Page 9 of Moments in Ink

I couldn’t see her, but the clipped nature of her words made me freeze, not wanting to intrude. However, I also wanted to know if there was anything I could do. Not that I knew if I could do anything.

“Fine, fine. Send the paperwork over. You and I aren’t done.” Meredith let out a sigh, cursed under her breath, and then went silent. I figured she had ended the call.

The trees still separated us, so I did my best to ignore her. I didn’t even say hello because I didn’t want her to think that I had been listening in—because I totally had been.

Instead, I set up my light and tripod near the far corner of my yard and hoped she wouldn’t come around the trees and see me in my full cosplay regalia.

I wasn’t in full costume, but I was still wearing leather pants, a bright green lace-up top, and my boobs were pretty much pushed to my chin. I had put on a ruby red wig, and I felt like a million bucks.

I didn’t need to be judged by someone who didn’t understand my job.

And maybe that was my ex from London talking in my head, not Meredith. But I really didn’t want to get hurt again. Especially not by someone I felt an attraction to, one I should probably ignore.

I put my hands on my hips and took a few photos doing my best to find the right angle.

I went back to my phone, checked to see what the photos looked like, and adjusted.

“Thank you for my jacket,” Meredith said from the gate. I froze, thankful that I didn’t push back and trip over my heels.

“Oh, you’re welcome. I didn’t know where to put it.”

“Over the gate like you did, and on a towel so it didn’t get dirty was perfect. So, thank you.”

I let out a breath and nodded, doing my best not to look at Meredith in her full accountant straitlaced gear. She looked like fucking Rachel Maddow and Megan Rapinoe had had a baby and became my wet dream.

There was something wrong with the way Meredith looked, all sexy as hell and serious.

And though her undercut made it look as if she might have a wild side or at least an angle that wasn’t as judgy, everything else bled seriousness.

The exact opposite of my current costume.

“Anyway, I need to get back to work.” I heard the curtness in my words and saw Meredith raise a brow.

Was the look in response to my getup? Or my tone?

“What are you working on?” Meredith asked.

“Uh, just photos.”

Smooth.

“Is this a new makeup look for your channel?” Meredith asked.

I blinked, confused. Had I told her about my channel? No, I had said that I was a makeup artist. Maybe Aaron had mentioned it.

“I recognized your name once I thought about it. A couple of my friends follow you religiously and try out your looks.”

“Your friends. But not you?” I asked, wondering why I sounded so catty.

Meredith snorted and gestured towards the gate. I nodded, waving my hand, and she stepped through and headed towards where I was standing. I didn’t know what she wanted, but practically shouting over the backyard was idiotic.

“I don’t have the talent for it.”

“Anybody can have the talent for it. You only need to learn the basic steps,” I said, repeating my mantra.

“Maybe. I don’t havethattype of talent, though. I seriously don’t. I’m good with two colors on my eyes, a light one and a dark one, and sometimes I even blend them together. Very thin eyeliner usually helps me out. I tried that cat-eye look once. Let’s just say I ended up with pinkeye.”

I held back a wince. “Clean brushes are the way to go.”

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