Waylon nudged Sandra. “That means flighty celebrities, I’m guessing.”
“Actually, no.” Wren gave him a tight smile. “At least, not this time.” She turned her attention to Sandra. “Hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, anything and everything’s great. I’ve done a lot of travel photography, but real estate, portraits, doesn’t matter. I can learn something from all of it.”
“Awesome. I’ll text you.”
Anxiety spun up in her head. Wren glanced at Elias, hoping he’d get the clue she wanted to leave. Right now, before there was any more weirdness between him and Waylon. What if they started arguing right here in front of everyone?
“Ready to go, babe?” Elias mercifully asked. He had a wide smile, but there was plenty of uncertainty in his eyes. Her stomach knotted and her shoulders tightened until she felt the rock pulling.
Why the uncertainty? Is he trying to think of ways to ditch me today?
He and Waylonmusthave been talking about her. That’s why they’d hung back when the other guys walked out.
Waylon doesn’t like me and talked him out of… whatever this is we’re doing here. And now Elias is going to ditch me. I’ve read everything wrong.
Again.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” She gave everyone a goodbye smile and nod. “Nice to meet you all.”
“Hey, don’t forget your info packet.” Stephanie nudged it toward her. “I’ll be expecting you in my beginner’s class, young lady.”
Even if the look Stephanie was giving her was supposed to be joking—and judging by everyone’s laughter, it was—Wren could still see a spark of seriousness in her eyes. The woman really wanted her there.
“Of course.” Wren took the brochure and put it in her tote.
When they got to Elias’ truck, he opened her door for her and then jogged around to the driver’s side and got in. He started to open his mouth to say something, but Wren cut him off.
“I’ve got work to do today on the drone footage for Chase and I’m already behind, so do you mind taking me to my car?”
For once, she couldn’t think of anything funny to say, so she smiled and braced for a fight.
Instead, Elias turned the key in the ignition. “Yeah, sure, if that’s what you want.”
It’s not what I want. Not at all.
But judging by Elias suddenly going cold now that they were away from his friends, saying those words would undoubtedly start a discussion she didn’t want to have.
And that discussion will lead to a disagreement, and down the road we’ll go, straight into an ugly fight. And that’s not how I want to remember this weekend.
She’d learned long ago that nice things could disappear at a moment’s notice, usually surrounded by fighting. Nice things didn’t last. Not for her.
So instead, Wren rode the mercifully short distance to Riversong with her heart behaving like her name—a bird trapped and fluttering against the bars of its cage.
Elias stayed quiet through the drive. He parked next to her car and still didn’t say a word as he moved her equipment from his truck to the trunk of her car. Not until he opened her car door for her and she started to get in.
“Wait. Can we talk?”
The bird in her chest that had replaced her heart went into full panic mode.Can we talknever led to good things, ever. Even if those lagoon-blue eyes looked hurt instead of angry. Because that’s where hurt always went—straight to anger. Then to lashing out at whatever caused the hurt. Or whoever.
“It was a great weekend, Elias.” She stroked his cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”
She got into her car without looking back.
Classes with Stephanie would have been a riot but she’d no doubt run into Elias at the rec center—probably because of Stephanie, judging by that look she gave Wren. So, that wasout. Now all she had to do was figure out how she could avoid him while still working with Sandra. Oh, and that drone and photography job for Ellie and Bear.
Well, at least he has his scrubs top back. I won’t have to return…
