Chapter 01 COLLIN
I’m so ready to get off this plane.
The four-hour delay really got this morning off to a rough start. Mainly because I refuse to cancel my stranger session later this afternoon. Now, instead of having time to go home to shower and change before the photoshoot, I have to rush straight there. Hopefully, I don’t look too rough for the guy who’ll be my partner for it.
Signing up to do a stranger session was a complete “fuck it“
moment for me. My friend, Sarah, actually saw the callout for it and told me I had to apply. I’m a tiny bit of a hopeless romantic, so I figured, why not?
After the longest flight from Raleigh to Minneapolis, we finally touch down. The moment the seatbelt light blinks off, I’m up with everyone else in an aisle seat, hoping I can get off this plane quickly. When the front of the plane is finally clear, and it’s my turn, I pull down my carry-on bag and push it in front of me as I walk off the plane, more than ready to leave this trip behind me.
The moment I see the sign for the men’s bathroom, I head towards it. Changing in an airport restroom isn’t exactly what I’d like to be doing, but I feel like showing up for this stranger photoshoot in joggers and a hoodie would disappoint Sadie, the photographer. I also don’t want my partner for this shoot to think I don’t care about it, so I dig through my overpacked bag until I find a pair of jeans and a clean linen button-up that isn’t too wrinkly.
Small miracles.
By the time I’m changed and headed out to the parking lot, I’m feeling a bit more excited than nervous. I’ve always been that person who believes things will work out. Not because life always proves it, but because I don’t know how to live any other way. I like to think there’s meaning tucked inside small moments—the right song on shuffle at the right time, meeting eyes with a stranger, running late and somehow ending up exactly where you’re supposed to be. It’s probably just the hopeless romantic in me, but I think that mindset makes life better in general.
That’s what today feels like even though I was frustrated sitting at the airport far longer than I’d anticipated.
I unlock my truck, toss my bag in the backseat, and smile to myself because I made it and I’m doing this. Once again, I said yes to something that scares me, and in my mind, that’s what keeps life interesting.
My phone buzzes as I get into my car.
Sadie (Photographer): ETA?
I type a reply as soon as I have the location pulled up on my GPS.
35 mins
Sadie (Photographer): See you soon!
I head toward the studio Sadie rented for the session. I’ve never done a photoshoot like this, or any professional photoshoot, but I figured, why the hell not?
Once Sadie reached out after I’d submitted my application, I felt good about it. The session sounded spontaneous and kind of ridiculous in the best way. I’ve seen a few of these pop up on my social media feed before, and they always look like two strangers just clicking in an almost fairy-tale way. It’s impossible not to smile at the idea that it could be me clicking like that with someone.
As soon as I pull into the parking lot of the studio, I do as Sadie instructed and text her that I’m outside. It’s a little space tucked outside of downtown Minneapolis with big windows and ivy climbing the brick. At first, I thought it was odd we were doing a studio session in the summer, but since it’s disgustingly hot, I’m glad she booked it, so I’m not dripping sweat the whole time.
A moment later, I see a woman who must be Sadie walk out in a black romper, brown hair in a messy bun, and her camera already strapped on.
“Collin! You made it!“
She takes me in with quick, kind eyes. “You look great.”
“That is generous of you,“
I joke. “But thanks, it’s good to meet you.”
“Right, hi.“
She laughs. “Your session partner is already here. He’s excited to meet you.”
“Me too.“
My stomach does a quick flip. “Any ground rules or things I need to know?”
“Consent first. If anything feels weird, we stop. I’ll keep directions simple at first. Think: ‘walk and talk,’ ‘sit and smile,’ but you two set the pace. It’s really all about you and your chemistry.”
“Copy that.”
“And have fun! That’s the whole point of this session,“
she says, and I nod with a smile. “Alright, let’s get ready to start. He’s waiting for you in a room inside the studio. I’ll walk you inside with me and place you where we’ll start. Then I’ll grab him. You’ll start back-to-back so I can capture you turning around and seeing each other for the first time.”
“That works for me.“
I smile, excitement continuing to grow.
“Excellent, let’s go,“
Sadie says. We walk into the studio. The main room has cement walls and an industrial feel with large black-framed windows. It’s bright with sunlight spilling across the concrete floors. There’s a simple backdrop already set up with a few plants scattered around, a couch, a bed set up, and some random additional props.
I don’t see anyone else in the room yet, and for half a second, I wonder if this is how every true crime podcast starts. A willing victim shows up at a meeting spot, then boom. Dead.
“Stand here and cover your eyes,“
she says, offering me a soft smile. “No peeking or it’ll ruin all the fun!”
The fun of being murdered? The thought flashes through my mind and then disappears just as quickly, replaced by anticipation. I trust the process and do as I’m told because I just know this will work out.
Footsteps approach, and I hear Sadie’s voice while my eyes are squeezed shut. “Alright, I’m putting you two back-to-back now,“
she updates as I feel a presence behind my back. I smile, knowing that in a moment, I’ll see another stranger who was crazy enough to agree to do this blind photography session with me.
“Ready?“
Sadie calls.
“Yep,“
I respond.
“Yes,“
I hear the other voice say back. The voice is deep, and it sends goosebumps down my skin.
“Great. I’m going to start capturing photos now,“
she says as I hear her shutter go off while we stand back-to-back. “Alright, open and turn!”
I drop my hands from my eyes and turn.
Oh.
Oh.
