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19
“You sureyou want to do this?” Liam asked. “There’s no pressure, norush.”
“There is,” Nina said, walking into the bedroom to get her portfolio. “My meeting with Jason Reid is Wednesday and I’d rather you see themfirst.”
“Your call,” he said, sitting back on thesofa.
She’d spent most of the week since the Cherry Blossom Festival agonizing about showing the photographs to Liam ahead of her meeting with Jason. On the one hand, Liam’s opinion was monumentally important to her. His work — and his success — spoke for themselves. If he thought the pictures were good, she could go into her meeting with Jason with some semblance of confidence, although she still wasn’t clear what she was trying to achieve. A job as a freelancer? Taking pictures for WFAI brochures and other marketing material? For theirwebsite?
On the other hand, if Liam thought she wasn’t ready, it would be a blow at a time when she needed all the confidence she couldget.
In the end she’d decided it was what it was. Liam would at least be able to tell her which of the photographs was strongest and which, if any, should be removed because they didn’t put her best photographic footforward.
She returned with the leather portfolio in hand and held it out to Liam. “I’m not going to tell you to be gentle. The truth will be a lot morehelpful.”
He took it from her and patted the space next to him on the sofa. “Comehere.”
“I don’t want to watch you look atthem.”
“I get it. Just come here for asecond.”
She sat next to him and he put his arm around her. He smelled like sex and sleep, like morning-after coffee and warm butter andjam.
“Whatever happens, I want you to know it means a lot that you want me to see your work. Iknow— ”
“I wouldn’t call it work,” she said. “Notyet.”
He smiled down at her. “Rule number one, don’t downplay your value. Other people will do it, always, but you shouldn’t. This is your work, Nina, regardless of what you hope to accomplish with it. If you don’t believe in it, how can you expect anyone elseto?”
“Rule number one: don’t shit on your ownshit.”
He laughed and bent his head to kiss her lightly on the lips. “Exactly. Thanks for letting me see something so personal to you. I don’t take the responsibilitylightly.”
She kissed his cheek and stood. “Don’t get all serious on me, Liam McAlister. It will only make me more nervous. Now I’m going to clean thekitchen.”
He laughed and reached for the zipper on theportfolio.
She forced herself not to look over at him as she loaded the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. It would be too tempting to analyze his expressions while he looked through thepictures.
She washed down the counters and cleaned out the fridge while she was at it, wanting to give him plenty of time. By the time she dared to reenter the living room, she’d resolved to let go of her fear. She would take whatever professional advice Liam could offer and use it to make herself a better photographer. She would take her photos to Jason on Wednesday and consider it practice for her plans to take her work more seriously. She would stay open to the possibilities, even if the only possible thing to come of it all right now was the chance to work on her photography with moreintention.
“Need more time?” Nina asked. “I can clean the bedroom. Or the bathroom. Or my neighbor’sapartment.”
Liam chuckled. “No, I’ve been through themtwice.”
“Let me guess.” She sat down next to him on the sofa. “Because they were so brilliant you wanted to look at them all overagain?”
“Actually, yes.” His expression was serious. “I mean, you’re learning. There are some things I can teach you, just from what I’ve seen so far, but these are good, Neen. Reallygood.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay, but you don’t have to say that. I know I haven’t been at this very long and I have a lot tolearn.”
“You have some things to learn,” he said. “But this is a really solid start. For one thing, the Leica isn’t easy to work with. I’m surprised you haven’t taken a class or something, especially since most of these were taken back when you were shooting on yourown.”
“Well, there is the internet,” shesaid.
“The internet isn’t a hands-on class. The world is full of people who’ve learned to shoot on the internet and are passable photographers at best. You’re not just a passable photographer — you’re a goodone.”
She couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Really?”
