SHOOT: A Novel

by Kristen Flowers

  In many ways he was high-end and sophisticated, yet rugged with an edge to him. He was a bundle of mysteries I planned on unpacking.

  “Are you adventurous?” he asked.

  “Well, I am here,” I responded with a teasing smile. It came off like I was being cheeky about being out on a date with him, but I had really meant it about my big move to the city. Either way, it surprised him and earned me a genuine chuckle from deep in his throat.

  “Alright, then, you’ll get special treatment tonight,” he said with an exaggerated wink. The server came around, as if on cue, and Brad ordered a bit of everything off the menu along with sparkling water with ice for the two of us. My eyes trailed across his sharp chaw line as he pointed on the menu. He spoke with such confidence, I could practically feel his smooth voice reach across the table and envelope around me.

  When he turned to look at me, he grinned wider than I had ever seen. “You deserve to try it all.” I looked around and saw a lot of food I was completely unfamiliar with. I noticed a blackboard at the top of the kitchen that listed various specialties of the house, but I didn’t recognize any of the names of the dishes. Growing up in Iowa, I had always been a simple meat and potatoes kind of girl.

  I had wanted a taste of the world for as long as I could remember and it was finally about to happen.

  “It’s called Patatas Bravas,” Brad informed me as the server brought out the first dish. He handed me a small plate and told me not to question what it was and to keep an open mind. “Any allergies?” he asked. I shook my head. “How do you feel about spicy food?” I shrugged.

  As soon as I took the first bite, I felt like my mouth was on fire and I went straight for the sparkling water. Brad, meanwhile, was in a fit of laughter. Once the burning in my mouth had calmed down I stared at him. “I’m glad you take such pleasure in my pain,” I barked at him jokingly.

  He made a suggestive face and leaned forward, “Only if you’re into it.”

  I felt my heart start to race because I couldn’t, for the life of me, make out if he was being serious or not. Then he started laughing before taking a sip of his water. “So no more Patatas for you?”

  “I’m afraid not,” I chuckled as I took another sip of water. Just then, the server brought out another dish. “How spicy is this one?” I asked him. He smiled, “Not spicy at all. Don’t worry, I’ve had my fun. No more spicy foods for you, I promise.”

  “Can I trust you?” I shot back with a skeptical look. Brad simply shrugged his shoulders with a smirk.

  “This is Espinacas a la Catalana,” Brad told me. I could clearly see the main part of the dish was spinach and I was happy. I thought his accent when he pronounced the names of the dishes was cute, but I kept that thought to myself. He served a bit on my dish before grabbing a serving of his own and the two of us ate at the same time.

  “This is delicious!” I told him before swallowing my first bite. My hand shot up to my mouth in shocked horror as a small bit of food fell out. Brad’s face instantly lit up with laughter.

  “First you need help getting dressed, now eating.” He shook his head in a tsk-tsk motion.

  “Hey now!”

  “Just teasing!” He held his hands up in surrender.

  After that, he ordered champagne for us as more small dishes came out, none of which were spicy save for a couple, but they were manageable and he warned me beforehand. Once the dishes started rolling out regularly and I had a few more sips of champagne, I was beginning to loosen up and finally start to feel more comfortable.

  “What’s next?” I asked.

  “Getting demanding so early?” he asked before draining the champagne in his glass and reaching for the bottle to get a refill. He noticed mine was low so he filled up my glass as well. “Maybe I should stop telling you the names,” he said.

  “Why?” I protested. “I love it when you tell me the names!” I felt my cheeks go hot and I noticed the look in his eyes. I had sounded whiney, but I hoped it was in a cute way.

  He leaned forward, “I can be cute when I speak Spanish or try to, anyway.” He grinned cheekily. I started laughing, breaking it up with sips of champagne. Brad played it as if he were as confident as ever and it made me wonder just how deep his confidence really went. I liked that about him. He was easy to talk to and had good ways of keeping me interested, making me want to learn more about him.

  I also liked that he had asked me some good questions about my hometown and childhood before opening up about his own. It was like he really had an interest in getting to know me. He wanted to make sure I was heard, but also wanted to find some sort of common ground for us to relate to each other on.

  “I actually grew up in Queens,” he told me after swallowing a mouthful of Croquetas Cremosas. Those had been my favorite so far. “My mother, a single-mother, worked really hard, but it was still tough financially on us. How was it in Iowa, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “Financially?” I asked. He nodded. “It was okay, but not great. I wouldn’t say we were poor, but my parents worked themselves to the bone, pretty much. It always seemed like they worked all day long, you know? I’m pretty sure our farm wouldn’t have been as big if we hadn’t gotten it from grandma and grandpa.”

  “You started working from a young age too?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded, thinking back on baking pies as a young girl. It was all I had ever known so I had no idea how radically different our lives could be. I didn’t know my parents were, at the end of the day, underpaid through their own business. “I’ve always wanted to leave Iowa, but my mom wanted me to stay there and help run the family business.”

