Page 5 of Marshmallow
“You went through it?”
“Are you saying you didn’t go through mine?”
“Oh, I’ve already seen every photo,” she blurts before her eyes pop and her cheeks go even redder. “I’m not a stalker,” she whispers at the end.
I chuckle and run my knuckles along her jawline, lightly touching her soft curls as they tumble over her shoulder. “Nothing wrong with some online stalking these days. We all do it. Do you know what my favorite photo is?”
She shakes her head. “You have a favorite?”
I nod. “The first one I ever saw of you. You’re sitting on the beach reading a book. And do you know who’s on the cover of that book?”
She smiles so wide it glitters in her eyes. “You. I was holding a book with you on the cover.”
I nod again. “We were together even before we were together.”
Marsha
Swoon! Oh my god. He kissed me and I feel like I’m made of feathers. I’m not even embarrassed that we did it in a room full of people. I want those photos so I can frame them and put them on the wall behind our bed. Who would have thought it? Me—me—and Carter Reeves. We’ll be able to look back on this day fondly and shock our grandkids with the racy photos we took on our first meeting.
What? Oh god, I’m getting so far ahead of myself here. It’s just that I’m not used to this kind of attention from a man so obscenely beautiful andsober.I quit the club scene within a year of turning twenty-one because I couldn’t deal with the drunken guys who’d come up to me and slur, “I hear fat chicks go hard in the sack.” I shudder just thinking about it. And they were rarely attractive. My first time was with a tall skinny guy I met through a dating app. He said he loved ‘big woman because they cushioned his bones.’ We didn’t have a second time. And honestly, I haven’t had atimesince then because I wanted somethingmore.
Something like the man standing in front of me, talking about us being together. And maybe I’m jumping to conclusions, but that sounds like he wants us to betogethertogether. And the guykissedme. Full on, tongue and everything. That means something, right? I’ve never seen a photo shoot of him lip-locking with a model before. And Tiff said he never makes a play for the girls. He’s always professional. Except with me.
He kissedme.
He has a hard on forme.
I don’t know how serious he is about this ‘togetherness’ he’s talking about. But, whatever happens from here—even if it’s only a one-time thing—I amsoon board. BecauseCarter Reeves kissed me!Girly squeal!
“Can we get makeup back in here and a wardrobe change?” the photographer calls out. “I want us on the balcony next. Then we’re going to get some bed shots.”
Bed shots?Oh dear god, yes. I want to be in bed with Carter Reeves. I won’t even have to fake an orgasm face.
“Holy wow,” Georgia says when we’re back in the adjoining room where Tiff is pulling outfits from a rack. “I feel like a total voyeur, but I’m loving watching you two.”
“It’s crazy, isn’t it? I keep thinking he must be joking, but”—I look side to side to make sure no one is listening in—“he was…aroused.”
Georgia covers her mouth to stifle a squeal. “Big?” she manages.
I nod. “Huge.”
“Whoa.”
“Ah, here we are.” Tiff walks over carrying a silk nightgown with a matching ivory robe. “We’re going virginal with this look.” She holds the outfit out to me and I thank her. “I’ve worked with him on a lot of shoots, and I’ve never seen him like this. There’s something special happening here, I can feel it.”
“Do you really think so?” I ask, feeling hopeful, but also naïve, because this isn’t a normal thing to happen. The only things we know about each other, the entire world knows via social media. He comes across as warm, kind and patient online, and I ensure that my posts are open, welcoming and inspiring. Is that, and the fact there’s electricity between us enough to pin my hopes on? I mean, what if this is all some cruel joke? Like, when I was in high school, someone put a note in my locker from my crush, asking me to homecoming. When I approached him to ask if it was true, he laughed in my face.Why would anyone want to date you?The memory still haunts me, and it makes me second guess how genuine this all is. It’s rather rapid and full-on. Am I dumb to believe he truly wants me?
I can’t trust my judgement here.
“I do. He’s like…” she pauses while she thinks of the right word, “totally enamoured. I canfeelthe attraction buzzing around you two.”
“Me too,” Georgia says. “I’ve been filming some behind-the-scenes stuff, and he’s like, locked onto you. He wants you. Bad.”
“I keep think maybe this is a prank. I’m waiting for everyone who teased me at school to burst in and start laughing at me.” I release a nervous laugh.
“Oh no, honey.” Tiff picks up the powder brush and dusts it over my face. “I hate that you’re even worried about something like that. But I promise you, on the life of my little boy, this is totally legit. Carter is gaga over you.”
My heart goes crazy in my chest. “It’s real,” I repeat.
