Page 5 of A Man To Remember
My brows furrow and I open my mouth, take a sharp inhale and wait for the words that don't come. That was… kind of rude, wasn't it?
Austin nods to himself before turning on his heel and focusing back on the screen, hitting the space bar to switch to the next photo.
I shake my head. He's just focused, and I'm interrupting.
I allow myself a couple more minutes of standing behind Austin in perfect silence, looking over his shoulder as he goesthrough the shots, lingering on some for extended moments, while skipping others right away.
After that, I can't justify being here any longer. My curiosity has been satisfied, I guess. Well, it hasn't actually, but it's not like I'm learning anything new. It'd be one thing if we were having some in-depth conversation about lenses, or lighting, or one of the million other things I know nothing about.
But all we're having is a shared silence I'm not clever enough to break.
"Alright. I guess I'll get going. Leave you to the craft and all that," I say as I scratch the back of my head, becauseawkward. Austin doesn't look up.
"Bet," he says to his laptop. Whatever that's supposed to mean.
I nod to no one, slowly turn on my heel and saunter toward the door, grabbing my hoodie from the sofa on my way. Somehow, it got chilly.
As I reach for the handle, the sound of my name reaches me from where I left Austin. I turn my head to find him facing me, arms folded over his chest. I raise one brow.
"The offer stands." The fact that my brain's not braining today must be apparent on my face, because he clarifies, unprompted. "To pose."
I'm about to coy my way out of it again, but stop myself before I do. It didn't work so well the last time, and getting my ego stomped on twice wasn't on my bingo card today. Instead, I force a smile and nod. "I'll think about it."
And with that lie on my lips, I leave him alone.
CHAPTER 4
AUSTIN
I'M ACUTELY AWARE I only have five minutes left with the models—we agreed to finish at midnight tonight—and I already took all the shots I needed anyway, so five minutes from now, they're going to go on their merry way to…enjoy their good looks, I guess. Which would be perfectly fine if it weren't for the pair of eyes currently drilling a hole in the back of my skull, a fact I'm also acutely aware of, as I lean to the side and snap a series I already took before, because if keeping them until the last second means I won't have to look at Jesse's stupid face for a little bit longer, that's exactly what I'm going to do.
I've got no idea why he's here, anyway.Again.Life must be boring in Doucheland.
I drop to my knees and take two shots from that angle and do my best not to let my head visibly drop when the timer on my laptop goes off, indicating their job is done.
"Time flies, huh?" I say as if I hadn't been tracking seconds for the past half hour since Jesse not-so-subtly entered.I haul myself to my feet. "Great job, guys." I take my sweet time to walk over and shake both their hands, as this is our last day.
"Thanks, man," Marco says, already pulling on his t-shirt, because unlike a certain someone, he actually has a life. "Last night's proofs werea-mah-zing."
I cringe inwardly. They really weren't. Today's, on the other hand…well, they do seem promising, from the few I reviewed during the break.
As the guys continue to get dressed, I can't justify looming over them any longer. Reluctantly, I turn around and march to my laptop, and equally reluctantly acknowledge the blond head stationed on one of the sofas by the door. "'Sup," I offer. God, I hope he isn't planning on making it his permanent residence for the rest of my stay. I'd rather find another venue.
I busy myself with computer work, but my bliss doesn't last more than two minutes, and as soon as the door closes behind my models, the sound of Jesse's footsteps slices through the pleasant silence.
In an effort to put off having to interact with him as long as I can, I go through my shots. He'll butt in soon enough.
When he still doesn't a couple of minutes later, his mere presence behind me becomes enough to get on my nerves. God, he's annoying.
I take a deep breath, plaster on a neutral expression and turn to face him. I raise a questioning brow, but he doesn't bother explaining his presence, staring back at me with the intense green of his eyes. "May I help you?" I finally ask.
He nods. "I'll do it."
I've got no clue what theitstands for, but unless it'sleave, I'm not sure I'm interested. "Do what?"
He stares at me for a few sluggish seconds. And then, with a single word he manages to turn my so-far pleasant day into a waking nightmare. "Pose."
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
