Through the Lens (Click Duet #1) (Bay Area Duet Series), Persephone Autumn [read aloud books TXT] 📗

Sitting on a boulder-sized rock, I stare out at the water and get lost for a moment.

Although my job takes me to various locations, I never have the time to stop and enjoy where I am. The beach is great at times—in the early morning or late evening. But I love wandering in the parks and nature preserves. There is something magical about being in the thick of nature. Disconnecting from life and reconnecting with yourself. Forgetting about social media or texts or all the distractions and simply focusing on you.

And in my zoned-out mindset, I recall the occasions when Gavin and I would play-bicker over the beach versus the park. How he stated the beach was superior because of sunsets (on our coast) and sunrises (the east coast). My rebuttal consisted of how the sunlight filtered through the trees and the connection with the earth. We debated over it for hours before deciding it didn’t matter.

Spotting a few places, I head back to the car and wait for Erin to arrive. As I take out the last few things I will need, I hear a car and look up. Erin waves at me as she parks in the space beside me.

“Morning,” she hollers as she gets out of the car. “Present!”

I am momentarily confused until I see her retrieve and then hand me an oversized iced coconut milk matcha latte and a chocolate croissant from a local bakery.

Swooning at the treats, I kiss her cheek and snatch them from her. “Have I told you how much I love you?” I ask as I bite into the sweet pastry and moan.

Two seconds later, I regret that moan. Because that is the exact moment Gavin walks up behind me, rests his hands on my hips, and scares the shit out of me.

“That’s a sound I haven’t heard in years,” he says then smirks.

Almost dropping my drink, I whip around and glare at him. “JFC, Gavin. You scared the bejesus out of me.”

He laughs before asking, “JFC?”

Erin shakes her head and answers his question, noticing how I am hunched over and still trying to catch my breath. “It stands for Jesus fucking Christ. She uses the acronym in public, so she doesn’t offend anyone.”

“Ah,” he lilts. “Still so considerate of everyone else. Good to see the good qualities haven’t changed.”

Briefly, I want to ask what other qualities he remembers. Or consider good? But I opt not to. The last thing I need after a second night of shitty sleep is a trip down memory lane. Because memory lane when you’re not altogether there is a dangerous setup.

Once I locate my voice, I scold him. “Don’t do that again! You know how much I don’t like people sneaking up on me.”

His smile is subtle, falling away as quickly as it appears. His actions were intentional and got the result he was hoping for, that much I read from his smirk. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.” Great, now Gavin plans to use my quirks against me.

I look around the lot, expecting to see Alyson. Although she spends a great deal of time on her phone, she seems the type to be involved. Especially after receiving her email earlier. But she is nowhere in sight. “Where’s your agent?”

Gavin gazes out toward the beach, his sunglasses shielding his eyes from mine. “She’ll be here soon. After yesterday, she’s taking her time waking up today. Says she may have had a twenty-four-hour bug or food poisoning. She’s not sure, but doesn’t want to run full force this morning.”

I let Erin know the three places I want to be sure we shoot today. We take a few minutes to prioritize the order, guaranteeing the best shots with the least amount of beachgoers, and how to use the natural lighting to our advantage in each spot.

When we finish talking strategy, I glance around the lot again and something dawns on me. “Gavin, how did you get here?”

“I walked,” he replies flatly. As if it should be obvious. But for all I know, he could have gotten an Uber and let them drop him off at the entrance of the park.

“Over the bridge? The walk is long enough, but that incline is ridiculous.” Walking the distance probably wasn’t too bad. It was maybe three miles. But with the traffic, the tourists, and the bridge incline, I would have fallen over by now. Not to mention the mix of humidity and sweat.

As if he can hear my thoughts, a smile perches on his lips. “I’ve hiked worse trails in Cali. I didn’t even break a sweat. Should give it a try sometime.”

Shrugging him off, I face Erin as we toss everything in one cart today. Today’s shoot should be easier and less obstructed than yesterday.

As I reach for the cart handle, Gavin does also. Our fingers touch for two breaths, and that old familiar current buzzes up my arms and slithers directly to my chest. Warm and comforting and libidinous. I yank mine away and try not to think about why my body is reacting to his. After everything that happened and how much time has passed, no part of me should be thrilled or eager or accepting. If anything, his touch should garner loss and heartbreak and depression.

He laughs at me, gestures with his other hand in front of him. “Lead the way, boss.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Alyson?” I ask. Definitely don’t need his agent pissed because we didn’t wait for her arrival.

“When we get to wherever, I’ll text her. Don’t worry about it,” Gavin says breezily.

But therein lies the problem… I am worried about it.

Chapter Ten

Gavin

Being near Cora intoxicates me. After so many years apart, and seeing her for hours each day since I arrived, it has been a challenge to feign my feelings. If I thought leaving her the first time was difficult, this time will be a hundred times worse. If not more.

But what if it didn’t have to be that way?