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As she rests her head on my chest, one thing becomes clear.
Walking away from her is going to be harder than I thought.
11
BRIELLE
Ihum to myself as we walk through the streets of downtown nearly three weeks after returning home. Spending time at the beach house with Salvatore was nice, but it wasn’t our reality. We were both losing ourselves in each other to avoid everything else that was going on in our lives.
Now that we’re back home, he is back to being cold and distanced while I try to keep myself out of trouble.
Sitting at home most of the time is boring, but it’s better than the alternative. I could be dead.
Instead, I just have to occupy myself by editing my photos and turning them into products to sell. Though it isn’t how I want to make money as a photographer, it’s the only option I have right now.
Still, there is a part of me that longs for more. Submitting the pictures of the fishing boat was just the first taste at the life I really want for myself.
“What are we even doing down here?” Salvatore asks as I lead the way into a little convenience store.
“The magazine I submitted those photos to sent me a message to my business email saying that the pictures were going to be in the edition that was hitting shelves today. I want to see if I can get a copy.”
Though, that business email is linked to a company that Brennan registered for me. His name might be on the papers as the owner and operator but in reality, it’s mine.
One day, I’m going to have my own business that’s registered under my own name.
Putting those pictures out there as an anonymous source is just the next step in building that dream career.
“Really?” he asks, a small smile on his face as he looks down at me. “That’s amazing. Congratulations!”
I grin and start searching through the magazine rack near the front counter. “Thank you. I think there was something about it going online too. I have to check their site later.”
Salvatore nods and starts browsing through the magazines. “Which one am I looking for?”
My heart skips a beat at his genuine interest and excitement about my pictures. I didn’t think that I would get this kind of reaction out of him. Especially since he’s had a problem with my interest in photography from the start.
This isn’t the first time that I think I’ve misjudged him and I doubt it will be the last. Just when I think I have him figured out, he does something that turns everything I think I know upside down.
“It’sThe Third Eye. It should be here somewhere.” I flip through a couple more magazines before finding the one I’m looking for. “Here it is!”
Salvatore stands beside me as I open the magazine and start thumbing through the pages. It takes two passes through the magazine before I find the pictures I took.
“You know, you do take some really nice pictures,” Salvatore says as he reaches into the rack and pulls out a second copy. He puts it on the counter and looks at the man behind the register. “This one and the one that she has.”
“I can buy my own copy.”
Salvatore pulls out his wallet and hands the man a bill. “This is a big moment for you. Your pictures are in there. The least I can do to celebrate is to purchase your copy for you.”
I nod and stare at the pictures. Not all were taken on the same day. The ones of the illegal activity were, but I also took a few of the dock in different lighting, at different times of the day and few of the beach. I sent them a few generic ones of the location and the ones with incriminating activity happening. My heart is swelling with pride as I take in the fact that there aremypictures that people will be looking at.
It is only when I look a little closer at a picture I had taken of the entire dock that my stomach plummets to my feet.
For the last few weeks, Salvatore and I have been getting along better. We have distanced ourselves a bit since coming back, but it was something we both knew would happen. The beach was a little time bubble, not reality, so there are no hard feelings. I’ve kept my camera out of his face and his business and in exchange, he hasn’t been a complete ass. It is working well for us.
But what happens once he sees his picture in the magazine? He is legitimately going to lose his shit. I know he is. I would too. How the fuck did this happen? I thought I was careful. I had checked and rechecked everything, so how could I have missed this?
“Brielle, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Salvatore grabs his copy of the magazine and heads for the door.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I just want you to know that.”
