Page 52 of The Mistletoe Bluff
“When I posted the photos on social media, it brought in an influx of inquiries, and for a while business was doing well. But then the emails stopped coming, and my posts no longer brought in clients, and it all felt…over.”
I met his gaze. “Capturing the beauty of people in hidden ways that are so often overlooked and finding new ways to bring out peoples’ inner light through pictures…it’s all I want. I want them to findtheirhappy when they look at the photos I take. Much like you, I want my photography to mean something. That’s why…” I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to say the words that were begging to spill out of my mouth.
“That’s why it felt like the end of the world when you won the class competition. That had been my big chance to make Sunflower Fields explode, but then…it slipped through my fingers just like that.”
I hadn’t meant to sayallof that, but something about Oliver had the words falling off my lips.
Oliver’s eyes softened, and he took my hand on the table, his thumb tracing a line across it. “I’m sorry, Maya. I didn’t know how much it meant to you, and I never would’ve wanted to take that from you.”
I tried to smile, words stalling on my tongue for once, but my lips wobbled. It was ridiculous that my eyes burned at his words. Such a simple statement shouldn’t have such an effect, but for some reason, coming from Oliver, it meant so much more.
He had just started to lean forward, perhaps to kiss me, when my phone vibrated against my leg, and I flinched out of Oliver’s touch. I was thankful for the distraction. He didn’t need to see any more of my tears, and the thought of kissing him again made my emotions feel like they were on overload. With an apologetic smile, I fished out my phone from my pocket, ignoring the way he shifted in his seat and went back to eating.
Elsie
Hey! Are you still in for tomorrow night? I haven’t heard from you.
A weird sinking feeling settled into my stomach. Tomorrow night? What was she talking about?
Me
I’m scared to ask. What’s tomorrow night?
Elsie
You’re kidding, right?
It’s our Friendsmas!
Remember, you, me, and Jameson were going to have dinner together to celebrate Christmas before we go out of town? Did you forget?
Crap, I definitely forgot about that.
Me
That’s tomorrow?
Elsie
Yes, Maya, that’s tomorrow.
Can you still come?
I glanced at Oliver. Was it too much to ask him to drive me to Jameson’s house? As if hearing my thoughts, my phone buzzed with another text.
Elsie
You should bring Oliver! The more the merrier ;)
Me
I’m not sure that’s a great idea, Els.
Elsie
And why not, Maya? Give me one good reason.
A moment passed with my brain unable to think of a single excuse for why I wouldn’t want Oliver to come to Friendsmas. Because, if I were honest with myself, Ididwant him to come.
