Page 107 of Between the Blue
I nod. “The photobooth and all the photos you see displayed. Yes, they’re mine.”
“Hmm…” She folds her hands.
Every muscle in my body tenses further the longer she stays quiet.
Finally, her gaze settles on me once more.
“This Saturday morning,” she says. “You’re not busy?”
My mouth falls open. She doesn’t really seem to be asking me if I’m busy, but more so telling me that I’m not. Still, I have to rack through my mental schedule.
This weekend is the first away game I’ll be able to attend. It’s not until Sunday, but we’re flying out on Saturday. But not until one in the afternoon.
“I’m not busy Saturday morning,” I state.
Natasha purses her lips, scanning my face once more, as if she’s suspiciously searching for something in me she may have missed. Apparently, she doesn’t find it, because she snaps open the clutch bag she’s carrying in her hand, pulling out what looks to be a business card.
“We have a photoshoot in downtown Austin Saturday morning. 8 a.m., sharp. Come assist. Email my assistant for the details.”
She holds the business card out to me and I accept it with a shaky hand. “Are you serious–”
“Addison, you already confirmed that you know I’m a busy woman. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
My mouth snaps closed, and I suddenly feel like I may be ill, but Natasha winks at me, making me relax some. Then she reaches for her husband’s arm once more.
“Thank you,” I tell her. “So much. I’ll be there.”
The next two hours, as the charity gala goes on and eventually begins to wind down, feel like a blur.
It’s like I’ve been halfway between floating on air and on the verge of a panic attack ever since my talk with Natasha.
I have an opportunity to work withThe. Natasha. Collins.
This weekend.
I still haven’t wrapped my head around it. I’m not sure I’ll be able to until I’m really there.
I’m just finishing up taking down the final pieces of the photo booth when I pull out my phone, setting a reminder for myself to email Natasha’s assistant first thing in the morning.
I hear a noise ahead of me and look up, seeing Rhett sidling up against a high bar table with a woman. Her arms are wrapped around his neck and lips are at his ear, and they look like they’ve both had more than a couple of glasses of champagne each. Rhett’s eyes catch mine over top of the woman’s head, and something seems to click in his head.
He mutters a curse.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
It’s clear I’m not getting that ride I was promised.
I wave a hand at Rhett, mouthing for him not to worry about it. He points at the girl wrapped around him, shrugging his shoulders, trying to communicate something to me along the lines ofIt just happened. I wave him off once more, telling him silently to be safe. He gives me a nod and thumbs up, and I do the same.
I turn away, letting out a sigh as I remove the photo booth camera from the tripod, sliding it into its carrying case. Once I have double checked that everything is secure and I’m carryingwhat I need to take home with me tonight, I pull back the draping to step out of the party space.
I make my way to the building exit that’s closest to the Rail stop and set down what’s necessary in order to push open the door. I just begin to grip the handle when a voice behind me makes me jump.
“So, it looks like you’re not getting taken home after all.”
I spin around, finding Ben looming in the shadows once again.
“What?” I question him, clutching my chest.
