“And do you think you’ve found it?”
I watch as her delicate fingers smooth out a wrinkle in my dress just above my knee, her pink nails scraping against the velvet.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “I’m closer to being me here than I ever was in Ontario.”
“Well, from where I’m sitting, B.C. is a good look on you,” Valerie says with a wink.
Is she actually flirting with me? My eyes flit over her face. I think this is for real flirting and not just trying to loosen me up for the photoshoot.
“Are you from here?” I ask.
“Sure am. Born and raised. I’ve been lucky enough to travel in the past few years. The world is a beautiful place, but I’m always happiest here at home.”
“Do you travel for work?” I take in her outfit again. She definitely looks like she would fit into the corporate world.
A small smile graces her face. “Mostly, yes. I’ve gone on vacations, but lately it’s been for work.”
I’m about to ask what she does when Sadie bounces over to us. “I have to show you these!”
Sadie turns her camera around to show us the screen. My jaw drops and nonsensical sounds come out. She must have just taken this photo. Valerie is smiling and I’m looking at her in awe.
"Beautiful, right?" Sadie turns the camera around again and fiddles with the dials.
"Yeah," I say softly, still shocked by how good we look.
“So, Ella, are you convinced yet?” Valerie asks.
“Convinced to stay for the shoot?”
She shakes her head. “No, convinced that you’re beautiful.”
My cheeks heat and I look down, studying the bricks of the pavilion floor. “You are a shameless flirt.”
She giggles. “Can’t help it around beautiful women.” Valerie bumps her shoulder into mine.
Sadie watches us with a smirk. “I thought we’d walk around, visit other areas. There are small gardens throughout the property that I think would be gorgeous for your pictures. I’ll also take some casual, candid shots as we walk. Get a nice variety of natural and posed. Sound good?”
They both look to me and I nod. True to her word, Sadie leads us to another garden, taking pictures as we walk. She has us sit on benches, stand under arbors, and dip our hands in a fountain. By the time we’ve made it to the third garden area, I’ve loosened up enough that I’m touching Valerie. Holding her hand, hugging her, trailing my fingers down her cheek. Sadie gives words of encouragement as she goes, adjusting our poses every once in a while, but mostly just letting us do whatever feels natural.
Sadie stops us in front of some rose bushes with early blooms coming out. Valerie holds a flower out to me and I lean in to smell it. I hear the click of the camera but ignore it when she traces the flower’s petals against my lips.
Valerie takes my hands and we twirl each other around, laughing as we perform a dance move neither of us is graceful enough to pull off. She wraps an arm around my waist and spins me around. We’re laughing so hard that I stumble, causing both of us to lose our balance. She grabs hold of me and pulls my body flush against hers, stopping me just in time before I collide with the rose bush, its pointy thorns waiting for me to tumble into them.
We’re both breathing hard, our faces inches apart from each other.
“That was close,” she whispers.
“Thank you for saving me,” I whisper back.
She looks at my lips for a second before looking back into my eyes. Just when I think she might kiss me, she leans up and presses her lips against my forehead. It’s not quite what I was hoping for, but I sigh in contentment all the same. Maybe it wasn’t what I wanted, but it’s what I needed. This kiss isn’t about sex or lust, this kiss feels more intimate. Like I’m special and she likes me, not just what my body can give her.
It's been a very, very long time since someone has made me feel special. I didn’t realize until this very second that I was starving for it. Valerie has given me more in an hour than Ethan gave me in five years.
“Anyone up for splashing around in a pond?” Sadie asks, her voice eager.
I grin and Valerie grins back.
“Yes!”
