Page 23 of The Photograph

“Yes … yes, she transferred two years ago,” she whispers.

More tears fill up her brown eyes, so I take her hand and tug gently.

“How did you two meet?”

Ann’s eyes soften and she sniffles. “At the Christmas party we attended two days after her transfer was accepted.” She scoffs. “Talk about bad timing.”

I smile with her. “Or it could be kismet. You could have never met and that would have been worse. Don’t you think?”

When the first tear rolls down her pale cheek, my heart breaks a little.

“What if—?” she starts.

I squeeze her hand. “There’re a million things that could prevent her from picking up her phone. Don’t go to the worst-case scenario just yet. Okay?” When she shakes her head, her eyes on her cell, I place my fingers on her phone. “Ann?”

Ann wipes her tears and nods before we stand up at the same time.

After a quick hug, I step back. “Now, how many people are physically coming here tonight?”

She clears her throat. “Um, seven of us.”

My hand still on hers, I take a breath. “All right, I’m going to organize coffee for everyone.”

“That’d be great. Thank you, Aelin,” she says and opens her laptop.

Once in the small kitchen, I prepare hot drinks, water, and set up a platter of dried apricots and cookies I found in the fridge and the cupboard. A few minutes later, three men and two women trickle in straight to the conference room with Ann. When someone shuts the door, I return to Gabe’s apartment where I sit on the sofa, kick off my sandals to curl my legs under me, and wait for the meeting to end.

****

I wake up with a start and inhale sharply when I see Gabe seated by my hip. My eyes lock onto his as he gets to his feet and rakes his fingers through his hair.

He puts the coffee table between us and slides his hands in his pockets while I shake myself from the last remnants of sleep.

After touching the side of my mouth to check for drool, I clear my throat, and lift my eyes to Gabe’s. The planes of his handsome face are pulled tight. “Is Ann’s wife okay?”

He nods, but his expression is hard as he watches me.

Pushing on my knees, I swipe my palms on the skirt of my dress and walk to him slowly. Without my heels I barely reach his shoulder.

“Are you okay? Ann said the fire—”

“You shouldn’t have stayed.”

I don’t know how, but he somehow distances himself even further without moving.

His chest is like warm granite under my hand. “I can stay if you want me to. Are you hungry? We haven’t touched dinner and—”

When he steps back, my throat clogs at his unreadable expression.It’s as if we didn’t nearly sleep together a few hours ago.

“Gabe—”

He pulls his cell out of his pocket. “Jason, get the car ready. Ms. Thorne is going home.”

“Gabe—”

His hands in his pockets, he just glares at me.“I need some sleep before my flight.”

All right then.After a quick nod, I turn my back to him, slip into my shoes, and pick up my purse from the coffee table.He must be tired and stressed.I pivot back to him. “I’ll see you when you get back.”

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