Page 15 of Camera Shy

I nod in agreement. “And I basically have no budget for paid marketing.”

“Right—so anything that can capture people’s attention…”

“Okay, I’m sold. No harm in trying it out.” I smile at her. “Good work, Lennox.”

She crosses her legs and bows. “Lovely. Now go take a shower. You stink.”

“Roger that.” I finish off my water, then turn toward my bedroom.

“Hey, by the way, do you want to go out tonight? There’s a foam party at Ultimate. Invite only. I hung out with the bouncer last week and he gave me an extra ticket. There’s going to be a surprise celebrity DJ—rumor is it’s Khalid.”

“A foam party on the Vegas Strip? That sounds like a lot of drunk, wet women running around.”

Lennox taps her nose twice. “Exactly. Have some fun. All you’ve been doing for months is working and”—she points to my knees—“running. It’s been a year. When are you going to be done being sad?”

“I’m not sad.” I don’t think the look I’m giving her is convincing because Lennox puckers her bottom lip.

“I don’t believe you. I’m proud of you. But I don’t believe you. Look, Finn…Nora was—”

I hold up my hand to interrupt her. “I’m okay. But thank you, little cousin.” I close the space between us and drape my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a sweaty hug.

“Gross,” she complains.

“You’re sweet to worry about me. But don’t. Have fun at your foam party.” I release her.

“What are you going to do tonight?”

On cue, my muscles start to ache and tense. I pushed it a little too much today. I could use some relief. “I’ll probably just bring Dex a six-pack of beer and sneak into his hot tub.”

Dex never uses his in-ground hot tub. Leah, his girlfriend, does very rarely. If it were portable, I’d just buy it from him and move it to my patio. Instead, we put in a gate between our yards so I am free to access his tub whenever I like. In exchange, I bring him beer and pay for the monthly maintenance. I could not have asked for a better neighbor. Not to mention he’s richer than God, so the neighborhood barbeques he hosts are top-tier. Who buys ribeye steaks for an entire block of people?

“Want me to stay in? Keep you company?”

“Uh, no. The only thing sadder than staying in on a Saturday night to hot tub alone is staying in on a Saturday night to hot tub with your cousin.”

Lennox snorts in laughter and bobs her head in agreement.

“Just call me if you need a ride home and please be smart. I don’t want to have to rescue you and kick someone’s ass.”

She salutes me. “All right. Oh, and hey, ask Dex which wet suit he’s packing for Cozumel. I think he said a shortie, but I run cold, so I think I’m going to bring my long-sleeved one.”

I forgot Lennox is taking a week off next month to go on a dive trip he’s leading. She, Dex, and Leah instantly bonded over their love of scuba.

“Can’t you text him?”

“He’s so damn flaky and disorganized with his phone. Great dive instructor, but I don’t know how his business isn’t in flames.”

“All right, I’ll try to remember,” I say as I head down the hallway. I tap my temple firmly like I can push a reminder right through the side of my head. That’s two things I need to ask Dex now. Lennox’s wet suit…

And who the hell is the pretty brunette who stopped by his place.

5

Avery

“Dibs,” Palmer says as she drops her purse on Dex’s marble kitchen counter. “And holy shit, this place is amazing.” Her face twists into a wicked smile. “How serious are Dex and his girlfriend?”

I flatten a stare at her. “Soul mates, ride or die, Bonnie and Clyde serious. Don’t even think about—”

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