Page 30 of Infected By Virus

“They really are captivating.” Virus watched as she reached to touch them. Tracing them with her finger hovering above, without touching the picture itself. “The color and shadows are amazing. Everything looks so alive.”

Hook mumbled a thanks then stepped away, but Virus’s attention was riveted to Rae. She was in her element with photography; it was written in every micro expression she made.

He watched as an array of emotions crossed her face, while she inventoried elements of a picture. Then her expression settled into bliss as she then took in the picture as a whole.

Virus stepped up beside her, needing to see her better, to be closer to her when she was like that.

It felt like a lifetime since he saw her that way. Radiant with euphoria. There were two things that put her in that state—photography and sex. She was a woman who gave herself over completely to both. God, he fucking missed her. When, no, if, she left again, he wouldn’t survive it.

It wasn’t just a case of loving and wanting her. He needed her. He’d just shut that need down in order to live without her. It wasn’t going to be possible anymore. But he’d fucked up so bad, he didn’t know how to make her stay. Sure, she’d agreed to start over, but he would never forget the look in her eyes when she’d seen him with Celeste. No matter what she said, she’d never completely get over that—how could she?

How could he even ask her to try? Especially when there was a living, breathing reminder of what he’d done and who he’d done it with. Even though they’d been broken up at the time, it was still a betrayal.

Virus drank in her blissful expression, because he feared he’d never induce that look for her again.

When she shifted her attention down and to the right, her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

“Is that—?” she asked no one in particular, but the kids shushed her.

“Yeah, it is,” Virus whispered so as not to receive another scolding from the ankle biters.

“How?”

“I put it there.”

“Why?” Her voice was breathy, and it tugged at his heart.

Virus hesitated to answer because the answer would make him sound like a pussy in front of Hook, who sat just a few feet away, but he made a promise to himself after that night to be completely honest with Rae if she ever spoke to him again.

“When I saw Hook’s love of photography, I felt like it belonged there. A nice contrast to his, like you always tried to explain to me.” He understood the words but the way Rae would speak about it in terms of photography made her light up and so he used to pretend not to quite grasp the concept just to watch her beam.

“I never thought you’d see it, to be honest, but in my heart, I knew you’d be happy, at least in theory.” He added the last mostly to himself.

Rae turned to him with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes, but before he could ask her why, Hook piped in.

“That’s yours?” She turned away and nodded at Hook.

“It packs a lot of punch for the size. I dare to say it’s the biggest picture on the wall.” Virus knew that was a massive compliment for Rae. She’d always tried to tell the most with the least. That’s why he’d had it framed in inner beveled reclaimed wood, measuring three inches on all sides. The picture itself was only a four-inch square. Even with that, it only took up ten inches of real estate on Hook’s wall. Most of his photos were easily twice that size.

“I have to say, I’ve been jealous of the photographer of that picture since I met Nova.”

“What? Why?”

“Because the first time she was here, it was that picture that captivated her. Mine were chopped liver as soon as she saw yours.”

Nova playfully slapped his bicep.

“That’s not how it was at all. Hook’s pictures have a very human quality, even though there isn’t a single one with a person. I knew yours was different the second I saw it. More gritty and raw. Kinda dark feeling. That’s what had my attention, not that I didn’t love his too.”

Nova leaned her head on Hook’s shoulder, and it seemed to placate the enforcer. Virus was struck again by how different his friend was with June and Nova. The man would torture a fucker if he had to, but he was all gooey for those two.

Not for the first time, Virus wondered if that was how people would see him when he looked at Rae.

“Hey Rae, maybe you can help me out with something I’ve always been curious about?” Hook asked.

“Sure, if I can?” She turned her attention fully toward Hook, and Virus was at her back. A place he wouldn’t mind being, metaphorically speaking.

“When Virus hung that there among my pictures, he said it was because my wall needed a touch of sunshine.” Hook stood and came to the wall, gesturing to various shots. “I never understood because mine are colorful, and yours is a black and white extreme close-up. I literally have a shot of the sun.” He pointed to one picture in particular. “So, what gives?”

---