Chapter 20 - Jensen #2
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Charlotte Cannon, and this is Good Day, Alabama! ” She beams into the camera while a short jingle plays.
“First up on today’s show, we’ve got the scoop on a romantic photoshoot that’s become a viral internet sensation.
You’ve seen the photos and now we’re going to meet the couple everyone is talking about.
Join me as I welcome the photographer, Mabel Callahan, and her swoony subjects, Callie Dawson and Jensen Shepherd! ”
Charlotte holds out her arms, greeting each of us with a hug as we join her on set. Mabel sits closest to her, while Callie and I take the other end of the couch. The lights overhead are overwhelmingly warm, but Callie’s hand brushes over mine, reassuring and grounding.
“So, Mabel,” Charlotte begins. “Why don’t you start off by telling us a little bit about you and how you got the idea for this photoshoot?”
Callie was right about Mabel. She shows absolutely zero nerves as she chats with Charlotte, talking about her business, how it’s been her dream to do photography full-time, and her inspiration for the shoot.
“It’s called a chemistry or stranger session, and the idea is to take two people who have never met and photograph them in a romantic way to see if there’s any chemistry. It’s like a blind date. I’d been wanting to do one for a while, and all the pieces sort of fell into place.”
“Did you have any idea it would turn out as well as it did?”
Mabel shakes her head. “Not at all. I mean, I hoped that it would, but you never know how people are going to interact with one another. Even couples who have been together for years can look a little stiff when you turn the camera on them. I knew it was a gamble, but,”—she turns to grin at Callie and me—“these two had chemistry for days! So, nothing to worry about there.”
Charlotte chuckles, reaching for a tablet on the coffee table. “I’ll say.” She taps the screen and a montage of photos from the shoot replace the Good Day Alabama logo behind us.
“Callie, Jensen, what was it like? Most people find blind dates a little awkward, and you two had a pretty unconventional one. No pressure, am I right?”
“At first it was a little . . . ” Callie looks over at me, searching for the right word.
“Weird?” I supply with a half-smile.
She laughs. “Yeah. It was definitely a little weird at first, but I don’t know, we just started talking and after a while, we sort of forgot the camera was there. It was comfortable by the end, like we’d known each other for forever.”
“But that’s not the end of the story.” Charlotte leans forward.
“Mabel, you posted the pictures on social media and since then, they’ve gone viral.
” A screenshot of Mabel’s post comes up on the screen behind us, a red circle around the number of views.
“Over three million people have seen your work. How does that make you feel?”
Mabel speaks into the camera, her cheeks pink.
“I’m still in shock. I wasn’t expecting that kind of response, and I definitely didn’t expect the photos to go viral, but here we are.
It’s overwhelming in the best way. Every artist hopes that people will take notice of their work, but this was beyond my wildest expectations. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Callie reaches over to squeeze Mabel’s hand. “No one deserves it more than Mabel.”
“The artistry is clear.” Charlotte taps the tablet in her hand and the screen behind us changes to a different selection of photos. “These are stunning, Mabel. Truly, beautiful.”
Mabel looks like she’s about to combust from happiness as she beams at Charlotte. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
Charlotte turns that 100-watt smile on Callie and me. “The internet isn’t just obsessed with Mabel’s photos. They’re obsessed with the two of you.” Another tap of her finger and the screen behind us fills with comments.
Charlotte reads off a handful.
She looks up from her tablet. “Everyone thinks you make a pretty great couple. So I have to ask, where do things stand between you two?”
“Oh!” Callie’s cheeks pinken. “Well, Jensen and I are . . . friends.”
“Just friends?” Charlotte cocks her head. “Come on now, don’t be shy. Surely with that kind of chemistry there’s a little something extra cooking, no?”
“Well, um, I mean . . . we’re . . . ”
Another tap of Charlotte’s finger and the screen behind us fills with the image of Callie and I kissing. The intimacy of the moment, our connection—it’s impossible to deny, especially with it being magnified on the screen like that.
I can tell from how rigid Callie has gone next to me that she’s not sure how to answer the question. Sure, we’ve talked about how we’re both attracted to each other, but is that something we really need to discuss with the entire state of Alabama?
“Well, if you’re not sure, then perhaps a second date is in order?” Charlotte coos, turning to Mabel. “What do you think about that Mabel? Are you up for another round with these two? ”
Mabel’s eyes widen a little and immediately dart over to Callie. Charlotte has definitely caught us all off guard with her suggestion.
Charlotte reaches up and holds two fingers to the small earpiece in her ear. “Annnnd,” she trills, “my producer just informed me that there are thousands of comments coming into our livestream as we sit here! Your public is demanding an encore. What do you guys say?”
I bristle at her game show host-esque tone, and Callie’s smile has slipped slightly. Even Mabel’s demeanor has shifted, which makes me want to do something to fix it. I can sense Callie’s discomfort at being put on the spot, even though she’s trying to keep it together for the camera’s sake.
“I think we’d be up for that,” I say, the words rushing out of me in a hurry. I don’t give myself time to think too much about them.
Charlotte claps her hands together in victory and Callie sags a little. I’m worried I’ve overstepped, but she smiles when I catch her eye.
“Well, there you have it, folks. Looks like we’re on for another chemistry photoshoot! Mabel, I think I speak for all our viewers when I say we can’t wait to see more of your work.” She winks at us before turning to the camera. “And with that, we’ll be right back.”
A producer gives the signal that the broadcast has gone to a commercial break, and in a flutter of “nice to meet you” and “thanks for coming by” we say goodbye to Charlotte Cannon and are whisked off set and back to the green room area.
Lennie meets us there and helps us remove our mics. “Great segment,” she tells us. “You’re welcome to watch the rest of the show if you like.” She gives a little wave and disappears, leaving us alone and gaping at one another.
“Sorry about that.” I rub a hand down my face. “I didn’t mean to answer for everyone, but I just—”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Mabel presses a hand to her chest. “She caught me so off guard, I didn’t know what to say.”
“She kinda ambushed us,” Callie adds, pursing her lips. “That definitely wasn’t how I thought the interview would go.”
Mabel chews the corner of her lip for a second before blurting out, “I don’t hate the idea of a second photoshoot though.”
Callie laughs. “Of course, you don’t. Another chance to go viral, huh?”
“No,” Mabel argues. “Another chance to photograph my favorite subjects.”
“Uh huh.” Callie lets out a sigh. “I guess it couldn’t hurt. Jensen?”
I should probably say no. We’re supposed to be keeping things casual between us, and if I’m given a chance to act . . . well, less casual with her then I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.
But one look into Callie’s deep green eyes makes up my mind for me. Even if deep down, I know it will only ruin me in the end. “Like I said, I’m up for it.”
Mabel’s face lights up like she’s just won the lottery, which makes Callie laugh. She looks so damn cute, I almost stop breathing.
Is doing a second photoshoot a good idea? Probably not.
Am I gonna strike a match and toss it onto that pile of gasoline anyway?
Yup. Looks like it.