Page 58 of Keeper
And spend the rest of my Spring break back at home,I thought with a different kind of dread and disappointment.
“So?” she asked. “You have any ideas or what?”
I glanced out the window. “Well, we’re lucky; it’s gorgeous out, so lighting won’t be an issue.” I started to rack my brain for ideas, but the first location that popped into my head was a winner. “Oh! I think I got it! How about the Dallas Arboretum?”
“Thewhat?”
“Arboretum. It’s a Botanical Garden,” I said. “There are gardens and fountains and there’s a lake, too. I’m sure we’ll find plenty of good places for some photos.”
“That’sgenius,Ainsley,” she said, a smile spreading across her face. “I love sets that make me look like I’m really into nature.”
I chuckled. “Yeah …”
“But where is it?” She grabbed her phone and looked it up. “Oh, wow! It’s not far at all. I’ll text the goalie the address right now.” She tapped away at her phone. “How’d you even know about this place?”
I shrugged. “I googled a list of places to visit in Dallas.”
Because I was hoping we might get to do some of it,I thought,and not just go out to clubs.
“Ainsley.” She tittered. “You’re such a dork.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you should be thankful for that.” I dabbed the makeup brush in the powder blush. “Because this dork just found your location. Now suck in your cheeks.” She did and her cheekbones appeared. I swept the blush across and beneath them, extending and blending the pink out to her temples.
“You’re so good at that,” she said, checking herself in the mirror from every angle. “I look amazing, Ainsley. God, I can’t wait until I have you doing my makeupeveryday.”
Yeahhh, about that …
I turned my back and packed up her makeup in a hurry. “Okay. Now I’ve got to change.”
Marta checked the time and made a note of concern. “Shit—we don’t have much time, so hurry up, okay? We’re going to be late.”
Up against the clock, I had precious few minutes to change. I ran to my backpack in the living room, threw on a bra and t-shirt, and swapped out my baggy sweatpants for a pair of black leggings. Marta nervously paced nearby as I slipped on my shoes.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Ready as can be,” I said with a sigh.
***
Marta’s cell phone gave directions in a friendly voice. “Turn right on North St. Paul street.”
Behind the wheel of Marta’s car, I pulled out of the parking garage and onto the street. She’d asked me to drive so she could keep a clear mind and not get any wrinkles from squinting in the sun.
“Okay, Ainsley, let’s talk aboutyourrole in the shoot today,” she began. “I don’texpectto need your help, because, let’s face it, I look amazing right now and he’s going to beallover me. But!” she interrupted herself, holding up a finger. “Sometimes these athletes can be shy or weird at first. Jocks aren’t always the most socially graceful, you know? If that’s the case, I’m not going to throw myself at him, obviously. No, that’s where you come in and give him some direction.” She winked at me.
“What exactly do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Like, you know, you could say—‘hey Vaughn, stand a little closer to her.’ Then slowly work your way up: ‘Good, now put your arm around her. Now stare into her eyes like you’re about to kiss for the first time.’ Stuff like that. I’ll handle it from there, obviously.”
I stifled a laugh. “Got it.”
“Hey, why are you laughing?!” she asked.
I shook my head. “You’re funny, that’s all.”
“I don’t know what’s funny about it. I just want to make sure you can handle this.”
“Trust me, I can handle it just fine.”
