“Hey, Jordan. Hey, Lucas.” He waves to both of us.
Lucas gives him one of those bro nods and looks back at his computer.
“Have you had a chance to look at the changes I’ve made to your photography account?” he asks after he loads the display cases full of pastries, muffins, and other goodies.
I shake my head as I fire up each of the machines in the shop. “I haven’t. I’m so sorry. I’ve been a little depressed about losing my camera. But now that I have it back, I’m ready to go full force.”
And I am. I don’t know what changed, but I’m ready to put myself out there and start getting serious about it. Maybe it has a little bit to do with Lucas and how he was willing to risk himself for the sake of a measly camera, but I’m not going to take his generosity for granted.
“Yeah, when you texted me Saturday, I was surprised you got it back. Did the police find it?”
“Uh…”
“Pawnshop,” Lucas interrupts.
“Right. We went looking at different pawnshops and eventually came across a place that had it.”
Kyle nods his head like we’re not bullshitting him. “Lucky. Well cool, I took the liberty of downloading a free scheduling app because you have half a dozen people who want to make an appointment with you. I told them you were on vacation and would get back to them as soon as possible.I also updated your prices and added different packages for people to choose from. I kept it fairly simple so it’s not super overwhelming. Oh… and I already vetted the clients who want to schedule with you. If you stick to Insta, you shouldn’t have as many problems with sketchy people.”
“You did all that?” I ask. I think I’m in shock. That’s…a lot. A lot more than I expected him to do honestly. I thought he was just going to add some of the photos I gave him to my account and call it good.
“It was nothing. I watched TV while I did it.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. When in fact it’s a huge deal.
My throat starts to constrict but I manage to choke out a thank you. And then I give him a big hug. This takes a lot of stress off me. Stress I didn’t know I had. It may have been easy for him, but it wasn’t easy for me. And for that, I’m grateful. I’ve avoided social media for the past few years, and it’s been hard getting back into it. But he did it with no problem and I’m speechless.
The clearing of a throat has me pulling back from Kyle.
I feel a stray tear hit my lip and I quickly wipe it away. “I’m just going to go to the bathroom really quick.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder and turn to excuse myself before both guys can see me break down.
I think I’ve cried more in the last few weeks than I have in the last year. What the hell is up with me?
I look at myself in the mirror and fix my smudged mascara. My skin seems less dull these days, and the hard look that usually graces my face is a lot softer. Almost happy. That fact alone makes me want to cry again. Has it been that long since I’ve truly been happy?
The answer is yes.
My mom would have hated the person I’ve become. I used to be all sunshine and rainbows. Instead, a dark cloudfollows me everywhere I go. Sure, there have been moments of happiness over the years but those have been fleeting.
Right now, though, I don’t feel so alone. And maybe that’s why my walls are dropping around people I wouldn’t have dared to cry in front of before. Penny’s the only person who’s seen me fall apart, and even then she didn’t know the whole truth.
Some things are better left unsaid.
When I make my way out of the bathroom, Lucas is standing over Kyle's shoulder as Kyle does something on his laptop.
“What are you guys doing?”
Both heads whip in my direction and Lucas speaks first. “I’m just teaching him another way to do a light background check on people if he’s going to be helping you book clients.”
“Light background checks?”
“Yeah. It’s just an extra blanket of security.”
“Is it legal?”
“Of course,” he tells me and comes over to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “You think I would let him get into more illegal shit after what he did?”
“No.” I shake my head. “He’s a good kid. I just worry about him. I don’t want him getting into any more trouble.”
“We’re on the same page then.” He pulls me in for a hug. One I didn’t realize I needed.
