Page 46 of Only One Bed: Anthology Vol. 1
Had she said something wrong? Did Kendall have an aversion to hip tattoos? Why was she gripping the side of the boat? Maybe she wasn’t really into tattoos. Well that would just be fucking great.
Kendall was tapping her foot in rhythm with her now drumming fingers.
What in hell is she thinking? Note to self, look into tattoo phobias.
Kendall seemed to snap out of whatever she was feeling, “This is where we go to shore. We can pitch our tents over there to the left, and there is a safe fire pit to the right.” Then, in a flash, Kendall was out of the boat and walking the final bit to shore.
Emme took the much-needed respite to roll her neck in an attempt to release the tension that had formed and run her hands through her now even wilder wind-tousled nest of curls. Why was she feeling sad, a sense of loss?
It was as if she had lost something with Kendall that she didn’t even have. Her heart thumped harder watching Kendall move farther and farther from her. Nothing had happened. They were just chit-chatting. So why did she feel so off?
Letting her fingertips trail through the water, Emme imagined the coolness running up her fingers into her arms and soothing her neck and back. Once a sense of calm returned, Emme prepared to disembark the little canoe of confusion and prepared to make land with the sexiest river guide imaginable.
The location was perfect, and Emme was so glad she had taken Kendall’s recommendation. Originally, Emme thought an area upriver, known for its tall trees, would be the spot, but then Kendall told her about this area that had beautiful trees, and a hill with a fantastic view of the river basin below. She could already see trees that called to her and large slabs of stone that had weathered lifetimes. The forest was teeming with life and this spot seemed livelier than any other she’d experienced. This was going to be perfect.
There was so much to photograph, beetles, trees, berry-bushes, and butterflies. She knew she would be able to complete the entire deck with the images from this trip and maybe start a companion deck. While she worked, Kendall walked with her, pointing out things and explaining their role in the local ecosystem. Emme was amazed at how much Kendall knew and how effortlessly it seemed to come to her. Kendall really seemed to feel the nature in her bones. Maybe she had some witchyness to her too. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Eventually Kendall stopped pointing things out and the conversation slowly transitioned. They talked about silly mundane things, like the college version of who’s who and where they were now. Emme updated Kendall on her family, her sister’s twins, and her best friend’s current, new obsession, custom tambourines. Kendall talked about her plans to turn her garage into a studio where she could work on boats and birdhouses, her raised bed garden, and an ever-growing collection of vintage typewriters. It felt so peaceful and calming to be wandering around the woods together.
Emme wondered what it would be like to have a special person in her life like Kendall...maybe Kendall herself. The heat started to pool in her lower belly again, and she knew she needed to distract herself. She’d had this conversation with herself over and over. Kendall’s presence in her life was more important than giving into damn desire.
What if it didn’t work out? Would they remain friends? Probably not, it would hurt too much. Would they see each other and cross the street or pretend to be on a call? That was too painful to even contemplate.
Emme forced the negative thoughts away. “Can I photograph you?”
Where did that come from?
“Me?” Kendall seemed genuinely surprised.
“Only if you are comfortable with. It’s no big deal. I can’t help it. Once a photographer always a photographer.”
Kendall seemed to be seriously considering the request, “No, it’s cool. What should I do?”
Emme looked around and there, a few feet away, was a beautiful large rock covered in emerald-green moss. “Go over by that rock and just look at me.”
Kendall looked a bit sheepish but did as she was instructed. Emme picked up her camera and placed Kendall in the frame. She felt bold when she had a camera in hand. “Okay, just look at me. Don’t worry about smiling or anything. Just do what feels natural.”
Emme’s beautiful subject was looking at the forest floor at first, then slowly lifted her head and looked directly into her photographer’s soul. The shutter seemed to be snapping on its own, like it knew Emme was becoming lightheaded from the intensity of the moment.
As quickly as it started, it ended. Emme put down her camera. “Do you want to see?”
“No, who likes looking at themselves? You can show me after you work some editing magic.”
I wouldn’t alter a single pixel.
“I’m getting hungry. Is there a place you think would be nice to stop and eat?”
Kendall looked around, thinking for a moment, then pointed up and to the left a little, “There’s a nice area over there where we can eat.”
Within minutes, they were laying out a green-checkered blanket and preparing to indulge in homemade sandwiches, large pickles, and soda.
After taking a few bites Kendall looked at Emme quizzically, “You don’t have to answer this, but what happened to Dominic?”
Emme’s heart stuttered at the mention of her ex; the last thing she really wanted was to talk about that breakup with Kendall.
“He’s running a small engine repair shop I think.”
“You know what I mean. What happened between you and him? I heard from Sierra that you were wearing a ring for a while.”
