Chapter 03 RUNE
I’m not a fidgeter, but today I’ve developed the urge.
My fingers play with the dangly chains on my leather jacket as I trek through the parking lot in search of a brunette woman. I spot her only a few minutes later, staring longingly at her camera. Sadie sees me and waves me over. The platform boots I chose to wear today make me taller than usual, so when I approach, I’m towering over her.
“Hi! You must be Rune,“
she says politely with a pretty smile.
“The one and only.“
I give a faux curtsy, and she laughs. “Sorry if I’m late, there was a shit ton of traffic.”
“You’re right on time.”
The wind kicks up a bit, sending a chill right to my bones, so I bundle my jacket tighter around my sheer, glittery blouse. “Is the…other person here?”
“Not yet, but I’m not in a hurry. Your hair is gorgeous, by the way. What dye do you use?”
I blush at the compliment and fiddle with a curl. “It’s mainly Iro Iro, but I do splash in some Manic Panic now and then.”
“It really complements your features. Do you do it yourself?”
“Yup. One bad trip to the salon and I haven’t been able to trust anyone with it since.“
Judging by her naturally caramel brown hair, I’d say she’s never had to worry about that.
“Well, I hope you’ll trust me today. I have some ideas in mind.”
“Oh, absolutely. As long as there isn’t a razor or wayward pair of scissors, we’re golden.”
She chuckles at that. Time is ticking, and my partner for the session still isn’t here. I scan the parking lot, searching for a sign as if I’d be able to figure out who it is just from a vehicle alone.
“Have you ever modeled?“
she asks abruptly. “Your cheekbones are phenomenal.”
I turn my attention back to her and shake my head. “Thank you, but no. My family is…“
I shrug and then swiftly change the subject. “So how long have you been doing this?”
“Photography or Sadie’s Strangers?”
Right, I forgot that was the ad name. “Both.”
“Six years doing photography, and Sadie’s Strangers has been a little over a year. There’s something magical about it all, and I love to capture every second as new people discover the unexpected.”
A loud engine cuts through our conversation. I turn my head in time to catch the tailgate of a big black truck pulling into the parking lot. It stops close to my car. “Do you think that’s them?“
I ask absently.
“Could be.”
We both stare off at the truck, still running, and the driver not exiting. Maybe it’s a dad picking up his kid or something. When the engine dies, and the sound of a door opening and shutting hits my ears, I stare a bit too hard. I’m six foot and lanky, but the behemoth that walks around the truck, fussing over his pants and long blonde hair blowing in the frigid breeze, makes my heart do a little backflip in my chest.
“Ah. Yes. That’s him,“
Sadie says brightly.
The man in question keeps swatting at his dress pants, utterly oblivious to the audience watching him while he mutters under his breath. “Should we say something? Alert him to our presence?”
Sadie chortles and nods. “Hey, Brandon!”
Brandon, my mind purrs. It suits him.
I mean, I don’t know him, obviously. But he’s built like a retired football player, wearing a tasteful burgundy button-down shirt that fits his body well. I don’t even mind that he’s got a softer belly. Not with those arms and thighs. I’m so fucking excited. I’m ready to pose and drape myself all over him. When his head snaps up to the source of the voice calling to him, I’m half tempted to fan myself.
He has his labret pierced.
Not to mention those deep-set eyes that are currently…wide with shock or wonder—I’m leaning towards wonder because I know I look amazing. He freezes, though. Sadie smiles encouragingly and gestures for him to join us. Even from here, I spot his thick Adam’s apple bob, and he takes slow steps closer. Maybe he’s just shy. Stunned in the face of pure androgynous beauty. My highlighter is a bit blinding, so that might be—
“Great! Everyone is here.“
Sadie wields her camera like a weapon and looks through the little hole. “I think we should start over there by that tree.“
She pauses for a moment and then laughs. “Oh, don’t be shy, go on and introduce yourselves.”
She darts off to the tree to do…whatever photographers do, and I face my new partner for the next hour. He gingerly reaches up and rubs the back of his neck, refusing to look at me, so I take it as my cue to break the ice.
“Hi,“
I outstretch my hand, “I’m Rune.”
He stares down at my hand, but doesn’t take it. “Brandon,“
he mumbles.
I narrow my eyes. “Say that again.”
The man goes ghostly pale, the blood draining from his face. With my boots on, I’m only an inch shorter. Dropping my hand and placing it on my hip, I wait and wait. He’s gone non-verbal. “Did I leave a shitty review at your place of employment or something?”
A string of emotions passes over his face before settling on something like resignation. He sighs heavily and says, “No. You didn’t. My name is Brandon. Nice to…meet you, Rune.”
Oh. My. God.
I take a healthy step back and gape. I’d know that voice anywhere—specifically, my name being said with it. I hear that voice at least two days out of every week, sometimes more if I'm in the mood. There is no fucking way! Not now, not like this, and not in that body. It’s…wrong! Unfathomable. What are the odds that Behold Thy Horns signed up for the same photo shoot with the same photographer, and we got paired together? I could scream or faint or—
“Everything okay over there?“
Sadie chirps, slightly concerned by our intense standoff.
What the hell do we do now?