  There was a brief pause before Brad spoke up, “You can be anyone you want here in New York, you know. It’s the city of dreams. I love this place and I know you will too.”

  It sounded corny coming from him, but I actually agreed. Everything up until that point did feel like a dream. There was so much diversity in New York and so many opportunities despite the astronomically high population. Everything was so different from the small farm town in Iowa and, while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it intimidating. But as I sat across Brad, learning about his childhood and laughing my way through glasses of champagne and new foods, I felt I had gotten off to a good start. With Sonja who believed in me so much, my awesome roommates, and now Brad, I felt like a good support system had already come together.

  Once dinner finished, Brad insisted on paying the bill. I was happy to find he was a gentleman in that regard even if it was considered “old school” thinking for most people. Where I came from, however, certain things were still basic manners and I couldn’t just ignore all of that. In the end, I mainly found it sweet of him.

  “Would you like to get a drink?” he asked.

  “I’m confused as to what we’ve been doing through dinner,” I teased back.

  He nudged me gently with his arm, “Another drink?” I turned to him and smiled, nodding. “I know a great bar just a few minutes’ walk away.”

  The cool night air felt good against my skin as we started our walk. I looked up, enjoying the sight of tall buildings surrounding us. I was really on my first real date and it was in the Big Apple. I felt like I was in a movie. We walked slowly to the bar. Somehow we had gotten on the topic of Brad recounting the different celebrities he’d seen on the streets of New York. It all added to my fascination with the evening.

  “Soon you might be one of those recognizable New York faces.”

  My world was starting to feel a whole lot bigger.

  A bit more than a few minutes later the two of us reached the bar, but I knew the walk took longer due to our slow pace. We had been enjoying each other’s company too much to rush anything and the journey was definitely a lot more important than the destination. As soon as we stepped inside, the noise pounded against my ears.

  Brad leaned in, “What would you like to drink?” His warm breath brushed against my ear and sent tingles flowing down my neck. I wracked my
brain for a moment before remembering the advice my roommates gave me, “Vodka and soda.”

  Brad smiled knowingly, “Did that come from the other models?”

  I smiled sheepishly and nodded. I’d been caught. Brad chuckled and shook his head.

  “Listen, I know you’re new and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. I’m sure they’re really just trying to help you, but you shouldn’t let them tell you what to do either. There’s a difference between taking advice and letting someone else’s words run your life.” He reached over to grab one of the cocktail menus littering the ledge of the bar’s window to show me his personal favorites. “It’s always good to try something new,” he told me with a suggestive smirk.

  I wanted to reply with some witty statement, but my mind drew a blank. Instead, I pulled the menu closer to me to have a good look at the options but everything looked unfamiliar. I had no idea what any of the hard liquors tasted like, save for vodka, so I hadn’t a clue what sort of cocktail would be good. Thinking back on the fresh-squeezed juices I was used to drinking back home, I asked Brad what drinks were fruity and delicious.

  “Fruity and delicious?” he asked. He was looking at me with interest before giving a small smile and taking the menu. “I’ve got it,” and headed off to the bar to place the order.

  I leaned against the back wall and watched him as he waited for the drinks to be prepared and then paid the bartender. He returned holding two glasses. He handed me a bright blue drink with plenty of ice.

  “Let’s go find a place to sit and enjoy our drinks.” He said as he gently guided me with his hand on my lower back. My breath fluttered a little as I felt his hand nestle against me. The two of us weaved through the crowd, which was much rowdier than the busy tapas restaurant we had just come from.

  Once he found a corner table on the back patio, he set his glass down and pulled out my chair. He waved his arms and presented the chair to me in an exaggeratedly manner. I giggled and took a seat, toying with the red straw in my drink. It was the sort of drink I imagined a young woman would enjoy on the beach with the sun beating down on her skin and the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the distance. I closed my eyes and breathed in. My mind started to wander as I thought maybe one day, just maybe, I’d be able to afford such a lovely vacation.

  “So what do you think?”

  My eyes snapped open and I saw Brad staring at me. Not knowing if he was asking about my drink or the bar, I hastily took my first sip and nodded. “It’s good,” I smiled in approval.

  It was tasty and refreshing save for the slight after taste of whatever liquor was in it. Regardless, it was definitely something I would like to drink again so I made a mental note to ask him what it was. I also wondered how much my roommates would freak out if they found out I had anything other than a vodka soda, especially after such an indulgent dinner.

  “Oh,” he said, looking slightly disappointed, but he quickly covered it up by looking around and taking a drink from his own cocktail. I tilted my head and looked at him questioningly. I was confused because my response to the drink had been positive. Then it dawned on me that maybe he had been looking for a different type of answer.

