“A parent just knows, sweetheart. While you’re skilled at masking your emotions, I can see you’re afraid to let anyone get close.”
“It’s the small-town curse; everyone around my age I’ve known since I was a kid. If something were meant to happen, it would have by now.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Trust me, Dad, that ship sailed long ago.”
“So, there was a person of interest?”
“I thought you were aware of everything?”
“Okay, well, maybe not everything. I’ve got to let you keep some secrets, although I’ve had my suspicions.”
“And moving on.”
“Listen, Ari, I won’t ever lie to you; losing the partner I believed I would spend my life with forever changed me. Justremember, though, there will always be storm clouds in life that come with obstacles to overcome. Those hardships don’t make us weak; they test our resilience. To this day, I still consider myself the luckiest man alive to have been loved by her, and I cherish the time we shared together.” He rubbed his hand over his heart where my mom’s name was tattooed.
For the first time in ages, I felt lighter as the persistent heaviness on my chest had begun to ease. Having tough conversations wasn’t always easy, but having them with someone who recognized your struggle and could offer a fresh perspective and a supportive shoulder on which to cry made me feel not so alone.
While I had dipped my toes into the dating pool outside of Sutton River and had some not-so-stellar dates, I knew my worth and wouldn’t compromise my standards for anyone. My dad, however, was right about one thing: I had unknowingly closed off my heart.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t already found the person who made it skip a natural beat, but rather because that person didn’t view me in the same light, and I refused to be just another fleeting companion to keep their bed warm when the time suited them.
Chapter Nine
Arizona
“Seriously, stop wiggling, Cruz, or I’m going to divulge your secret ticklish spot to the guys.”
“You play dirty, you know that?” He grinned.
“A girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do.” I swiped the tips of my fingers along the wall of the burn tower, one of the training facilities we were using as backdrops for the photo shoot, and blended the soot residue with baby oil to reapply it across his muscular chest.
“Normally, I’d never complain about a girl with hands like yours rubbing oil all over my body, but I’m not looking to get my ass kicked.” I pinched my brow and narrowed my eyes. “You know Fisher would be blowing a gasket if he saw us right now.”
“Why?” I played dumb. “He has no say here,”—because it was the truth—“I’m just trying to get the shot.”
“Arizona, you have to know the guy has it bad for you.”
“Hmph.” I snorted and shifted my weight into a better position. “Drop your right hand and arch your back slightly.”
I watched as Cruz, harnessed and suspended mid-air inside one of the training shafts, used the tip of his boot to position himself against the floor’s ledge better. I kept shifting my weight between my knees and standing, experimenting with the anglescreated by the shadows, which added an undeniably moody vibe to the photos.
“That’s it. Hold right there.” I rapid-fired my finger, clicking away and capturing his every breath. “Nice, Cruz, nice.” I leaned back and thumbed through the viewfinder quickly.
“Are we done here?” he asked.
“Ahh.” I flicked my wrist and glanced at the time.
Five minutes.
I was pushing it; my next subject would just have to wait. “I want to try one more angle quick.”
“You sure?” Hesitation flanked his expression.
“Yep, can you lower yourself, please?”
Despite mumbling something under his breath that I couldn’t decipher, he followed my instructions and looked up at me with a hopeful smile. “Is this good?”
