Page 26 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“Again, I hope I wasn’t overstepping. I’ve been researching cameras for myself, and I have theConsumer Reportsaccount, and well … you know. I don’t need anything nearly as fancy as you, but I was thinking I would get something full frame. I’d like to take more bird photos,” he says, blushing a little when he says this. As if he didn’t mean for that to slip out.
“I didn’t know you take bird photos, Noah.” I set the folder down on the counter and lean in conspiratorially. “So you’re into birds?”
“Well, yeah. I know. I’m such a dork, right? It started when I was a kid. My mom and I kept birding journals, and we did a lot of hiking. It’s always been my dream to do a Big Year.”
“Like the Owen Wilson movie?” I ask.
“Yes!” he says, smiling. “I can’t believe you watched that!”
I grin. “I liked it. Birds are cool. Isn’t this area famous for being part of a migratory path?”
A birdwatching tour was one of the best options Tabitha had run by me for my week off, but I hadn’t wanted to become the bird in everyone’s sights.
“Yes!” Noah enthuses. “That was part of the appeal when I moved here. Birdwatching is best in the spring here, but it involves hiking to remote areas. Sadly, these days, I’m a bit more stationary. Can’t hike as far because of the leg, but my PT says I’ll probably be back almost to normal by this fall. There’s always next year, I suppose.”
“Tough break.” I nod sympathetically.
“You’re telling me,” he says. “I still can’t believe I fell off the stage like that.”
This is a story I am going to need to hear, but obviously, I cannot ask him about it because I am supposed to already know it. I wish I could call Kenna right now. She is probably still snuggled up in my bed, in the lap of luxury, sleeping in.
“I like the Panasonics,” Noah comments. “Great glass, and they have an exceptional selection of long-range lenses.”
Seriously, this guy appears made for Kenna. Not married. Seems straight. Loves cameras. Why isn’t she dating him? He’s smiling shyly at me. At Kenna, I remind myself.
Suddenly, he leans forward, like he’s got a secret. He beckons me closer and folds down his laptop screen halfway.
“Speaking of long-range lenses, your ‘friend’ is back,” he speaks in low tones.
“My friend?” I ask.
“The photographer, paparazzo. Whatever. I saw him parked out there before I came in this morning.”
“That guy is not my friend.” I stand up straighter and turn to fetch the coffee for him. I pull a mug from the stand by the percolator. “Cream and sugar?” I ask.
“Yes, please,” Noah nods. “And I didn’t mean anything by that. I know he’s not your friend. He was pretty obnoxious, making you remake that drink so many times and quizzing you about the actors.”
“Well, he was probably just trying to get me flustered so I’d give something up.” I pour the coffee.
“Exactly!” Noah nods. “Very misogynistic of him, if you ask me.”
“At least he didn’t try to explain cameras to a photographer.” I wink at Noah. I’m being a little mean, and possibly totally out of character for Kenna, but it pops out before I can stop myself.
Noah looks horrified.
“I didn’t do that! Did I do that? Oh my God. Was I mansplaining?”
“More like camerasplaining,” I laugh. “But your heart was in the right place, and this is actually helpful. I’m keeping it.” I tuck the folder onto a shelf behind the counter. “As for that photographer …”
“Can you ban him from the diner?” Noah asks. “Not for nothing, but I find it a little off-putting having the guy hanging around like a vulture.”
“We can ban photos inside the diner.” I consider this. “It’s private property, and a lot of places in LA and Vegas have a ‘no paparazzi’ policy.”
But if he’s got a long-range lens, he can probably shoot through the glass window. And there’s nothing stopping him from sitting in the public park opposite this place with his camera.
“I know Dean’s theater is good for Ephron, and everything,” Noah says, “but I can’t help but wonder if he really needed to get celebrities in for his production. It changes the nature of the place, you know? Next thing you know, there’ll be aReal Housewives of Ephronfranchise.”
“What?” I’m not sure I follow him.
