Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Okay. Okay. Okay. Just breathe. It’s only an hour. I’ll play along.
Afterward I can go somewhere nice and quiet with my sketchpad and some… wildflowers.
It’s the beginning of summer and they’re everywhere. Except here.
This park should feel like summer joy. Instead it feels like a frying pan.
I fidget with the beer. A can of Dos Equis seems like a weird gift, but the photographer gave me a list of things he loves. Cheese fries seemed like a bad choice for a photoshoot, so beer it is.
At least I have something to do with my hands.
But I don’t see her. Where was I supposed to meet her?
I lean back in my car to check the text message from the woman but get distracted by the other texts.
Beatrice and Jess must have sent ten messages.
God these girls and their memes. I’m tapping a quick reply, that they can chill—I’m going through with their crazy plan and that they will PAY big time.
But before I can send the message my phone dies.
Oh shoot. Now I really don’t know where to meet the owner of Hot Date Pics.
I’m such a ding-dong. I can’t believe I let my phone die and I don’t have a charger.
“Katie!”
The sound of my name startles me. Everything startles me now.
“Over here!” a woman calls.
I’m hit with relief, but the nerves come right back.
I toss the dead phone inside and close the door on my beater, the hinge squeaking loudly as I do.
“Sorry I couldn’t remember where we were supposed to meet. I was just about to text you.”
What I wanted to text is that I was running away to hide.
But the minute I see the hopefulness on her face my urge to flee becomes a pain in my chest.
Lord, I’m gonna stay.
Please let this be over quickly.
“You look beautiful. That color is amazing.”
Honestly the girls picked it and bought it. But I just smile. “Thanks. Looks like a great day for pictures.”
Grimacing, I think, and a great day to die from social anxiety.
“Right this way. Now I’ll take your hand and you close your eyes.”
“What?” I squeak, staring at her outstretched palm.
“Hold my hand and close your eyes. That way you’ll get a nice surprise when you turn around to see him.”
Gulp. Him.
My stomach does that thing that happens on roller coasters.
“I don’t know…”
But she’s already grabbed my fingers with the force of an alligator chomping on its lunch and is dragging me toward some trees.
“Step up, there’s a curb here.”
I haven’t even closed my eyes yet.
But then the nerves hit and I don’t want to see whoever this stranger is. I want to disappear into one of those park trash cans and wait till everyone leaves.
“Not far now,” she sing-songs.
Ha. The end of this photo shoot feels like a lifetime away.
She takes me a few feet farther and giggles. “Here we are.”
I haven’t peeked but I haven’t closed my eyes all the way yet either.
Once Anna has me at the right location, she jostles me this way and that. My eyes are finally closed so I startle when she fluffs my hair.
“Perfect! Now don’t turn around until I say so.”
Oh my god. I can’t believe I’m about to have a blind date. And meet a stranger in front of a camera. Those girls are going to owe me big time.
“Almost ready!” Anna warns.
I can hear my heart in my ears. If my mouth gets any dryer I’m going to cry. And what is that heat I sense through my dress? Feels like a huge, hot oven is behind me.
“Three. Two… one!” Anna shouts.
Oh. Oh. I’m. Supposed to turn around.
“Turn around you two!”
I don’t move. Can’t.
She giggles as her camera shutter clicks a million times. I’m sweating up a storm now.
“For fuck’s sake,” a deep voice mutters behind me and that rumble unglues my feet. I slowly spin to find myself face to face with the meanest looking man on the face of the earth.
A flush of heat tears across my skin. My vision wavers and my knees turn to rubber. Before I realize what’s happening my mind grays out and the world disappears.