Page 88 of The Broken Heart Playlist
Tess:Isn’t it glorious?
Kate:No. I can’t sleep properly. I’m daydreaming. I never daydream.
Tess:I’m beside myself with excitement.
Kate:Why would you wish this on me?
Tess:Because my darling, stubborn sister, I want you to be happy. And if you’re unhappy in his absence, then it stands to reason you’ll be happy in his presence.
On Tuesday, Joel and I work together on a high-end drinks shoot, one of my favorite styling gigs. I’ve put together a partially styled stand-in glass so he can experiment with lighting and angles.
I slip on gloves and select a glass for my first drink. One of the most important considerations when styling drinks is that there can be no smudges anywhere on the glass. While I meticulously clean the glass with a microfiber cloth, I recall whatGideon said about Joel having romantic feelings toward me. But from the moment I arrived on set, Joel has been his usual brisk, professional self. Neither of us are overly chatty or touchy when we work. Gideon is mistaken.
I bring my focus back to work. We’re shooting iced drinks for a summery lifestyle article, so I want condensation on the glass. First, I apply tape to the rim of the glass. Because there’ll be no liquid in that area, we can’t have any condensation there.
I lightly spray the glass with a clear varnish to create a frosty effect. From there, I pick up my atomizer and squirt a mixture of glycerin and water on the outside of the glass to produce a perfect pearly condensation. This will hold for a while, giving Joel time to get the right shot. After I remove the tape, I place artificial ice cubes in the glass.
When it’s time to pour the drink, I use a funnel so there’s no splashing and I’m careful to only pour the liquid up to the line where the condensation is. I study the drink with narrowed eyes. It needs a little something extra to finish it off, particularly if Joel opts for an overhead camera angle. I whip up some dish foam and painstakingly spoon carbonated dollops around the ice to give the drink a freshly poured appearance.
Early this morning, I’d popped into the Farmer’s Market to buy good quality garnish that won’t wilt an hour into the shoot. Garnishes bring color, texture, and layers to a drinks shoot and they’re the most fun to play around with. As I gaze at the various garnish options I’ve spread out on the table, I feel like a child looking at presents under a Christmas tree, giddy with choice and anticipation. Apple fans, cucumber ribbons, citrus peels, berry and herb skewers. I lose track of time as I throw myself into creating and styling.
I’m watching Joel hover over the styled drink, taking his shots, when my phone screen lights up with Tess’s name. She doesn’t usually phone me during the day. I take her call in caseit’s an emergency and put her on speaker, keeping my hands free if Joel requires any touch-ups to the drink.
“Hello, my beautiful sister who never returns my calls,” she booms out.
“Tess,” I caution, “you’re on speaker.”
“Are you at work?”
“Of course I’m at work. What’s wrong?”
“Hey, is that hunk of a man you work with there with you? I have a cute friend I could set him up with. Remember Kenzie? Oh, unless Joel’s gay. Is he gay?”
Joel lowers his camera and looks at me, raising his eyebrows in amusement.
I briefly close my eyes. What part ofyou’re on speakerdid Tess fail to understand? Although I’m the nitwit for putting her on speaker. Ignoring all her questions, I press the disconnect button. Immediately, my phone rings again, but I switch it to silent.
“I’m sorry about that,” I say to Joel, my cheeks flaming. “It’s like my sister’s mouth is hot-wired to spew the most ludicrous things.”
Joel smirks. “All I really paid attention to was her description of me asthat hunk of a man.”
I roll my eyes. “Am I going to have to deal with your ego for the rest of the shoot?”
He grins. “What? You don’t think I’m a hunk?”
He’s teasing, but there’s an undertone of serious to his voice.
“I’m not feeding your ego,” I tell him lightly. “I’ll leave that to my sister. But I will tell you I’ve met Kenzie and she’s lovely.”
He stares at me. “What if I’m interested in someone else?”
My stomach drops. Gideon was right. “Joel,” I say quietly.
He holds up a hand, forestalling my words. “It’s okay. I know you don’t feel that way about me.” He offers me a rueful grimace.“I’ve liked you for some time now, but I could see you weren’t ready.”
“I had no idea.”
“I know you didn’t. I was waiting, biding my time, but I’m guessing your neighbor scooped you up first.”
