Page 89 of Picture Us

Diana’s hands on their shoulder startled them out of it. “What even was that? She was basically already asking to go home with you.”

“I didn’t want to go home with her.” Drew wiggled their eyebrows at Diana as the bartender set down their drink. Their last beer was really hitting now, the music pulsing in their ear as they tried to focus on Diana.

“Next time, can you at least try and get me laid? I need a wingman.” Diana winked.

Laughing, Drew nodded and clinked their glasses together. “You got it.”

As they took a sip, Drew looked around the bar. It was like a zoo, everyone staring each other down from across the bar and no one making a move. Of course, Drew was just like they were. But all they could think about was who wasn’t here.

Every few seconds, they could have sworn they spotted Rose’s red hair moving through the crowd. Even if they had, they didn’t know what they could possibly say that would make her look at them the same ever again.

“I don’t know, I just hate seeing you so hung up on it.” Diana rubbed her forehead.

With a shrug, Drew looked down at their drink. “I hate it too, but I just need time. I hadn’t felt like that about someone since… well, you.”

Sipping the foam off her beer, Diana groaned. “Oh that’s terrible.”

“The beer or me?”

“Both.” Diana slammed their glass down on the counter.

Drew nudged her arm with their fist. But it was true, at some point they would let it go and the pain would fade.

Unless it doesn’t.

34

ROSE

“She was nice,it just wasn’t like fireworks.” Rose explained as she opened the passenger’s door of Ellen’s car.

Hopping out of the backseat, Fin shrugged. “Well that’s alright.

“No, it’s not. She’s still hung up on that asshat.” Ellen shook her head at her fiancée.

They walked across the gravel driveway of the Mohonk Mountain House. Rose scanned the entrance, already thinking of places they could shoot some of the pre-ceremony content.

“I’m not hung up. I’m just still hurt. And per your advice, I am trying to be more discerning before I decide I like someone.” Rose pulled her phone from her pocket and took some location shots.

Fin wrapped their arm around Ellen. “Just one more week and then we’ll be wives.”

Clapping, Ellen could barely sit still at the thought. “Can we go look at the ceremony spot?”

Everyone nodded as they walked the path through toward the back of the massive main building. It was basically a hotel with a beautiful first floor for weddings. Outside, the back overlooked a gorgeous lake with shimmering water. It wasn’t far from where Rose and Drew had shot Lauren’s maternity pictures.

Rose’s throat tightened as she remembered the day. Her body still responded to the thought of Drew’s touch.Ugh, Stop it.She shook the feeling as they appeared around the curve in the path, the lake below revealing itself to the group.

“Wow.” Rose’s mouth fell open. It was quite a majestic place to promise forever to someone.

“Right?” Ellen crossed her arms triumphantly.

“Well, you’ve made my job super easy. This spot does all the work for me.” Rose already had the setups in her head. Ellen in her flowing dress sitting on the farmhouse fence, Fin leaning against her. The two of them walking down the aisle. The families coming together. It might just be the easiest wedding Rose would ever shoot.

But all she could think about was how beautiful it would all look on film. She knew Drew would see something she didn’t, add something she missed.

They kept walking, pointing out where Ellen and Fin had planned on certain moments. The venue even included a wooded property where they could take pictures away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the venue.

Walking along the pebbled path along the cliff, Fin cleared their throat. “Have you heard from them?”

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