“You been away for a while?”
“Yes.” She concentrated on the glass cabinet that was filled with jewelry.
“Back for long?”
“No.”
“You got a problem in general, or just with me?”
That had her looking at him. He was smiling, a small confused one. And she felt a wash of shame.
“No problem. Sorry.” She made herself smile, more a lip curl, but surely she’d get points for effort. “I’m not good with people.”
The smile widened and added a whole new level of handsome to his face.
“Never easy in a world filled with them.”
She snuffled.
“The trick is to learn to project a pleasant facade, Hope. It’s how I get through.”
“You?” She snorted this time. “I can’t imagine you having trouble with people.”
“You’d be surprised. I was a real asshole for a while there, and I wasn’t good with people either. But I learned that life is a great deal easier if you at least look pleasant, even if inside you’re wanting to punch someone.”
“Ah, sure.”
“Here it is.” Macy appeared, and the smile on Brad’s face widened. She saw the love then, turned to Macy, and saw it returned. She refused to acknowledge the pain in her chest that no one had ever looked at her that way. Jay had, but she now knew that was a lie.
“You keep this, Hope.” Macy held out a key ring to her. “And if you want to stay there, all good. Or if you just need a place for some solitude then it’s yours too. After all, can’t imagine it’s easy being home with your mom again. I know I could never live with mine.”
“Who’s her mom?” Brad asked.
“Ms. Lawrence.”
Hope found her first genuine smile at the horrified look on Brad’s face. He quickly changed it, but she’d seen it.
“Sorry, I meant no disrespect. Your mother is just…”
“Awkward, belligerent, and downright terrifying?” Hope filled in the gap.
Macy giggled.
“I’d never say that about someone’s mother, especially if that someone was standing before me,” Brad declared.
“I don’t need your keys, Macy. Really.”
“Yes, you do.” Macy took Hope’s hand and placed the keys inside. “And the reason you’re taking them is part payment for the catalogue you’re going to shoot for me while you’re here.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not working, and a whizz with that thing around your neck, so why not?”
Hope searched for a reason, but her mind didn’t seem to be working with its usual accuracy.
“I—ah, I don’t usually take photos of people.”
“People, animals.” Macy waved a hand about. “It’s all the same.”
