Page 68 of Obsessed

“Good.” Now all he needed to do was wrap up the dispute over the will.

“The next time I call, I will have good news,” she stated, reading his mind. “Again, good luck tonight.”

“Thank you,” Mason managed to get in before the line went dead, and as he stared at his phone he vowed to work his ass off for her portrait because she was doing a stellar job, clearing things up at lightning speed compared to Stanley’s two-year wait.

Losing the threat of his family had taken a lot off his shoulders but the world still felt heavy without Rain in it. At least his SD card had gotten into the right hands; a few weeks after Mason had dropped it off, an internet search told him that Gage had been hauled away for multiple parole violations and was facing a few more years in prison.

Mason had never considered himself to be brave or bold, and as a child it had made him easy prey. However, as an adult, he realized that he didn’t have to be either of those things. He could defend himself and the man he cared about by hiring smarter and scarier bullies, so he could live his life without interference, and to him, nothing was more healing than that.

“Half hour!” echoed through the gallery and Mason let out a long breath, taking a few steps away and studying his portraits. He’d been given a decent section toward the center of the gallery with enough room to display eight to ten photos depending on their size, and he’d gone with nine. Three times larger than the others, the main piece hung from the ceiling a few inches away from the wall, right under the lights where Rain belonged. Mason hoped it would draw people in and from there they could disperse to either side. Focusing, he tried to find anything wrong with the photos and he finally couldn’t; he was officially done.

Cracking his neck, Mason grabbed his bag and went into one of the back rooms to change. Straightening his tie in the mirror, he checked over his dark gray suit, wondering if he was overdressed, but it was Gran’s favorite, especially the shirt. She always said it matched his eyes.

You look very dapper, Cricket. Now go out there and knock ‘em dead!

Mason hoped that somehow she was here in spirit; she would’ve been so proud.

His footsteps clacked on the hardwood floors as he emerged from the back, and he’d usually avoid the cluster of photographers in the center of the room but over the last few weeks he’d been broadening his horizons.

It had started with a visit to Gran’s bedroom, where he’d grabbed some of her self-help books a few years too late. She’d always wanted him to read from her collection and he’d always avoided it, pushing all his trauma and fear aside by delving into photography, but he couldn’t be a complete person until he did some healing. And he certainly wouldn’t have a good career without coming out of his protective shell and learning how to talk to people, so he used what he’d learned and joined everyone.

They all gave him a nod or a smile, their excitement palpable, and Mason nodded back, not used to being accepted by his peers, who continued to be surprisingly kind.

“Mason, what you pull from your subject?” Rolling his wheelchair over, Stefan gestured toward Mason’s photos. “It’s mind-blowing. Your point of view is honest and alive.”

“Thank you.” Reminding himself that not everyone was out to get him, Mason quirked his lips, giving Stefan a half-grin.

“Is this really your first exhibition?” He asked, his expression full of interest.

“I did three in school. They weren’t like this.”

Stefan raised his eyebrows. “That’s insane. Your work needs to be out there.”

“I agree.” Dolores joined them. Tall, with stark white hair, Dolores had worked with too many legends and celebrities to count; Mason wished he had half her talent. “Your technique has leveled up, Hart. Your photos are warmer. I like them.”

Dumbstruck, Mason could only swallow and nod, her compliments meaning the world to him. To be honest, over the last few days he’d been checking out his fellow photographers’ work, and after seeing the quality of their photos he’d started to worry if he even belonged among such talent, but he chalked that up to impostor syndrome. He did belong here; he’d worked hard to get to this point and he deserved it. He only wished that Rain could share this milestone with him.

Ten minutes later the doors opened to cheers from the photographers and the crowd outside, and the place slowly filled. Mason kept his eyes on the door, hoping to see Rain; Ollie had basically promised to bring him but it wasn’t a guarantee.

Someone bumped Mason’s shoulder and he turned. It had gotten crowded in the last few minutes and there were small groups around each of his portraits, including three women who stood in front of the main photo, taking in that piece of Rain’s soul.

“It’s cute at first glance but then, you feel kind of…”

“Happy, like you’re snuggling at home with your husband.”

“Mhhmm. Did you see the other pictures? This model is unreal!”

Clapping grabbed everyone’s attention and as Mason tried to see what was happening up front, he realized how truly packed it was and his palms began to sweat. Silence rippled through the room and Mason shifted, leaning against a wall so he had a clear view of Flick, a local photographer who’d taken pictures all over the world; this exhibition was her brainchild and she waited patiently until all eyes were on her.

“Hello everyone, welcome to opening night ofIn Sight - A Study of Portraits. I’m Flick Adams and I’ve gathered eleven talented photographers to show their work. We each have our reasons for taking portraits but it all comes down to capturing the human condition, the different ways we see others, and how that reflects in ourselves. I’m honored to be among such good company-”

That was Mason’s cue, and he grouped up with the rest of his colleagues, staying toward the back as everyone stared at them with smiles and curious eyes. Mason scanned the guests, trying to find Rain as Flick continued to speak, only tuning back in once the applause and hors d'oeuvres broke out.

The photographers quickly dispersed as the crowd dove into the free food and alcohol, and Mason tried to get back to his photos but he had trouble getting through. People had begun to cluster together, unmoving, and while Mason could hear a commotion ahead, he couldn’t see it.

Even though he hated doing so, he weaved through the crowd, his pulse racing as he realized that the excitement was centered aroundhisphotos, and once he broke through the surrounding wall of bodies he stilled, his heart pounding so loudly that he was sure everyone could hear it.

Standing in front of the centerpiece, Rain stared open-mouthed at himself, tears shimmering in his eyes as they traveled to each photo. The mirror image of subject and muse had garnered quite a bit of attention but Ollie and Liam stood behind Rain, buffering most of it until Mason unlocked, stepping forward.

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