Page 72 of Wild Flower

“Is that a problem for your school?” Becca asks, turning her attention back to me. “Are images like yours allowed? Is it a conservative university?”

“No, it’s not that,” I say, happy that Becca isn’t immediately uncomfortable with what she knows I’ve photographed. “I just have to get model releases … from both of you.”

“Oh,” Becca’s smile falls. “You mean permission to use the images in any way you see fit?”

“Legally, I can’t show them if you two don’t sign the model release,” I explain. “It’s university policy.”

“How many images are you going to put up?” Becca asks.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Probably five or six. I have to look through the images and find the right story to tell with them.”

“But you want to use the one of me and Archer against the glass?” Becca asks, her voice quieter now.

I nod. “Only with your permission,” I insist. “But that one feels like the center of the work. So, I’d like to feature it. Katz thinks it’s very provocative.”

“Of course it is,” Becca agrees, an edge to her voice. “A few minutes later I fucked both of you.”

An uncomfortable silence falls over the car, and I get the feeling sharing these images is a step too far.

“You know what,” I say quickly, “I don’t have to do the show. It’s not a big deal.”

But my gut twists at the thought of giving up my spot, much less a featured position. Still, I didn’t ask permission to take that photo of the two of them. I just did it. I was inspired. But inspiration doesn’t usurp privacy.

“No, of course you need to do the show,” Becca insists. “I just—” She shakes her head, turning inward for a moment. “It’s been a long day. The meeting with Connor, and then looking at new farm locations … It’s a lot for me right now.” Archer kisses her knuckles and laces his fingers in hers. “That isn’t a no, Finn,” Becca adds. “But if it’s okay, I’d like to take some time to think it over?”

I nod, wishing I hadn’t brought it up right now. Bad timing. That’s evident.

We pull up to the Birds of Paradise boutique and my cousin Miranda practically mauls Becca when she steps out of the vehicle. “I’m so glad you’re back!” she chirps, giving Becca a hug. “I finished the sculptural pieces for the Flambé shoot, and they look ah-mazing! I can’t wait to see how the whole shoot comes together.”

Becca sneaks a glance at me at the mention of another shoot she’ll have to sign a release for and I wonder if she’s having second thoughts.

“I’ve disassembled all the sculptural parts and put them in the fridge to keep the blooms fresh for the shoot,” Miranda babbles. “And—” Archer steps out of the car and Miranda screams at the sight of him. “Hello, Archer! Oh my gosh, Becca, you didn’t tell me you were bringing your beautiful new batboy to the boutique this evening.”

“Please refrain from saying something you’ll regret,” Becca warns Miranda as she bounces over to Archer and starts talking a mile a minute.

“So our little plan at Flambé worked, didn’t it?” Miranda exclaims. “Isn’t Becca the best? I knew you two would hit it off. She issointo guys like you—long hair, big muscles, ready to jump out of the pages of a romance novel.”

Archer eyes Becca;Did you just feed me to the wolves?But Becca laughs. “If you can handle my family, you can definitely handle Miranda.”

“Did you just compare me to your mother?” Miranda asks, insulted, which is when I get out of the car and Miranda’s face does a double take. “Finn? What are you doing here?” Her eyes cut to Becca. I guess her boss hasn’t told her about me yet.

“We all met with Connor earlier,” Archer interjects, “to discuss the contract from Mrs. Laurel. Connor used to be a lawyer.” None of that explains what I’m doing here, but it changes the subject nicely.

“Contract?” Miranda turns to Becca, retargeting her confusion. “What’s he talking about?”

“My mom …” Becca rubs her face in exhaustion. “She’s going to start charging me for the land I use for the farm.”

“You’re serious?” Miranda stares at her in surprise. “We barely turn a profit as is. Isn’t that going to—?” Miranda’s eyes widen. “Is your mom trying to put you out of business?”

Becca balls up her fists and it makes me want to massage all that tension out of her back. But Miranda only seems to know about Becca and Archer, so I don’t.

For the first time, I feel like I shouldn’t be here. I’m a secret Becca is keeping. But I don’t want to bail right now and add something else to Becca’s pile of concerns. So, I quietly follow the three of them into the shop, hanging back so I don’t seem like anything other than Archer’s friend, tagging along with him and his girlfriend.

41

ARCHER

Sitting at a coffee shop, Finn shows me the photos he’s considering for the university shoot. He wasn’t lying, they’re provocative, especially the one of me and Becca on the glass. But they’re also good. I’m no artist, but I appreciate beautiful things. I never saw Finn’s photo work before, but his teacher is right, these images have a life to them that’s hard to look away from.

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