Page 49 of It Started at the Lake

“Flat lay?”

“Instead of doing the photo shoot against a wall, I’m laying everything on the table. I’ll take the picture from above.”

“Ah, I see. And you need all these knickknacks to make the book look good?” Isn’t that what the cover is for?

She grins. “I do. When it’s done, you’ll see.”

I rub the back of my neck. “Can I watch you work? I’m intrigued.”

She shrugs. “Sure.” She lifts out a square, stained wood board. Shuffling through the boxes, she finds a knit throw blanket and bunches it up, laying it on top of the wood. She gets Mom’s newest release, setting it in the middle. I’m fascinated as bit by bit she adds objects that mean something from the story.

A fact I wouldn’t know unless I’d read the book, which I did. I’ve read every single novel Mom’s published. Her latest is a women’s fiction story set in the 1920s. I get the owl and feather references, along with keys.

“I swear I bought a strand of pearls,” Millie says, looking in a box.

I dig through the box she’s not looking in. Pulling out a strand of costume jewelry, I say, “Is this what you’re looking for?”

“Yes!” she squeals. “Thank you.”

Mils adds candles, flowers, greenery, and a tube of lipstick. “Okay.” She stands, swiping her hands on her thighs. “Photo time.”

I’m impressed. A bunch of junk turned into a cool mood board for Mom’s book. Did Millie read the novel, or did Mom tell Mils things to use for this photo shoot? Millie snaps a few photos. Shuffles items around, then snaps a few more.

She holds her phone in front of my face. “What do you think?”

Whatever filter she used makes the objects stand out even more. “It’s amazing. Will you do this with her other books?”

“As soon as I finish reading them.” Millie eyes me up and down. A slow smile spreads across her face. “I just had an idea.” She claps her hands. “Oh my gosh, seriously, this is going to be so awesome. How do you feel about being a model?”

I place a hand over my chest. “Me?” Why does she want me to pose? And what kind of pictures are we talking about here? Mom writes romance and women’s fiction. Is Millie wanting some sort of lovey-dovey vibes? Because that is so not happening.

“Secrets of the Woods is set here in Lake Lloyd. Correct?”

“It’s the inspiration, yes.” I’m nervous admitting that. What does Millie have up her sleeve?

“Ha! I knew it.” She spreads her hands in front of her, like she wants me to imagine the picture she’s painting. “Here’s what I’m thinking. The grove by the rock is where Felicity meets Miles for the first time. It’s the perfect spot for a side and back shot of you. If we can do the photoshoot mid-day when the sun is shining through the leaves in the trees, it will add the perfect ghostly element, which ties in with the time-travel romance. What do you say? Will you be my model?”

Mom asking me invasive questions as a teen for research was bad enough. Now Millie wants to use me for social media purposes? Being exposed to that many people makes my skin itch. I scratch my chin. “Uh. I’m not sure…”

She clasps her hands in front of her in a plea. Her eyes get wider, and she turns her lips into a pouty frown. How do people say no to that adorable face? I don’t think of Mils as anything more than a friend, and yet, it’s taking everything in me not to give in to whatever she asks of me. She wants a yacht? I’ll buy her the biggest one I can afford.

“Please, Bennett?” she begs. “You’re about the same size and hair color as Miles in the story. Honestly, based on the men I’ve read in your mom’s books so far, it appears she has a type.” Millie scans her finger up and down my body.

Ew. I really hope I’m not Mom’s type and Mom’s only used Dad as inspiration. “I don’t kno—”

Millie grabs on to my arm.

Looking into her golden-brown eyes, my resolve to say no melts like a gummy bear in a hot car. This overwhelming need to give her whatever she wants, to spend my days making her happy, makes me say, “Fine. But only side and back pictures. No portraits.”

Millie’s arms fling around my neck. “Oh, thank you, Bennett. This is going to be ah-mazing!”

I’m startled, but my body reacts on instinct, pulling Millie to my chest. We’re embracing and my heart is saying, this feels nice. It's been a long time since I’ve hugged someone who isn’t family.

The library door bangs open. Evie comes in shouting, “Millie, I’m springing you out of here!”

Millie jumps away from me like I threatened to give her a wet willy. She runs her hands down the front of her shirt, chuckling nervously. “Oh. Hey, Evs. We’re just… um… yeah, what’s going on?” Her cheeks are as red as her painted fingernails.

I smile, loving that we got caught. My plan is working.

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