She carefully blanked her expression, and shrugged. Like her, Buster was the silent type. So they sat and drank their drinks, in silence.
“So what’s the deal?”
“With what?” Hope looked over the top of her laptop at Buster.
“Why are you here when the last I heard from your mom, you were like this big Wildlife photographer, heading every project and getting awards? I mean, everyone knows they’re here doing what they do, but that you’re not with them. So what gives?”
Hope looked back down at the pictures she was sorting on her laptop, but saw nothing. She felt the pain in her chest that had been there since the day the head of Wildlife had called Hope into her office and told her that they had no room in their organization for someone like her.
“Come on, Hope, spill. I know you’re hiding something.”
Buster had his usual calm expression in place. Nothing seemed to rattle the man, as it hadn’t rattled the boy. Buster had always rolled with the punches.
“I don’t really want to talk about it, Buster. That’s not my way. I like to keep stuff close.”
She gave him an explanation because she owed him that much. He was a friend of sorts now, and she still believed she’d ruined his career prospects in some small way.Guilt, Hope thought. She was filled with it.
“Sure, I get that. I mean, the others are all about spilling their insides at will, except maybe Brad. But Tex will tell you what his innermost thoughts are before he’s eaten breakfast.”
Hope laughed. She’d already learned that about the handsome Texan.
“The thing is, Hope, I was like you once. Didn’t unload, unless Jake or Newman had me up against a wall, but it kind of seethes inside you until it’s like this hard mass. That’s good for no one. Willow taught me that.”
“You gone soft, Buster?”
He snorted. “Maybe a little. But that’s between you and me, I’ll deny it to my last breath if you say anything.”
She liked this man. In school he’d been like her, an observer. The difference between them had been that he was popular.
“So?” He raised a brow as he looked at her. “What’s the deal with Wildlife. Why aren’t you still there photographing the rare whooping crane, or some other endangered species?”
“Fancy you knowing about the whooping crane.”
He knew she was stalling, so he said nothing. The power of silence.
“I messed up, Buster.”
“How?”
“I let this guy into my life. He seemed nice, and was interested in me. I believed myself in love, and when he revealed his true colors it was too late.”
“What happened?”
“Stuff, and I was a naive fool.”
“What kind of stuff?”
Her sigh was loud but it didn’t deter him. He simply folded his muscled arms and looked at her.
“Do I hafta?”
He nodded.
Why not, Hope thought. Maybe Newman was right. Talking about this might help her get things in perspective.
“I was one of the top photographers for Wildlife, and Jay was new on the team, so he was struggling to get a foothold. He seemed to really want to learn from me, and pretty much everyone liked him. He set about making friends with everyone, always running errands and stuff. He was like this all-round Mr. nice guy. What he actually was, was a bastard. It was all just a cover to ruin my reputation.”
She managed a small smile as Buster swore.
