Page 44 of The Friendly Fall

Orrealchemistry…

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “I don’t know anything about that sort of thing. All the artistic stuff is way out of my element.”

She laughs. “That’s kind of a relief.”

“Why’s that?” I ask, giving her a funny look as she begins to gather up her things.

“Oh, my ex-boyfriend used to be a know-it-all abouteverything,and artsy stuff was one of his favorite things to be an expert about. He was the reason I gave up photography in college. I didn’t want him to critique me any more than he already did.”

Sounds like a jerk.

“I’m sorry,” I say instead. “You deserve to be with someone who encourages you.”

“Yeah, I think that ship has sailed,” she mumbles. “Men always start out being super nice, and then they turn into jerks.”

“That’s a big assumption ofallmen,” I counter, feeling a little defensive. “Not every guy is like that.”

Eliza pauses, meeting my gaze with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Her lips part as if she wants to say something, but then she closes them again, a thoughtful expression crossing her features.

After a moment of silence, she finally speaks up. “You know, you’re right. Notallmen are like that. I’m sorry for generalizing,” she admits, her voice soft and vulnerable. “I’ve just had some bad experiences in the past.”

I nod. “It’s okay. We all carry scars from our past relationships.”

Andeverypart of me wants to help her heal, to show her that not all men are the same. To tell her she’s worthsomuch more than what her ex had to offer.

But I hold back, unsure if I’m overstepping my bounds. Instead, I simply smile at her and ask, “Are you hungry?”

Chapter Sixteen

Eliza

“What kind of pizza do you like?”

Nick glances over at me, a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m a classic pepperoni guy myself. How about you?”

I smile back at him. “I’m a big fan of Hawaiian pizza, actually. I know, I know, pineapple on pizza is controversial, but there’s just something about the sweet and savory combo that I love.”

Nick chuckles. “It’s settled then. We’ll get a Hawaiian for you and apepperoni for me.”

“Sounds perfect.” As I settle into the booth, contentment washes over me. Maybe it’s the successful photoshoot, or maybe it’s Nick’s company, but I feel a sense of peace that I haven’t felt in a long time.

“So, how did the photoshoot go with the kiddos today?” he asks, his gaze warm and attentive. “Was it what you expected?”

“It was even more enjoyable than I anticipated,” I reply, feeling a warmth spreading through me as I recount the day’s events. “And on the way out, I stopped and talked to Alison. She wants me to come back regularly to do family portraits.”

“That’s amazing!” Nick beams at me, genuine happiness shining in his eyes. “You’ll be the go-to photographer in town before you know it.”

“I sure hope so. I’d love to venture into weddings one day, but family portraits are a great start.”

“Well, what’s stopping you from pursuing weddings now?” Nick inquires, raising an eyebrow in genuine curiosity.

“Weddings are just a big responsibility and I’ll need to build up my portfolio before anyone would seriously consider hiring me for such an important occasion. I don’t even have any photos of couples in my portfolio at the moment,” I reply, feeling a pang of insecurity. “But hopefully, with more photoshoots like today, I can start to build that up.”

Nick leans back in his seat, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “You know, youdidjust take photos of us at the orchard. Why not add a few of those to your portfolio?”

I blink at him, caught off guard by his suggestion. “But those were just for fun, not a professional shoot.”

“Eliza, those photos were amazing,” Nick insists, his eyes locked on mine. “I know we’re not a couple, but it’s at least a start. It could help draw in potential clients.”

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