Page 16 of The Photograph

“Aelin?”

Even though I clear my throat, my voice comes out as a whisper. “It’s beautiful, Gabe, thank you.”

The pendant in my palm, I nestle deeper in the couch and let his voice cocoon me.

“Will you wear it for me?”

“Yes … when?”Am I too eager? Yes, I am but I don’t care.It’s the first time a man buys me jewelry, and I like that the man is Gabe.

There’s a smile in his voice. “Thursday, I’m taking you out for dinner. Do you like seafood?”

Thursday.Good things. I press my cell onto my ear. “I do.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up at 7:00.”

After the call, I float through the rest of my day and go to bed grinning.

****

The week is a blur, I spend my days working at Holloway, refining every detail until everything is perfect, and my evenings are spent talking to Emma or Cara.

On Wednesday, I rummage through my wardrobe.Should I wear something sexy? Yes, I definitely should.I find the perfect dress and I lay it on my bed.Yes, perfect.

My cell rattles on my nightstand. Smiling at the heart emoji Cara sent me, I reply in kind and stare at my device while I chew on my bottom lip. I want to keep my date with Gabe to myself for now. After placing it back on the nightstand, I go to sleep.

Thursday turns out to be most uncooperative. A heavy downpour stops Jen from working on the labyrinth gardens. John’s white-knuckling through an endless stream of sneezing and sniffling from the flu he insists he doesn’t have. After another round of his lung-damaging coughing fit I can hear from the bedroom upstairs, I send them both home, which leaves Piotr, his contractors, and me in the house.

Around lunch time, as the rain tip taps against the windowpanes in that soothing the-rest-of-the-world-can-wait rhythm, I kneel on the floor to open the package containing the privacy curtain when I receive a text from Gabe.

Looking forward to tonight.

Me too.I text back.

“Hot date?”

I snap my gaze up to Piotr’s who with his bald head and pale blue eyes reminds me of a hipster ‘Mr. Clean.’

He crouches next to me and nudges his shoulder to mine while a big grin slashes his smooth face. “Whoever painted this dreamy expression on is one lucky man. So, what’s his name, and does he have a brother?”

I can’t help my giggle nor the heat flushing my face, but Gabe’s mine and mine only, so I just shrug as I resume my box opening. The high ceiling bears witness to his dramatic sigh before he rolls his eyes and strides back downstairs.

A couple of hours later, I have Holloway to myself. I pull open the French windows leading to the terrace of the main bedroom and inhale the honeysuckle scented breeze the rain left behind. Holloway House has that magic that makes me feel … hopeful. Happy. At peace with the world.Time to go back to work.

I grab my cell, scroll down my Spotify list while I sit crossed legged on the silver and beige rug.Aha.I press play and sing along with Pharrell Williams who describes all the reasons why he’s ‘Happy’.

Time flies by. When my cell alarm chimes, I pull my watch out of my pocket and fasten it to my wrist. 6:10 PM. Time to go home.

****

After a quick shower, I get ready. I keep my make up minimal but emphasize my eyes with lots of mascara. I lift the gloss brush to my lips when the doorbell rings.

Gabe’s here.With my heart racing, I smile at my reflection in the stand-up antique mirror in the corner of my room, breathe deeply, and walk slowly to the front door.

Chapter Four

Gabe

“Hi,” she breathes out with a smile, and I get hard.

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