“And I still don’t know how old he is,” I continue, hoping to glean more information.
“Thirty-three,” Casey answers again.
Now, Sadie and I are both trying not to laugh.
“And I definitely don’t know how big his—”
“Whoa! Maybe not in front of mixed company?” Casey says, finally making me lose it.
Through my fit of laughter, I finish my sentence. “How big hisfarmis.”
Casey’s eyes grow wide in mortification.
“Oh…sorry.”
I nudge my shoulder into his. “I’m hoping maybe after a proper date, I can find out the other thing, though.” I send him a wink because it just feels right, and Sadie claps her hands.
“Ohmygod, this is too fun! Wait until my fiancée hears about this! She is going to eat this shit up! Are you guys up for more photos?”
“This is your show, darlin’,” I drawl. “Just tell us where you want us.”
“Okay, Casey, do you mind losing the flannel? I want to do a series of photos that I’ll edit into black and white, and with your white T and Mason’s black tank top, you guys are really making my life easy.”
I watch in awe as Casey slips out of the flannel. His T-shirt hugs his biceps and pulls across his pecs just like his black one did.
“Casey, do you happen to have another tractor in this building?” Sadie asks.
“Matter of fact, I do,” he answers.
“Perfect. We’re gonna need it.”
After another hour and a half, it’s pitch-ass black out here. Sadie, Casey, and I are huddled around Sadie’s camera, scrolling back through the images.
The days are still warm-ish, but the nights are chilly, so I’ve got my stained button-down back on, and much to my dismay, Casey’s flannel is back in place. He’s pressed against my back as he looks over my shoulder at the camera screen, and his body heat is keeping me plenty warm.
When Sadie scrolls back to the very first photos, where Casey and I are hidden around the corner from each other, our excitement, nerves, and anticipation are clear on our faces in the photos before our hands touch.
But what gets me is our faces as soon as we laced our fingers.
Both of our expressions transformed into hope, awe, and peace.
“These are really great,” Sadie says. “You guys are naturals in front of a camera.”
“I’m kind of dying to find out if we’re naturals without it as well,” Casey whispers into my ear, making goosebumps break out along my flesh.
Once we’re back at the beginning, Sadie begins to pack her camera up in her bag.
“So, as I mentioned, six-to-eight weeks from now, I’ll send you a complimentary download link with five of my favorite edited photos as a thank you for participating in the stranger session. I’ll also include a gallery shop link to an additional twenty images that will be available for purchase. You are free to make personal prints out of them, but they don’t come with commercial copyrights, so no reselling my photos,” she says with a smile. “Any questions?”
“No, ma’am,” I tell her.
“Alright, well, I think that wraps things up,” Sadie says, holding out a hand to shake ours. “It was an absolute pleasure, and if you decide it’s right for you, I hope to get an invite to the wedding.”
I’m glad it’s dark so she can’t see the heat I’m feeling in my cheeks.
“Here, I’ll walk you back to the parking lot,” I offer, knowing I have to go that way anyway, when suddenly there’s a hand on my waist.
“Stay a minute?” Casey whispers, his lips grazing my ear.