He’s… incredibly handsome. He’s tall, and the navy shirt clings to his body, his mouth parted slightly as he takes me in. He has green eyes, a tiny scar near his dark brow, and his smile grows wider as he looks at me. It feels like it zaps me in the chest. I truly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more gorgeous. He’s inches from me, close enough that the world goes out of focus around his face. His dark hair is short, he’s tan, and a thin gold chain catches the light at his collarbone.
Nerves and excitement crash together in my chest as I just stare at him and try to remember how to breathe.
“Hi,“
he whispers, sounding a smidge breathy.
“Hi,“
I echo, as his green eyes wander down my face before coming back up to meet mine.
“Perfect,“
Sadie says from somewhere to the left. “Don’t move.”
Click.
My pulse drums in my ears, and I watch as he swallows, his throat bobbing.
“I’m Eli,” he adds.
“Collin.“
I clear my throat. “Sorry I was late. My plane was delayed by four hours.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here now,“
he says, and something flutters in my chest because same. Ever since unexpectedly taking over my family’s hardware store, I haven’t had much time for dating. It’s way more work and time than I anticipated, but I think I’m finally getting to a good spot where I don’t need to spend every waking moment on it. I’ve worked there since I was a teenager and practically grew up in the store with my brother and cousins, but taking over has been completely different from showing up for a shift and collecting a paycheck.
“Okay,“
Sadie calls out to us, and I break my eyes away from Eli. “Step a half-foot closer. Shoulders back. Collin, eyes on Eli. Eli, look at me.”
We shift closer, and the air between us is electric. I swear I can feel the heat coming off his skin. We’re not touching, but every sense in my body acts like we are. We both laugh quietly and breathily from nerves, but neither of us steps away.
Click.
Eli slowly moves his gaze away from mine to Sadie.
Click.
“Good,“
she murmurs. “Both of you turn toward me.“
We rotate at the same time, doing what she asked while looking into the camera.
Click.
“Now, go back to the wall and walk toward me together,“
Sadie says. “Slowly. Get to know each other.”
We fall into step, side by side. I can’t stop checking for him in my peripheral vision. The attraction I’m feeling is immediate, and I really don’t want to screw this up.
“Tell me about you,“
I prompt him.
“Uh, okay. Let’s see…“
He rubs his bare arm as we slowly move forward following Sadie’s prompt. “I’m a firefighter.”
“No way, really?”
“Yeah,“
he says, laughing softly. “Classic story of wanting to do it since I was a kid, and here I am doing it all these years later.”
“That’s always sounded like an intense job.”
“It can be.“
He glances at me, and there’s a spark of humor in his eyes. “But I love it. Truly couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
“So, would you say you’re a bit of a risk taker, Eli? Is that why you’re here?” I ask.
“You could argue that.“
He chuckles. “I’m pretty new to the area, so I haven’t met many people outside of work. I saw the post online about the session and thought, “Why not?“
I didn’t think I’d actually get selected though, so it’s pretty cool we’re both here.”
I feel that in my chest. It sounds like he’s got a similar outlook on life as I do with the “fuck it, it’ll all work out“
mentality.
“And I’m glad I did,“
he adds, smiling at me.
It’s impossible not to smile at that. I don’t even bother trying to bite it back, grinning right at him.
“What about you?“
he asks, smiling back at me. “What made you sign up to be photographed with a total stranger?”
“It sounded fun. Plus, I’ve seen these on my feed from other photographers, and the strangers always seem to have so much chemistry.“
I hesitate for a moment, but decide to share the other reason. “And I’m kind of a hopeless romantic. I liked the idea of meeting someone new and experiencing that. But don’t tell anyone; my brother and cousins would have a field day with that nugget of information,” I joke.
“Your secret is safe with me.“
Eli grins. “Would you say that this is filling your hopeless romantic heart?”
“You could say that.“
I bite my bottom lip, blush creeping up my cheeks. He definitely seems to be feeling the same level of attraction that I am as he smiles back at me. Or that’s what I tell myself.
I completely forget that we’re being photographed for a moment until we fall quiet and the sound of Sadie’s shutter fills the room.
Click.
“Pause there,“
Sadie calls from behind us. “Collin, lean against the wall. Eli, step in front of him.”
I do as told. Leaning against the wall closest to me, Eli steps forward in front of me. His cologne is barely there, but it still smells so damn good, with a warm, woodsy aroma. He lifts his arm over my shoulder, essentially caging me in against the wall, and heat is pumping through my veins. I’m not sure if this was what Sadie meant, but I love the feeling of him closing in on me. Eli is maybe an inch or two taller than me, and slightly more muscular—probably because of his training as a firefighter, which is hot as hell. I can’t help but picture him sweaty and shirtless with a helmet and suspenders hanging low at his hips. Obviously not the standard uniform, but that doesn’t stop my imagination from running wild with it. I wonder if he’s in a calendar? I should look into that.
I shake the thought away before it spirals too far. We just met. This is a stranger photoshoot, and I can’t be getting hard thinking of him half naked or that’ll surely send him running out of here. But the way his green eyes are locked on mine are not helping. I don’t know if I’m the only one affected by the tension in the room, but I’m going to have to adjust myself in my jeans before all of Sadie’s photos feature me with a hard on.
I’d hoped I’d enjoy this new experience and have fun, maybe make a new friend or form some type of connection, but as hopeful as I was, I still wasn’t expecting this full-blown, instant attraction. I’d thought the other sessions I’d seen online before were just the photographers being amazing at their jobs, but maybe photographers are also secret matchmakers. We did both have to fill out an application to get selected.
The hopeless romantic in me is completely swooning.