The possibility that an opportunity like this could help me find paying clients carries some weight. “I don’t know, Bec.”
She holds up her hands, her eyes lighting up. “Say no more. I’m going to give Aaron your information so he can tell you all the details. It’s not like you have to make a decision today. And if you still think it’s a bad idea, no hard feelings.”
It won’t hurt to hear more. Besides, it will be much easier to reject Aaron than it is to refuse Becca, so I drop the resistance—for now. “I really appreciate it. Thank you for thinking of me.”
She covers my hand with hers. “Always. Now, tell me about Tate. Where is the little guy, anyway?”
“With my mom. She took him on a cruise for the week so I could get settled. They’re having a blast. Look.” I pull out my phone to the last message my mom sent me. She’d attached a picture of Tate staring into the camera, his smile as big as the sun. He’s wearing arm floaties, and his face is smeared with sunblock. My mother can never be too cautious.
“They look like they’re having so much fun,” Becca says, “and I’m sure she’s thrilled you two are here to stay.”
“That, she is.” I smile, grateful to have such a supportive mom who is crazy about her grandson. “I should have accepted her help years ago, but I was too stubborn. I thought I could make it on my own.”
Becca’s jaw drops. “You have been making it on your own. Give yourself some credit, Meadow. You run an incredibly successful photography business. That’s more than I can say for myself. There’s no shame in wanting to be somewhere you have support. And Tate needs his grandma in his life now more than ever. You made the right decision.”
“I know, I know.” I sigh and tilt my empty glass. “Another one? This one’s on me.”
The conversation moves fluidly from one topic to the next, but we mostly focus on her wedding and all the events leading up to it. It sounds like it’s going to be a classy affair, with all the bells and whistles intact. I love hearing about how she selected the venue and the elaborate effort put into choosing the food, cake, and flowers. Milton and I had none of that at our quick elopement after finding out I was six weeks pregnant. At the time, all I cared about was marrying before I gave birth, but I would have loved to have the big, fancy wedding with all my friends and relatives in attendance.
“I cannot wait to see you in your dress,” I tell Becca when we’re parting ways at the table. “I’ll be the girl in the back row without a date.”
Becca laughs. “Good. That means I can set you up with someone. In fact…” She studies me with narrowed eyes. “Aaron’s buddy is superhot, divorced, and ridiculously nice. In fact…” She pauses and looks around the room, but we can’t see much of the bar from where we’re sitting. “He frequents this place. Maybe he’s here.”
“Hmm, let me guess. Firefighter?”
She peers back at me with innocent ideas. “Yes, but—”
I laugh. “I’m going to pass.”
Becca groans. “Oh, Meadow. Really? You have a thing against all public service men now?”
“I don’t have a thing against them.” I smile. “I just don’t need that anxiety again. The waiting up all night for them to come home when their shift finally ends. The watching the news and worrying that every incident might involve them.” I look up and realize how insensitive I just was to get lost in my feelings when Becca is about to marry a firefighter. “Oh god, Bec, I’m sorry.”
She dismisses my worry with a wave of her hand. “What have I told you? You don’t pick ‘em. The universe does.” She looks down at her buzzing phone. “That’s Aaron. We’re taking our last dance class tonight.” She giggles, stands up, and gives me one last hug. “Gotta go.”
“See you Saturday,” I call out. “At your wedding,” I add for extra effect.
She’s practically at the exit when she hears me, turns around, and covers her mouth like she can’t even believe the sound of my words. “I’m getting married,” she says, her excitement radiating from her.
Laughing, I walk up to the bar and wait for the bartender to notice me. After all that talking, I forgot to order a single thing to eat. When he finally takes my order, I ask for a drink to go with it. I might as well have one more while I wait.
I’m opening my wallet when a tall figure slides up beside me to talk to the bartender. “This one’s on me, Harry,” the man says, his voice thick and smooth like honey.
I look up to find an incredibly handsome man with light, wavy brown hair and mild scruff covering his strong jaw up to his cheeks. He’s dressed in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, but the man is anything but casual. He peers down at me with a familiar, heart-stopping gaze, and it’s in that moment when our eyes meet that I realize I’ve seen him before.
Instantly, my mood turns sour as I recall the harsh words he’d said to me last week, turning a terrible morning into something much worse. Not only had I almost gotten leveled by the guy after that car accident, but he’d made me feel guilty for being there to begin with. Like I could have helped it.
I lean over the bar to catch Harry’s attention at the register and wave my hand until he looks at me. “Do not let this man pay for me.”
Harry shrugs and slides me a fresh drink. “Sorry, love. Too late. It’s already been put it on this lad’s tab.”
When I look back over at the man, I regret it. He flashes me a smile. A sweet, innocent, and friendly smile that makes me want to do the opposite of hate him.
“Please,” he says. “It’s the least I can do after how I spoke to you last week.”
I fold my arms and narrow my eyes. “I was just taking photos of my mutilated car, thank you very much. I’m a photographer, but I wasn’t working at the accident.”
He cringes and nods. “I realized that too late, and I’m an ass for that.”
“But you wouldn’t let me explain.”
“When I saw the professional camera, I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I’m sorry.”
“It didn’t occur to you that maybe that professional camera was for my profession?”
He holds up his hands. “It didn’t. I get pretty intense when I’m working.” His gaze flickers over me the way it did last week when he was cradling me in his arms. “Are you okay? You weren’t injured or anything?”
I shake my head. “I’m one of the lucky ones.” I watch his eyes flicker like he’s picturing the same scene I am. “How did everyone else make out?”
He lets out a heavy breath. “Surprisingly okay. No deaths, thank goodness. I’m glad you escaped unharmed.” He shifts his weight, his eyebrows bunching together in the middle. “You should know that I don’t normally speak to people like that, especially beautiful women.”
My cheeks heat as my eyes search his, trying to figure out if he’s hitting on me or just being sweet because he feels bad. I accept the latter explanation and relax some. “Well, thank you for the apology. I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again.”
He looks around. “You must be new around here. My buddies and I frequent this joint.” He nods to a booth in the back of the room occupied by a well-built man with dark hair and a thick beard, then he turns back to me and narrows his eyes. “I definitely would have noticed you.”