Becca let out a nervous laugh."Well, before you get mad, you should know the photo's absolutely gorgeous."
"What photo?"Callie was half amused by her friend and half agitated, wanting to know what exactly Delaney had done.
"She posted a photo of one of your mugs, and it's all staged.I don't know where it is, but you can see the vines and the sunlight's perfect, and it's on this table.I don't want to describe it — you should look.I'll mess it up.And I'm not even going to attempt to say what caption she used, because it was perfect, and I'll only ruin it.But Callie, it's a beautiful photo, and it's kind of saying, 'Look at this new artist I discovered.'"
Callie frowned."And that's it?"
"Uh, no."Becca sounded cautious again."There's also a photo of you...and Ollie."
Callie scowled."Thereareno photos of me and Ollie.What on earth are you talking about?"The only photos of the two of them were the ones they’d taken out by the pool.She and Ollie were the only ones who had them.She looked over at him.
"It's from Muse last weekend," said Becca."Don't be mad.It's gorgeous.You should look."
Callie blew out a sigh."Okay.I'm going to go take a look.Thanks for letting me know."
"Call me back," said Becca."I can wait, but I need to know that you're okay.But check the comments too.All right, I'll shut up.I'll talk to you soon, okay?But Callie — this is a good thing.More than good.This ishuge."
Callie ended the call and opened her Instagram.She was shocked to see that she had hundreds of notifications.Usually, she got one or two when someone tagged her after a purchase.This was...
She scrolled through and then found it, and her mouth fell open.Not because of the image of the mug in the beautiful wine country setting — which she immediately recognized as Charles's place, where they'd just been.It was the photo of her and Ollie.
It was perfect.
Her hand came up to cover her heart.They looked like a real couple.
Ollie came to her looking worried, and the dogs crowded around."Is everything okay?"he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She shook her head, still trying to find words.She'd read the caption, and she didn't know what to say.She didn't know how he'd feel.
She held her phone out to him."Delaney posted.And it's blown up."
He grinned as he reached for her phone."That's awesome, Callie.That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
She shrugged."It seems to have brought a lot of interest in my work, but...she used you, Ollie."
He frowned."What do you mean?"
"She talks about me as this new artist.But she used you.She used your name.That's not right."
Ollie was looking down at her phone now, and a big grin spread across his face."Have you seen this photo of us?"
She couldn't help but smile back."Isn't it gorgeous?"
He chuckled and rested his forehead against hers."Of course it is.Because we are."
She laughed and slapped his arm.He looked more serious as he added, "We make a great couple, don't we?"
She glanced down at the phone."I'm so glad I bought that dress now."
It was his turn to laugh."It's not the dress, Callie.It's you.You're beautiful."
"Aw, thank you.So are you."
He rolled his eyes at her."Thanks.But hang on — what are you worried about?Why did you think I wouldn't like this?"
"Because she used your name."She let out a breath."I thought you had a problem with that.You know — being your father's son and everything.Wanting to be who you are in your own right."
He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear."Not when it comes to something like this, Callie.I don't mind.In fact, I'm glad."He paused."It hasn't been easy being my father's son.Having his name has caused me pain all my life.If being related to Miles Stratton is finally going to be useful for something, I'm glad it can help you."
