Page 107 of Safe With You

He nodded once and started to lower the camera.

“Wait.”

He stopped.

“Can you send it to me?”

“The whole gallery will be ready⁠—”

“No. That one.”

His eyes met mine.

I almost took it back.

“That one?”

“Yes.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “You sure?”

“Before I change my mind.”

“Then I better hurry.”

He pulled out his phone, and mine vibrated on the café table a few seconds later.

I picked it up.

The picture filled the screen.

Without the small camera display, I could see even more of it. The light. The shelves behind me. The way my smile looked like it had happened before I had time to decide whether I wanted anyone to see it.

I saved it.

Then, before I could overthink that too, I made it a favorite.

“There.”

I looked up.

Ellis had the camera raised again.

My mouth fell open. “You just took another picture.”

“You were smiling.”

“I was looking at my phone.”

“Exactly.”

“You’re sneaky.”

“I prefer observant.”

“I prefer sneaky.”

“Good thing you’re not writing my website.”