Page 51 of Camera Shy

“I have a lot of looks,” she says noncommittally.

“True. But I’ve never seen this one.”

She shrugs. “It’s summer.”

“You’re seeing someone new, aren’t you?”

She flashes me a sarcastic smile, her nose crumpling. “I put some southwest eggrolls in your fridge, by the way. Your dinner awaits you.”

“You’re a good woman, Lennox. Thank you. But I’ll get some more fresh tonight. I’m taking Avery to Rue 52.”

Lennox smiles so wide her face might split in half.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re honestly going to throw on a sports coat? You hate wearing a monkey suit and going to Rue 52.”

“Yeah, I wanted to take her somewhere nice.”

“Wow.” Lennox’s eyes are full of snarky condescension. “Is this a thank you dinner?”

“Uh…in a way?”

Lennox pushes against my arm playfully. “That’s awesome. So she’s going to help with the website?”

“She is…” I wonder if Lennox can tell I’m trying to dodge the details.

“When does she want to do the boudoir shoot?” Lennox asks as she follows behind me. I open the door, crawl into the driver’s seat, and crank the car to get the air conditioner flowing. It’s disgustingly hot today and I don’t need my equipment warping from the heat.

“She doesn’t.”

“What? Why not? The set is fucking amazing if I say so myself. I’ve almost finished staging.”

“She’s not into that sort of stuff. We have a different…arrangement.”

Any other person in the world would shrug and think nothing of it. But it’s Lennox. She’s family, my best friend, and is not too shy to call me on my shit.

“You dog.” She clasps her hands together as she looks up at me. “I mean, I never thought you’d pimp yourself out to save our business, but hey, whatever keeps the doors open.” She’s snickering in glee, watching my unamused expression.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking you slept with her.”

“I didn’t.” More like I sat with my head between her thighs for about fifteen minutes.

“Liar,” Lennox snarks. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. She’s really cute, and here’s hoping she’s an upgrade in personality from your usual type.”

“She’s way more than cute…she’s got a lot of layers.” Avery toggles between shy and insecure to intimidatingly intelligent and direct. It keeps me on my toes how I can’t quite pin down her personality. All I know is that I like it. “She’s also going through it with her ex.”

Lennox tents her hand over her eyes as the sun pokes out from behind a cloud cluster, blinding her. “So you guys have that in common.”

I blow out a breath as my jaw twitches in irritation. Speaking of exes. I have no one else to talk to about that phone call from last night than Lennox, so I might as well get it off my chest. “Hop in? Air’s going.”

Lennox walks around the truck and opens the passenger side door. She’s dramatic as she grabs the interior handle and hoists herself up like she’s mounting a horse. She hates my truck because of how high it sits off the ground. I don’t love it either. It’s like driving a monster truck around town. But I didn’t exactly pick it out. It was an over-the-top present from my dad a year ago.

“What’s up?” Lennox asks.

“Morgan called me last night. I’m trying to shake it off, but he got to me.”

---