Page 42 of Tell Me It’s Right

Miles stiffens beside me. “Ash…”

“You want some?” he murmurs as he prepares a line of white powder on the railing.

Is thatcoke?

Miles glances at me sideways.

“Gracie?” offers Asher.

“I’m good,” I say immediately.

Asher’s eyes flick to Miles, and Miles gives a single shake of his head.

Asher shrugs, leans forward, and snorts the powder in one go. He stands up straight with renewed light in his eyes, then grabs Miles by the elbow. “Come on. I need a wingman.”

“I really doubt that’ll help,” mutters Miles, but he lets Asher pull him toward the door. He hesitates before stepping inside and glances at me over his shoulder. “Tomorrow? Say yes, Gracie.”

Every insecurity inside of me is screamingThis is a bad idea, but somehow I find myself uttering a breathy “Yes.”

Chapter Fifteen

GRACIE

“Liam! Would you stop being so awkward?”

He huffs out a breath and kicks the skateboard into his hand, his other fist resting on his hip. “I’m not a model!”

“Oh wait, maybe hold that pose.” I lower to my knee and reframe the shot. It’s just how I imagined it—the contrast of the industrial look of the skatepark with the sunset and ocean water in the background. “Just pretend I’m not here.”

“That’s impossible with you barking orders,” he mutters and runs a hand through his hair.

I grab as many shots as I can.ThisI can work with. When he’s distracted and yelling at me and not focusing on the fact there’s a camera pointed at him, I might actually grab some good candids.

Everything else is…painful to look at. Especially with all the extra scowling he’s doing today.

“I really don’t see what the point of this is,” he adds. “It’s a tattoo shop. It’s not like I sell skating gear.”

“Turn a little so I can see the backs of your legs more.”

“Oh, you like these?”

“I meant the tattoos,” I say flatly. “Now start running like you’re going to do a trick thingy.”

“Trick thingy,” he repeats under his breath with a shake of his head. But he does what I ask.

I don’t care if he sees my vision for the pictures as long as he keeps doing what I say.

What he doesn’t understand is social media marketing is about more than just showing a product. You have to get people to care. To connect. They want faces, names, personalities. They want a reason to choose you over someone else.

And, I hate to admit it, Liam Brooks looks good on a skateboard. I’d be stupid not to take advantage of that.

“Okay, come back! I want a close-up of your arm holding the board. Stand…here!” I point to the spot that’ll give just a hint of interest in the background.

When he steps in front of me, he’s grinning.

“What?” I demand.

He shakes his head, that damn smile still in place. “I’ve never seen you this bossy.”

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