Page 77 of You, with a View

My jaw drops at the scene greeting me: my family is crowded into the frame, laughing. My parents are seated at some restaurant patio table, Thomas and Sadie behind them.

“Are you joking?” I yelp.

“Beans!” they all yell in various states of drunkenness.

I place my hand over my racing heart. “You’re drunk dialing me? I thought someonedied.”

Dad’s face falls, and he mouthssorry, but Mom leans in, oblivious. “How’s our favorite photographer doing? How’s the trip?”

“It—it’s great. It feels really good—I mean, it’s really, um, it’s been educational,” I stammer, staring at the bathroom door. Jesus, I have an aroused Theo Spencer in there and I’m talking to my drunkfamily? “Listen, I—”

“Educational?” Mom repeats quizzically.

I shake my head. “I just mean I’m learning a lot. About photography and the areas we’re visiting.”And Gram’s long-lost lover, oh, and also his beautiful grandson, who’s about to blow out my back.

“What are your chances of coming out of this with work lined up?” She picks up a tortilla chip, crunching happily.

Ohmy god. “Probably pretty good, Mom.”

That part is true, at least. I’ve gotten more DMs from people inquiring about prints, and plenty of video comments raving about my photos. The traffic to my online shop, which I linked to my profile, is growing rapidly. It’s not enough to sustain me, but it’s more than what I had before.

It feels good. It feelsright.

I swear a tear comes to Dad’s eye. “I’m not surprised. Mom and I are so proud of how you’ve gotten back on your feet. I know it hasn’t been easy.”

Sticky guilt coats my throat. “Thanks, Dad. It’s been nice getting back into it.”

Thomas turns to Dad, sensing I need a bailout. “Can you and Mom go get another round?”

Dad frowns, confused. “But we’re talking to Noelle—”

“We have some sibling matters to discuss.”

“Love you, honey, see you Friday!” Mom calls around Dad’s shoulder, then tows him out of the frame.

Thomas turns to me, eyes wide. “Oh my god, they would not shut up about calling. They’ve been bombarding me withquestions, like I have a clue what you’re up to.” He pauses. “I mean, I do because of TikTok, but I can’t tell them that.”

A panic-inducing thought suddenly bubbles up. “You have to keep them away from TikTok.”

“First of all, no shit. Second of all, you think they’re going to somehow stumble across a video on a social media platform they don’t even know exists?”

“Just please play defense for me, okay?”

“He’s all over it,” Sadie assures me.

“I am, don’t worry,” Thomas agrees. “But the chances of Dad finding out what you’re doing via social media are slim to none, so chill.”

“Right.” I let out a breath, but it doesn’t release the pressure in my chest. I’ve been so busy inside my bubble that I haven’t let myself think of what I’ll have to do when I step out of it. Telling Dad everything sounds as appealing as going home.

“You should show them to him, though,” Thomas says. “After you tell him about this. They’re really good, Beans. It makes me feel closer to Gram watching them.”

“Yeah,” I say, and we share a twin smile shadowed by our sadness. “Me too.”

Sadie leans her cheek against Thomas’s arm. “Are you good over there? Are you getting what you need out of the trip?”

My cheeks flush even hotter than when I was on Theo’s lap minutes ago. “Yeah. I think so.”

Something in my tone must tip Thomas off, because he lets out a honking laugh, effectively killing our tender moment. “You’re fucking Theo Spencer.”

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