“Nope. My job was just the brief,” she said.
Phoenix leaned closer to Tammy, as if reassuring her. “You’ve met my team, and you’ll have a chance to go over everything with the director. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay. If it sucks, I know who to blame,” Tammy said with a mischievous grin.
Orchid waved away her comment. “No way is it going to suck. Phoenix wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble of making you his main talent if you weren’t absolutely perfect. And think about it, Tammy. You’re going to help so many people.”
The waitress tented a green slip of paper onto their table and lifted their empty plates. Before she could stack them, Orchid grabbed a fry.
“They’re better hot,” he said.
“This is perfect timing,” she announced. “Before I’m tempted to have more.”
Tammy snorted. “You skinny thing. You could eat a hundred of those and it wouldn’t show on you!”
She watched Phoenix check the bill and then cover it with his credit card.
The waitress appeared, took his payment, and returned moments later. He signed the receipt and they stood to leave.
“Sorry to eat and run. I’ve got plans,” said Tammy.
Orchid took a deep breath. “Maybe I should go too, and let you spend time with your family.”
Phoenix looked at her. Was that disappointment on his face? “Come say hi to Caleb, and meet my cousins. Save us all from ourselves.”
The trio emerged into the afternoon heat undulating against a blue sky. Orchid tilted her head toward the sunshine, this beautiful man’s hopefulness coaxing a smile from her. “If you like, but I’ll be heading out before the fireworks.” Before he could respond, she quickly added, “And I can find my own way back to the city. You should stay with your family.” She wouldn’t outstay her welcome. Their assignment was officially over.
“If this is goodbye, let’s take a photo.” Tammy pulled out her phone. The three of them crowded together to fit inside the virtual edges of the lens.
“I hope it’s not goodbye,” Phoenix said, looking at the picture.
Orchid scanned the happy image. They looked like they belonged together.
“I’ll send you the best ones,” Tammy said, and eyed the folder in Phoenix’s hand. “Do you mind if I have that?”
Orchid’s mouth widened as Phoenix handed her the script. “All yours.”
Tammy hopped onto a low-slung motorbike, secured the papers into her saddlebag, and made a wide arc out of the parking lot, leaving them with a wave.
Orchid stood with Phoenix. She felt the air shifting between them. He was so close. Their connection was invisible yet strong.
She turned to face him, holding out her phone. “Take one with me. Tammy’s right, this is goodbye for us, too.”
Before he could say anything, she faced her camera towards them. The screen was vertical, so they moved closer, their faces filling the screen. The thought of no longer seeing him, no more texts, no reason to contact each other… caused a knot to tighten inside her.
In the photo, they looked ebullient.
They walked to his car. A breeze ruffled her hair as she walked to the passenger side.
He opened her door. “Have you given up your corporate guise?” He gestured towards her outfit.
She slid into her seat. “My guess is that Joan’s going to announce the decision on Tuesday… you know, about China…so my look doesn’t matter anymore.”
Phoenix slipped into the driver’s seat. “I doubt your look was a bane before.”
Orchid smiled at the compliment.
They drove on side streets leading to where his aunt and uncle’s house faced the sea. He kept within the speed limit, which told her that he remembered her white knuckles during their last trip.