  I took a long sip and looked around. Despite the loud crowd it was quite an energetic atmosphere I enjoyed. It was completely different than the vibe at “Roses” and, truthfully, I liked this place better. I turned back to look at Brad and smiled around my straw.

  I felt good—really good, actually. There was something about the way he was treating me that made my heart race every time he glanced my way. It seemed he knew just the thing to say and do; whether he was behind the camera or not. That natural charm worked for him in more than one area of life and it made me wonder just how much he worked at it. He didn’t strike me as the type to play that up, though. Despite his good lucks, charm, and success, there was something about him that told me he wasn’t exactly a womanizer. There was a gentleness to his eyes.

  “Brad,” I finally broke the silence with hesitation. “What’s going on?” Even the way he’d responded to me calling his name gave me more reason to ask the question. There was a very visible change in his attitude but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. He took a large drink of his cocktail and set the glass down heavily before leaning forward.

  “What do you think of me?” he finally asked me in a straightforward manner.

  I bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze by looking at the ice swirling in my glass as I moved it with the red straw. I didn’t know how to respond to his question. Could I really tell him everything I thought of him? Could I really be so open with him? It would be awkward and I was too shy for it, no matter how well we got along.

  “I think,” I finally said before the silence went on too long and created an uncomfortable situation, “you sure know how to make a great evening out.”

  Brad gave a half smile, “I’ll take it.”

  He finished his cocktail and asked if I would like a refill on mine or preferred to try something else. It was a night of trying new things, so I decided to order a different sweet drink. I took the minutes he was gone to finish up my cocktail while going over our conversations in my head. A wide smile took over my face by the time he returned.

  “What are you so happy about?” Brad pretended to look around suspiciously, “Did someone come and sweep you off your feet while I was gone?” He placed the glasses down.

  “I’ve been off my feet,” I giggled.

  Brad scoffed and sat down. “So you’re saying if you hadn’t been sitting you’d have gotten carried away by another suitor,” he played with me.

  “Maybe,” I teased before tasting my own cocktail, this one a breezy orange color. “Wow,” I said aloud, “This one is even more delicious than the last.”

  “Tell me your mystery suitor would do such a fantastic job of picking your drinks, I dare you,” he challenged, leaning forward to get his face closer to mine.

  His breath smelled faintly of alcohol, but I didn’t find it off putting, not when his handsome blue eyes were staring me down and his shapely lips were curled into a daring little smirk. I felt my heart rate pick up once again and a wave of chills washed over me. I felt a little light headed and I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or my charming company.

  He was incredibly attractive and his behavior now made the reality smack me in the face—I was really on a date with him. My breath caught in my throat and I could hear my pulse in my ears. There was no way I could think of a response now so I settled for picking up my drink and sipping it slowly while staring into his eyes defiantly.

  It seemed to have worked. His gaze lowered to my lips and lingered there for a few seconds. His chest drew in a deep breath before he looked back up at my eyes and slowly leaned back in his chair, grabbing his drink and stirring it casually. With the shift in his demeanor came a shift in the music of the bar. The bar lit up with cool nighttime jazz. It was almost sensual. I watched his lips slowly curl up in a suggestive smile. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there always seemed to be something else spinning inside his head at all times.

  The crowd around them grew quieter as the music filled the atmosphere. Now more than ever I felt like I was really in a movie.

  “Well,” Brad finally broke the silence after finishing his drink, “I’m certainly glad I edged out the mystery suitor, even if it was just by a bit.” He smirked.

  I wondered how aware he was of the effect he had on me. What sort of effect, if any, did I have on him; or maybe he was immune to whatever charm I had. At the very least there was a definite, mutual attraction between the two of us and that was enough for me, at least at the moment.

  “He was quite the competitor,” I smiled, “But I don’t know that he could work a camera quite like you, much less pick the perfect cocktail for me.” My statement was smooth and it surprised me how easily it rolled off my tongue, despite my nervous tumbling stomach. I could feel his eyes trailing over my body, taking in every inch of my sk
in and slowly peeling away the confident façade I had put up.

  The corner of Brad’s mouth tugged up in a sort-of cocky half-smirk. He leaned forward again and tapped the table with his fingers.

  “So you like the way I work a camera, huh?” It was impossible to miss the way he had emphasized the word “work” and what the meaning behind that was. I felt nervous, but excited. I nodded as I sucked down a little more of my drink. Brad looked around carefully before getting up abruptly, only to sit on the chair next to mine. He leaned in until I could feel his hot breath on the lobe of my ear, the sensation made my fingers curl into the palm of my hand as I suppressed a full-body shudder.

  I knew he must have noticed because he paused, even held his breath, before leaning in a bit more. My heart was racing and a lump was forming in my throat—I was unsure where this was headed, but I wanted to find out. “I am passionate so that must have a lot to do with it.”