Page 14 of Blue Line

She blows out a breath. “Because what if he’s right? What if photography should just be a hobby?”

“I don’t think—”

“Every time I pick up my camera, the photographs aren’t great. I’ve been trying to edit the ones I took in Vegas, photos I took for fun, photos that should be easy to edit, but I can’t. I think I’m losing my touch.”

“Maybe you’re not taking the right pictures? Or putting too much pressure on yourself to get them perfect?”

She scoffs but doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if I crossed a line. I didn’t mean it in a bad way, and I start to tell her that, but she interrupts me.

“I think we should keep things as truthful as possible.” Guess we’re changing the subject. “We’ll tell them we met through Holt and we’ve been dating for a while now. You came home with me for part of the summer and proposed. My ring is at the jeweler’s because it didn’t fit.”

“I’m good with that.”

“I doubt people will ask much about it, but just in case, I wanted to make sure we had our story straight.”

“Makes sense.”

“I don’t even know who’s going to be there. I’m not close with many people from here anymore.”

“Why’s that?”

“We grew apart, I guess. Most of them are married or in committed relationships, and it was always hard to be the third wheel, you know?”

“I most definitely do.” Thankfully, a few of the guys that I’m close with on the team, like Elias and Sebastian, are still single, but it is getting lonelier and lonelier in the off-season.

I put on my turn signal and pull into the parking lot of our destination, and damn, it’s crowded. The building appears to be a community center or lodge of some sort, and since there’s nothing else here, I’d say all of these cars are for the party.

“Should we have a safe word?”

“A safe word? We’re going to an engagement party, Weston Albert. Or did you forget?”

“I didn’t forget, Hadley Jane. And that is not my middle name. I just thought if you wanted to leave, you could use it, and then I’d know. Something like ‘banana’ or ‘kumquat.’”

“Kumquat? Really, Weston. When would I ever use that in a sentence? I’m in the mood for some kumquats. Anyone got any kumquats?”

I chuckle, parking the car. “Fine, what do you suggest?”

She taps her chin. “How about I cough three times in a row?”

“Three coughs. Got it.”

I turn the car off and open my door, putting on my game face.

Chapter seven

Hadley

Taking a deep breath, I get out of the car, smooth down my dress, and walk around to where Weston is standing in front of the hood. He holds out his hand to me, and I stare at it for a few seconds before taking it. I like the way his palm feels against mine, a little calloused and rough, probably from playing hockey and working out so much, but warm and reassuring, a hug for my hand. He squeezes gently, as if to say he’s got me. At least that’s what I hope he’s saying.

“You ready?” he asks as we make our way to the front door.

“Yes, but we’re getting ice cream after this.”

“I’m down with that. I think I feel a coughing fit coming on.”

I can’t help chuckling and instantly feel a little more relaxed. He opens the door and guides me inside. It takes a second for me to adjust to the dim light, but when I do, I can barely hold my eye roll back.

I feel as though I’ve stepped into a movie from the nineties, or maybe even earlier. This lodge or whatever it is hasn’t been updated in probably forever, based on the outdated decor. Brown trim runs along the base of the walls, and the walls themselves are covered in wooden panels, but that weird fake wood. The floors, well, they were probably white at one time, but now the tile, no, make that linoleum, is an off-white gray color from the years of people traipsing over it.