“Well, well,” he says, smiling. “You’ll get me in trouble for showing up the bride.”
I roll my eyes. No amount of primping could erase a full day at work. “Thanks for letting me come. It means a lot.”
He takes my hand. “Don’t think I won’t put you to work.”
It turns out the bride and groom are over-the-top welcoming and not the least bit old-fashioned. I try to make myself invisible by shadowing Finn, but they insist we sit at the table and partake in grilled salmon and expensive wine. Finn gets up every few minutes to capture speeches and candids. Watching him work in this capacity is like seeing him through new eyes. He’s overdressed, and ridiculously handsome, but it’s his focus and skill with the camera that keeps my attention.
“What kind of lens is he using?”
I turn to find that Eric, the groom-to-be, has taken the seat next to mine. “Um. I’m not sure.”
“I thought you were the assistant.”
“I mostly just hold things.”
He laughs. “Sounds like my impending position ofhusband.”
“I also have to tell him how great he is or he gets cranky.”
“Same with Elyse,” Eric says. “You’re writing my job description right now. More wine?”
I’ve already had a glass, but tonight, we’re celebrating—Eric and Elyse. Finn’s birthday and his burgeoning career. My big decision to come out and one-hundred K. I slide my wineglass over for a refill.
Elyse walks up, waving an envelope. “For this weekend,” she says, sitting on the other side of me, in Finn’s chair. “Your boss won’t take it until the job is done, but I just want it gone. All the outgoing envelopes of money are giving me anxiety.”
I smile, slipping the check under the table and into his camera bag. “I’ll hide it from him until Sunday.”
“So do you guys do many weddings?” she asks.
The answer is no. In fact, I think this is Finn’s first, but I don’t want to ding his credibility. I drink Pinot Noir while thinking of an answer. “I’m new, so no,” I say. Not technically a lie. “I’ve never done one.”
“Done one what?” Finn asks, planting his hands on the back of my chair. I look up at him, and he winks.
“Wedding,” I answer. “As a photographer’s assistant.”
“That makes two of us,” Finn says.
“Really?” Elyse looks surprised. “I wouldn’t have thought so. I guess I should’ve asked.” She laughs. “Luckily, we’re easygoing.”
“Who was it that recommended you again?” Finn asks. “I didn’t catch the name when we were on the phone.”
“Oh, well, actually . . .” She lowers her voice, leaning in. “That’s not true. I was a little embarrassed to say, but,” she and Eric exchange a glance, “we found you because of yourotherphotos.”
Wait.Otherphotos? Mine?
My jaw drops. I’d wondered fleetingly whether they’d nosed around Finn’s website and found the link to our account . . . but this! Areal-lifeencounter with our followers.
Finn laughs stiffly. “And your first thought was wedding photographer?”
“We’re a little non-traditional if you can’t tell,” Elyse says. “We were so sick of fake smiles and tears, awkward prom poses. At the last minute, we came across your work and decided to scrap our other photographer. We want something more original.”
I look up again, but Finn’s stepped back, outside my line of vision. “Wow. I’m glad,” he says, although he doesn’t sound glad.
Oh my God.
This couple, sitting next to me?
They’ve seen me half-naked. And they liked what they saw. Enough to hire Finn for the biggest day of their lives.
