Chapter 15 #4
“That one?” Luca stepped closer on my other side, careful not to jostle my arm as he studied the reflection.
“That one might be.” I angled the screen toward Luca so he could see it better. Malek joined us last but stayed behind my shoulder, close enough that I could feel his presence without having him leaning over me too.
Something about that struck me more than I expected. They were actually interested in what I was doing. Not politely waiting for me to finish so we could move on to something they cared about, and not treating my assignment as an excuse to spend time with me.
They wanted to understand.
I showed them several more photographs before reminding myself that explaining camera settings to three interested men wasn’t going to give me any more daylight.
We continued south for another half hour, and they adjusted around my work faster than I expected.
Malek stopped ranging so far ahead. Tavian lowered his voice whenever the camera came up without needing another reminder.
Luca began noticing where I intended to position myself and kept clear before I had to ask.
By the time I checked my watch again, it was later than I thought.
“Five fifteen.” I lowered my wrist and looked toward the route back, mentally estimating how long I needed.
“We should head back.” Malek immediately oriented toward the northern trail, already paying attention to the time because he knew I was.
“I know.” I adjusted my bag and started walking before he could offer to take it. Malek’s eyes dropped toward the strap pressing into my shoulder.
“No.” I caught Malek before he spoke.
“I haven’t offered anything.” Malek fell into step beside me, looking entirely too innocent.
“You were about to.” I shifted the strap higher.
“I was considering it.” Malek admitted after a second, his lip twitching as he looked at me.
“At least you’re honest.” I glanced at him, tilting my head to the side.
“Usually.” Malek’s mouth curved faintly.
“Do I get credit for not asking?” Tavian called from behind us.
“No.” I answered Tavian without turning around, hearing Luca laugh somewhere near him.
The walk back went quickly. We reached the eastern fork with enough time that I wouldn’t have to hurry toward the station, and I slowed near the point where they would have to stop. Nobody needed to explain why this time.
The human-used trail waited ahead. Behind me were three men I had spent the afternoon talking to, working beside, and learning about. Yesterday they had been three impossible secrets. They were still impossible, but they didn’t feel like strangers anymore.
“I need to go.” I adjusted the strap across my chest and glanced toward the station route before turning back to them.
“I know.” Malek stood a few feet away, his posture relaxed even though his attention had already moved once toward the trail I would be taking.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I told all three of them, realizing only after the words were out how naturally I had assumed there would be a tomorrow.
Tavian’s smile appeared first.
“We’ll be here.” Tavian leaned one shoulder against the nearest tree, clearly pleased by what I had said.
“Not at the station.” I pointed at Tavian before that smile could develop into an idea.
“I know where the line is.” Tavian lifted his hands briefly, laughter still sitting in his eyes.
“Make your check-in.” Luca glanced toward the radio clipped at my hip, his reminder carrying the familiarity of someone who had watched me follow the same routine for days.
“I will.” I promised Luca before looking toward Malek. He didn’t tell me to be careful. He didn’t offer to follow me or make another attempt at carrying my bag. He simply watched me for a moment and nodded.
“Tomorrow, Evie.” Malek spoke quietly, the certainty in his voice settling warmly somewhere beneath my ribs.
“Tomorrow.” I answered Malek before turning toward the station.
I made it several yards before realizing I was smiling.
Knowing they were interested in me should have made the afternoon awkward.
I should have spent the entire time wondering whether Tavian standing too close meant something, whether Malek watching me meant something, or whether Luca remembering exactly how I worked meant something.
Maybe some of it did.
But they had also let me do my job. They listened when I needed quiet, moved when I needed space, helped when I asked, and otherwise behaved like the same three impossible creatures I had already gotten used to having around. Nobody pressed me for an answer about what happened next.
More importantly, they hadn’t treated photography like something they had to tolerate to get my attention. They had worked around it, asked questions, and seemed genuinely interested in understanding a part of my life that existed long before any of them entered it.
I liked that, probably more than was convenient.
The distant hum of the generator reached me before the station appeared between the trees. I checked my watch, still comfortably short of six, and reached for the radio clipped at my hip.
I said I would be back.
And I would be.