Camera Shy (Lessons in Love Book 1)

“That was fucking grueling,” Lennox says as she pulls the pig puppet off her right hand. She proceeds to help me load my equipment into the back seat of my truck. I didn’t need to bring much. The sky was perfect today for family photos at the town park. It’s bright out, but a little overcast, so we had no issues with a glare. It went much better than last year.

We learned. When you’re photographing an extended family that has eighteen members, eight of which are under the age of four, bring puppets, balloons, and snacks.

“That little kid, Jaxon, has a shocking resemblance to the Chucky doll.” I shoot her a look. “What?” she asks defensively. “I mean, like before the scar…but still with the evil eyes.”

I don’t say anything because she’s right. Jaxon is terrifying looking. The kid was mean mugging me through the entire photo shoot, and I have the pictures to prove it.

I love the Richmond family. I’ve been photographing them for six years now. Their extended family is huge and it’s the patriarch, Grandpa Jack, who always pays the bill. He tips me as much as my services cost. I think he pities me, but I’m currently in no position to decline. He’s the main reason Finn Harvey photography is still in business. It’s always why when he calls, I bend over backward to accommodate him.

I don’t normally do weddings, but I made a special exception for his favorite granddaughter, Katie. They hire me for everything—back-to-school photos, newborn pictures, engagement photos, and annual family photos. I even talked Katie into a boudoir photo shoot as a wedding present for her now husband, Bryce. She told me he loved them, but it’s been three years and the dude still won’t look me in the eyes. He’ll just shake my hand and smile at my shoes like he’s intimidated.

Believe me, Katie doesn’t turn my crank. Nothing turns me off more than the idea of cheating. I hated cheaters because of my dad, and Nora’s antics put the final nail in that coffin.

“Thanks for your help today,” I say. “Also, what the hell are you wearing?”

Lennox has swapped her normally dark, gothic look for a beige, floral dress. Come to think of it, her hair is pulled back into a neat ponytail and I think she’s wearing pink lipstick.

“I have a lot of looks,” she says noncommittally.

“True. But I’ve never seen this one.”

She shrugs. “It’s summer.”

“You’re seeing someone new, aren’t you?”

She flashes me a sarcastic smile, her nose crumpling. “I put some southwest eggrolls in your fridge, by the way. Your dinner awaits you.”

“You’re a good woman, Lennox. Thank you. But I’ll get some more fresh tonight. I’m taking Avery to Rue 52.”

Lennox smiles so wide her face might split in half.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re honestly going to throw on a sports coat? You hate wearing a monkey suit and going to Rue 52.”

“Yeah, I wanted to take her somewhere nice.”

“Wow.” Lennox’s eyes are full of snarky condescension. “Is this a thank you dinner?”

“Uh…in a way?”

Lennox pushes against my arm playfully. “That’s awesome. So she’s going to help with the website?”

“She is…” I wonder if Lennox can tell I’m trying to dodge the details.

“When does she want to do the boudoir shoot?” Lennox asks as she follows behind me. I open the door, crawl into the driver’s seat, and crank the car to get the air conditioner flowing. It’s disgustingly hot today and I don’t need my equipment warping from the heat.

“She doesn’t.”

“What? Why not? The set is fucking amazing if I say so myself. I’ve almost finished staging.”

“She’s not into that sort of stuff. We have a different…arrangement.”

Any other person in the world would shrug and think nothing of it. But it’s Lennox. She’s family, my best friend, and is not too shy to call me on my shit.

“You dog.” She clasps her hands together as she looks up at me. “I mean, I never thought you’d pimp yourself out to save our business, but hey, whatever keeps the doors open.” She’s snickering in glee, watching my unamused expression.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking you slept with her.”

“I didn’t.” More like I sat with my head between her thighs for about fifteen minutes.

“Liar,” Lennox snarks. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. She’s really cute, and here’s hoping she’s an upgrade in personality from your usual type.”

“She’s way more than cute…she’s got a lot of layers.” Avery toggles between shy and insecure to intimidatingly intelligent and direct. It keeps me on my toes how I can’t quite pin down her personality. All I know is that I like it. “She’s also going through it with her ex.”

Lennox tents her hand over her eyes as the sun pokes out from behind a cloud cluster, blinding her. “So you guys have that in common.”

I blow out a breath as my jaw twitches in irritation. Speaking of exes. I have no one else to talk to about that phone call from last night than Lennox, so I might as well get it off my chest. “Hop in? Air’s going.”

