Page 38 of The Photograph

Might as well get it over now.I retrieve Aelin’s file from my office and hand it to Cal. He wipes his hands off on a paper towel before opening the slim binder while I take my beer to the edge of the pool.

When he grunts, I clench my back teeth.

“How recent is this picture?”

Pivoting sideways, I roll the neck of the bottle between my fingers. “A few months, why?”

Caleb studies the picture I know by heart. She’s smiling with her head slightly tilted and her hand on the door of her car.

My friend’s eyes narrow. “I’ve seen that face before.” He lifts the picture. “Can I take this?”

“Have at it.”

“G. Talk,” Cal says.

I rake my fingers through my hair and face Cal. “I slept with her.”

His brows shoot up before he joins me by the pool and sets his hand on my shoulder.

“You slept with your brother’s woman?”

I nod.

“Fuck, G.”

I know. I fucking know.

Chapter Nine

Aelin

On Saturday morning, my cell rings with Cara’s ringtone. Fighting against sleepiness, I keep my head under my pillow as I reach for my phone. “Hello?”

“Angel? I know I’m waking you up, but I have great news.”

I jolt upright and clear my throat. “I love great news.”

My sister’s voice is high with excitement. “I’ll be home in five months instead of the nine scheduled. I’ve been invited to Vietnam and Cambodia for a deep dive into colonial influence in Asian cuisine. I’m so excited. Only two students were invited and I—”

I scream while Cara laughs.

God, I love my sister.

A car honks in the background and I press my cell up against my ear. “Angel, I have to go but I just wanted to tell you in person…ish. My connection might be a little jagged when I’m there, but I’ll contact you as often as I can.”

I lean further into my phone. “When are you leaving?”

“We have to be at the airport in… Shit, I need to pack. Love you, angel. Bye.”

“Bye,” I whisper to the beeping tone.

I stare at my phone while my stomach tightens. I’ll tell her about Gabe when she comes home.In five months.I smile, check my alarm, and lie back down. There’re another three hours before I have to wake up. I shut my eyes and dream of Gabe.

****

“I knew it. I knew you’d get it!”

It’s barely 9:00 AM. After Em and I opened the office, she receivedthecall. She’s been accepted to very sought-after course in software-coding design located in New York. Standing by my desk, the sun is gracefully lighting up our happy moment while I hug Emma whose big grin splits her flushed face.

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