Ignoring my protest, Ellis looks down at my camera. "Tell me about this beauty."
His question lights me up from the inside out. "Oh! I love her so much. She does all my work. Very dynamic and flexible with my needs. I don't need other lenses on my hikes since I prefer to use my feet to get closer to the view and vision I want to capture."
Ellis watches me gush over my camera like he's mesmerized. "What do you like most about it?"
"This style fits my minimalistic needs. I don't want a flashy camera that takes extra time to set up. Enjoying my job is my main goal, and this one helps me do that."
Ellis nods, seeming to really soak in my words. I appreciate his curiosity about my camera. I've always been passionate about creating content, and he knows that. The fact that he wants to know more about how I adapted to my hangups means the world to me.
"What kind of pictures do you take on your hikes?" He hasn't even motioned for a drink. Ellis is completely locked in on me, making me feel special and important.
Excited to tell him without showing him, I dive intomy love of thrill. "Cliffs are my favorite, but from the top. I lie on my stomach and capture the image from the top. Sometimes I can get a really trippy depth that makes the viewer feel like they're falling."
"Have you?!" Ellis sounds a bit mad. "Have you ever fucking fallen? V, that's dangerous."
I shrug, acknowledging his worry. It's the same fear Jamie has, so I'm used to this kind of response. That's the actual reason I've never shown Jamie the pictures from my hikes. Some of those were really risky.
"No, I've never fallen, Ellis. It's okay. That's why my camera is small and easy to travel with. There was a close call with a waterfall once, but I caught myself on a vine."
"A close call with a waterfall," he repeats slowly. "Violet, you can't?—"
"Careful." I smirk and kiss his cheek. "Jamie tried to tell me I couldn't do those anymore, and that didn't work out well for him."
"Fuck," he curses and finally motions for a bartender. "Just promise me you'll text and call as much as possible when you're on your trips so I know you're safe."
Beaming at his perfect response, I nod. "Promise."
"Or better yet, I'll come with and tether you to me so I know you're safe the entire time." He's grumbling, but his warm hand on my upper thigh is gentle.
"Maybe some day but I really enjoy going on my own. It's therapeutic being out there by myself and finding my own way. I'm good at it, but I promise I'llkeep you updated on my safety," I offer, trying to diminish the sting of my rejection.
It's not that I don't want to go on a trip with the guys. It's just that it’smything. The road and endless hiking opportunities were my constant for a long,longtime.
"Alright, Sugarbloom," Ellis relents and kisses my cheek.
Laughter bursts from me as my head furiously whips back and forth. "NO. Not Sugarbloom!"
"Hmm. Someday I'll find the perfect one for my perfect woman."
He spends the rest of our date making me feel special and wanted. I'm not perfect, but maybe I can accept that he believes I'm perfect forhim.
Forty-Two
ELLIS
Holding myself back has caused one of the biggest, most painful boners I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. For two fucking hours.
"Were you a gentleman?" Nate asks as I slam our front door closed behind me.
He's the one who dropped me off at the club and picked both me and Violet up. My knee hasn't stopped bouncing with pent-up energy since we got in the fucking car.
After walking Violet up to her apartment and coming back down to see Nate's smirk, I've been on the verge of explosion.
"Yes," I grit out my answer, kicking my shoes off. "The perfect fucking gentleman."
Nate's chuckle is quiet as he rummages around in our kitchen. I'm practically vibrating with need for his attention, but he takes his time. When he brushes past me with a glass of ice, his grin is still there.
He knows exactly what my fucking dilemma is.Fucker.
