A soft knock interrupted my brooding. Maya stood in the doorway, her expression unusually serious.
“Before you yell at me,” she said, holding up her hands, “I came to apologize. I shouldn’t have teased you about Adrian. I know how hard you work to keep everything going here, and I wasn’t being fair.”
I deflated slightly. “Come here, squirt.”
I stood up as she stepped into my open arms, squeezing me just as tightly as I did her. “Thank you,” I murmured into her hair.
She pulled back and perched on the edge of my desk, idly picking up a scattered paperclip from the desk as I took my seat again. “I just… I see how tired you are sometimes. How much you gave up to take care of me and the store. And when I saw you actually laughing with him yesterday?—”
“Maya—”
“No, let me finish.” She met my eyes. “You deserve good things, Maddie. Even temporary ones. Even if they’re wearing stupid-expensive sweaters and have too many Instagram followers.”
I reached for Dad’s sweater, running my thumb over the worn wool. “Life isn’t about what we deserve. It’s about what we can handle. And I can’t handle—” I gestured vaguely, encompassing Adrian, the viral video, the whole mess. “All of that.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?” She held up her phone with one of the reels playing on a loop.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to capture Adrian’s laugh again. To be the reason for it.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said firmly. “Two and a half more weeks and he’s gone. Better to keep things professional.”
Maya hopped off the desk with an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. Be stubborn. But when he shows up with some random date who acts like a doofus and looks like shit on your camera, don’t come crying to me.”
I swiveled my chair back to face the invoices. “I won’t. Because I’m calling Fannin Linwood. He owes me a favor. And he’s amazing in front of the lens.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Never mind, then. Those two will for sure hook up, and then your window of opportunity will close forever.”
As she headed back out to the front of the store, I stared after her. She was right. Fannin was known for enjoying time with pretty men. He’d gotten a reputation on the snowboard circuit as a total player. He’d seduce Adrian in a hot minute, and Adrian would probably thank him for the opportunity.
Fuck. Fucking fuck.
My phone buzzed again.
Adrian
I might have a lead on a guy. Alex Marian suggested I call Fannin something. He’s a ski instructor, I think. You know him? Think he’d look good cutting down Christmas trees?
My jaw ached from grinding my back teeth together.
I stared at the message, picturing Adrian among the pines with Fannin fucking Linwood, snowflakes catching in his golden hair, that genuine laugh pointed at Fannin’s model-pretty face and broad shoulders, while Fannin’s large hand spanned Adrian’s lower back.
The two of them together would make for beautiful footage. Professional, artistic footage that could help the store and Maya’s college fund.
But the idea pissed me off. For professional reasons, obviously. What if Fannin spent the entire time flirting? We’d be there all day. And what if Adrian stood out in the cold too long? His red cheeks might read splotchy and weird on-screen.
No. It would be better if I did it. For the sake of the finished product.
We could always use Fannin on a different shoot.Date. Maybe one in which he taught Adrian how to ski or snowboard.
My stomach twisted. That was a stupid idea for all the reasons I’d just said, wasn’t it?
I picked up my phone again and banged out a text.
I’ll do it. But this is the last time.
His response was immediate.
Adrian