Lennox walks around the truck and opens the passenger side door. She’s dramatic as she grabs the interior handle and hoists herself up like she’s mounting a horse. She hates my truck because of how high it sits off the ground. I don’t love it either. It’s like driving a monster truck around town. But I didn’t exactly pick it out. It was an over-the-top present from my dad a year ago.

“What’s up?” Lennox asks.

“Morgan called me last night. I’m trying to shake it off, but he got to me.”

“What the fuck did your ex-girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend want with you?” Lennox turns in her seat, facing me directly, her brows pulling in concern. “And how did he get your number?”

“They’re back together. They’ve been back at it for a couple months apparently—”

“Of course…typical Nora. Always needs a stand-in—”

“He must’ve grabbed it from Nora’s phone. He called because he wanted to ask me man to man if I was sleeping with her behind his back. He suspects she’s cheating on him again, and since I was the culprit all those years ago, naturally, he figured I was at it again.” I knock my thumbs against the steering wheel. “His words, not mine.”

Lennox grumbles to herself. “It’s been three years, Finn. It still bothers you?”

I bury my hands in my face, letting the memories I push away daily bubble to the surface.

Nora was a stripper. I met her at Ruby’s, a gentlemen’s club my grandpa owns. One of his many random properties amongst the Las Vegas Strip. It’s probably the only one he isn’t keen to brag about, but it happens to be his biggest cash cow.

I hosted a bachelor party for one of my buddies at Ruby’s. I watched Nora dance on stage all night and after the final call, when she was dressed and had wiped off most of the body glitter, I asked if I could take her to breakfast.

Our first date was at an IHOP right outside the Las Vegas Strip at three in the morning. The next day, I woke up to a slew of congratulations texts from my buddies for taking home the hottest stripper in the club, but I didn’t actually take her home.

She ordered a double stack of plain pancakes and soaked them with boysenberry syrup. I got chocolate chip pancakes. We switched halfway through. It was that tame. We talked about how she used to be a blackjack dealer, but stripping paid much better. Ruby’s treated her well. She felt safe and in control. My grandpa’s club has very strict rules in place to protect their dancers and they don’t tolerate illegal activity. You’d have to find your happy ending elsewhere. Ruby’s was one hundred percent law-abiding. And plus, Nora stayed out of the private rooms…unless her car needed repairs.

I’ve never fallen in love that fast. Within three months of us dating, she stopped stripping at Ruby’s. I bought my house for her. I asked my dad to cosign the damn loan…all for her.

It was a few weeks after she moved in with me that I learned Nora wasn’t single.

And I was the other man.

When I found out about Morgan, she had every excuse in the book. She didn’t know how to break it off, he was abusive and controlling, she was reliant on him, he owed her money. She didn’t love him. She just didn’t want to see me end up in a fight over her.

That’s the part of the story where I’m no longer the victim because I listened to all the bullshit and I still chose to stay. I loved her that much. I kept her. I believed her. When she ended it with Morgan, I forgave her.

And then somehow I became the asshole who snaked his girl right from under him.

“The narrative bothers me, that’s all. I didn’t know about Morgan until it was too late. I’m not that guy.”

“Everyone who matters knows that.” Lennox reaches over the center console and gently pats my shoulder. “But it’s okay if you’re upset that she’s back with him again. You don’t have to love her to be hurt over her.”

“I know…” There are two sides to Nora. I won’t deny there is good in her. But in the end, the bad far outweighed the good.

“But I’m glad to see you’re moving on.” Lennox pats my shoulder. “We should all hang out. Double date? You, me, Avery, and Alan. Look at that—we’re both dating A names.”

I chuckle. Alan who likes sundresses, huh? “Avery and I aren’t dating. We’re just friends who apparently are going to hang out for the summer.”

“What’s a four-letter word for hang out that starts with f?” She flashes me a wicked smile. “I think it’s spelled f…u…c—”

“Lennox—”

“It’s not a big deal, Finny,” she says as she opens her passenger side door. “Whatever keeps the lights on in the studio. Bring her around. I’d love to get to know her. Plus, you’re no longer authorized to enter into a relationship without my prior approval. I have a knack for sniffing out the rats. I told you Nora was bad news from day one.”

“Yeah, yeah… Get out of here. Go see your new boy toy. Wait, do you want a ride to your car?”

“Nope,” she says, pointing across the small playground. “I’m parked just on the other side.” She hops out of the car but holds the door open. “For the record, you were really smiley today. Way more than usual.”

I raise my brow at her. “Really?”

“Definitely.” Lennox points at my chest. “Must be the change in company.” Proving her point, I smile to myself as she shuts the truck door and heads to the overflow parking lot.

Hm, must be.