Page 96 of Shadowed With Fear

“Nope, eat.”

She laughs, body shaking.

That’s a thing to tackle at another time.

* * *

After breakfast, we both get dressed, and Dahlia is a ball of excited energy.

“I swear, it’s not that impressive.”

“Ha! That’s what she said, now come the fuck on.” She races down the front steps to the garage door.

I gotta say, should have seen that one coming.

I followed her, unlocking the side door to my studio, which Brahm, Alex, and I had built onto my garage after we graduated from Wood Ridge.

I needed a place to do my work, with an easily accessible dark room, and the guys were nice enough to give me all the hands I needed to get it done.

Against the wall by the door, I flick the overhead lights on, and Dahlia gasps.

There’s camera equipment laying everywhere, a few props are pushed against a far wall, lights and backdrops are put together creating a makeshift maze.

My hand rakes through my hair, and I murmur, “Maybe I should’ve cleaned it up a bit.”

Dahlia shushes me. “This is perfect. Okay, so I have no fucking idea where to start.”

“Still haven’t got an idea for your theme?”

“Nope.”

“Okay…if I were doing it again,” I chew on my lip in thought, staring down at her, but each time I do I just get distracted. Her hair’s a bit frizzy cause she didn’t shower this morning, but her cheeks are that beautiful pink tint, and her hazel eyes are wide looking around in awe. She’s wearing one of my hoodies I wear out here in case I get chemicals on it, and a pair of jeans she calls her “cozy” jeans, whatever that means. And she’s just beautiful. Breathtakingly so, and it’s effortless. My heart pounds when she steps in front of a window, the golden light creating a halo. She doesn’t have any idea how gorgeous she is, how…picturesque.

“If I were doing my portfolio now, you’d be my subject,” I murmur.

“Why?” She makes a face.

“Because you are beautiful.”

She plays with the sleeve of my hoodie, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

Then she sighs, and mumbles, “Screw it.”

Dahlia lifts the hoodie, unbuttoning her jeans, and tugging them down her thighs, then rips my hoodie over her head.

“I won’t lie, I’m loving the enthusiasm to get naked today, but uh, why are we doing it right now?”

“Because,” she states. “I’m going to be my own fucking muse for once.”

She stands before me in the same panties as before with a matching sports bra.

“Okay, sweet girl. Whatever you want. I’ll get the stand; you go pick the camera you want to use.”

She moves to the work bench, shopping around the ones I use often.

When she comes back to me, putting the camera’s stand together, she’s holding the new one I bought a few weeks ago. She looks deep in thought, staring at the camera like it’s a lifeline.

“I haven’t gotten to use mine, yet. It’s still home…I- “she pauses. “I didn’t get to thank you for it.”