Page 97 of Grand Love

“Joey, I told you about this because I trust you not to push me. Dancing is my passion, you know that, and I will dance again. I just need some time.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” He pulls me under his arm, walking us to the gates. “You want some help at the gym?”

“No, I need to do it myself.” Working on the studio will be good for me, it will give me something to do when Mason has Ellis. I thought about going this morning, but I feel like I should check with Logan before I just turn up.

And what’s the rush?

“To be honest, I couldn’t find the time. It’s been crazy since I sold my latest prints. I have people booking for next year already. It’s mind blowing to think it’s finally taking off.”

I smile up at him, proud of my friend and the hard work he has poured into the last year of his business. He is a phenomenal photographer. “You’ll have your pictures hung up in—”

“In The National Art gallery one day. You’re an idiot, you know that?” He chuckles, releasing me from under his arm and pushing me away.

I always tell him he will make it big one day. He doesn’t believe in himself like I do.

“You never know, all it takes is one image.”

He looks down his nose at me, tipping his chin and smirking. “You’d be the one.”

“What?” I giggle, starting to jog again.

“If I were to make it big, you’d be my masterpiece.”

I laugh loudly, the pigeons scattering off as I scare them. “As if!”

“The pictures of you in the studio, they’re some of the best I’ve ever taken. It’s a damn shame you don’t let me sell them.” He grins down at me, letting me know he is messing with me.

Once upon a time, I’d have had no problem with Joey selling the pictures he took. But when I lost the studio, they seemed to become more personal.

The image of me looking into the camera, it reminded me of Mason. And in nearly every shot stands his mother’s beloved piano. They remind me of something I don’t hold on to anymore, so keeping them in my grasp and only my grasp seems important to me. “It doesn’t seem right to have my face on a wall. I love the pictures and I’m glad I got you that distinction.”

He rolls his eyes. “Oh, because it was all you.”

“But I wouldn’t want them plastered on random people’s walls. It seems… weird.”

“Did you know Mason offered me money for them?”

I falter but keep moving. “What?”

Joey doesn’t answer me right away, and his face is a mask of indifference.

“Mason offer—”

“You know, forget it.” He waves me off, picking up the pace.

“No. What you just said! Mason offered you money for the photos?”

Joey runs his hand through his hair, looking conflicted. “Yeah.” He nods.

My lungs burn but I don’t stop. “When?”

“God, I don’t know.”

“Before or after I found out I was pregnant?”

He frowns, slowing to a walk. I welcome the change of pace. My legs feel like jelly. “After, it was just before you moved into the apartment.”

“What!” I feel my brows crease, my mind tripping out.

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