unveiling the version of me that only came out when I accidentally drank decaf coffee. I was a caffeinated ball of sunshine but a decaf grump.
I sighed. “You really think I’m going to go along with this after…you know who?” I couldn’t bring myself to say her name. The girl wasn’t dead, but I wanted her to rest in peace in my memory…and never come up again.
“Please, Jamie?”
Uh-oh. She stopped using that infernal nickname. Maya was serious about this.
“She already agreed,” Maya added, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “I need two people for this photoshoot. I can’t do this without you.”
“Don’t you have anyone else you can ask?”
She gave a violent shake of her head. “You’re the only single guy I know that could do this.”
The downside to still being single at twenty-nine—most everyone else was already married.
I had nothing against Maya taking some pictures of me—it wouldn’t be the first time—but doing a couples shoot with a girl I’d never met? Awkward wasn’t a strong enough word to describe it. From what I remembered about her from Maya’s endless word vomiting, Elsie was the quiet, reserved type. How hadsheagreed to do this?
I opened my mouth to say as much when my mom leaned forward, fixing me with a stern glare.
“Jameson, you need to help your cousin. She helped you find a better physical therapy clinic to work at. The least you can do is help her do well on this assignment so she has better opportunities too.”
Ugh.
Well, when she put it that way.
I looked Maya in the eye, too tired after the long day to fight against them both. “Fine, Maya. I’ll do it.”
Elsie
Sweat was already dripping down my spine.
The autumn sun was bright in the sky, slowly sinking toward the horizon, taunting me with its heat as if it had a personal vendetta against me.
Why today of all days, sun? You couldn’t do me a favor and hide behind some clouds, or, you know, be chilly like you’re supposed to be this time of year?
Had I known it was going to be this hot and miserable, I never would’ve agreed to this photoshoot. It was nerve-wracking enough as it was.
At the thought, more sweat slid down my back.
Oh no.
I pinched the fabric of my black blouse and yanked it away from me, attempting to fan myself, though it did nothing to cool me down. I mentally kicked myself for wearing black, thinking it would hide my nervous sweat the best. Turns out it only made me sweat more. I glared at the offending sun, wishing the giant ball of fire would turn its gaze away from me.
My dirty blonde hair hung in loose waves, falling just past my shoulders, and was far too heavy on the back of my neck. I toyed with the elastic around my wrist, desperately wanting to throw my hair into a ponytail.
I can’t do this. Why did I agree to this?
The question circled my mind like an incessant bug as I wiped my wet palms against my light wash jeans and rubbed at my forehead, hoping it would relieve my heat-induced headache. The amount of sweat pooling at my temples only made me grimace.
This guy is going to think I’m a sweaty freak.
I pulled the phone from my back pocket and opened the text thread with Maya, fingers hovering over the screen.I had to cancel. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t meet a guy for the first time when I felt like I just jumped into a lake of sweat, let alone take lovey-dovey photos with him.
