by Chelsea Hale
“See,” Helen said, with a triumphant smile, “this is what I keep telling her. Thank you, Coco, for backing me up. Stress creates wrinkles. And wrinkles too close to your wedding won’t be flattering in the pictures you hang all over your house.”
Coco filmed around the entire group, zooming in and out of the scene, taking several pictures.
The hair lady finished adding the last pearl into Liz’s red curls. She wore part of it up, letting most of it hang down the back while ringlets framed her face. She stood back so everyone could admire.
Coco loved getting all of it on film. Jenny came over to Coco. “Here, show me what to do, and you can get in a shot with her, too.”
“Thanks,” Coco said, quickly switching it from manual to automatic to make it easier for Jenny to use. She talked Jenny through a few things then stood by Liz.
The hair lady started on Liz’s nails next, and Liz’s feet were soaking in some sort of blue liquid gel underneath the vanity.
“You look like an angel,” Coco said.
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this whole process again before the wedding.” Liz’s eyes sparkled. “Maybe I should elope to avoid the torture.”
“I made Tyler sign a very strict no-eloping policy,” Helen said with a laugh. “You’re almost done.”
“Your pictures will be perfect because you’re happy about who you’re marrying,” Coco said. “All of this pampering is just a bonus.”
“When you get married, I’m going to inflict this ‘pampering’ on you, too. Then we’ll see how much you like it.”
Coco laughed. “Deal.”
Liz, Helen, Jenny, Mandy, and Coco were at the studio at 9:00 a.m. Peter whisked them into the back area and pointed them to the bridal dressing room. Jenny and Helen followed Liz in to help her get dressed.
Coco entered the studio. Peter was already setting up, moving furniture and changing the backdrop. “Hey,” she said to him, “I was hoping to talk with you today about partnering.” She looked around. “You said we’d talk when I got back.”
He looked down at the camera in her hand then met her gaze again. She didn’t understand the expression in his eyes. “I did say that. Did you get my voicemail? We can talk—”
“Liz is almost ready,” Mandy said. “Do you need any help setting up your equipment?”
Coco patted her bag, wishing Mandy had waited just a little longer to come into the studio. “I’m all set.”
“Let’s talk later.” Peter’s voice was clipped. “If there’s anything you want to add to the setup, let me know.”
Coco nodded. Business. “I brought a few reflectors to create some extra light for a few shots.”
He pointed to a far corner. “I have some long poles you can attach your reflectors to.”
“Thanks.”
Peter finished setting up the lights, and Coco stowed her bag under a bench next to his tripod.
A throat cleared, and they both looked at the other three in the room. Liz was posed in front of the backdrop. “Anytime you’re ready. No rush or anything.” She laughed. “You two are both in your own worlds.”
Coco smiled at Liz’s relaxed shoulders, and her playful grin. She seemed less stressed now that she was in her wedding gown.
Coco adjusted her settings and plastered on a grin. She wanted this to be a positive experience, not just for Liz, but for herself. If Peter saw how well she stayed out of his way while still capturing all the perfect moments, he may reconsider letting her partner up with him on a more permanent basis.
Peter took a test shot then switched a few of the settings.
“Your lens cover is still on,” Liz said, cracking a smile.
Coco laughed then whispered in his ear. “Don’t let me distract you from your work.”
He looked at her but didn’t smile. “You’re not distracting me.”
Coco brushed off his attitude. She followed his lead for the first half of the shoot. Many poses were the ones she’d wanted to capture, and Peter seemed to have a groove and flow in his studio that she didn’t want to interrupt. She got great footage, though eventually, she wanted to get some close-ups; she’d save those till the end.
“Anything else you want to film?” Peter asked Coco.
Coco walked purposefully in front of his shot, and that finally coaxed a smile out of him. Liz laughed at the joke.
“Okay, no more goofing off,” Coco said to Peter.
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“I know.”
Coco and Peter took turns setting up different shots. Coco directed certain actions. For one minute Liz looked at the camera, and the next she looked down. Then she smiled slightly and then smiled bigger. It would make an interesting montage, especially if she caught Tyler doing the same things. She could go back and forth as if they were in the same room. Suddenly creative juices started flowing, and she could see the whole movie in her head. She just needed to capture the right angles.
Jenny and Mandy stood on either side of Liz, out of the shots. They fixed her dress, moved her hair, and generally made sure everything was picture perfect. Having one person on each side made it easier to get the shots she wanted. Helen dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
Peter brought out a few different chairs, and Liz posed in them with her feet kicked over one of the armrests, her aqua colored heels showing.
“Look at that,” Helen said. “A reason to have a nice pedicure, after all.”
“I do appreciate the forethought,” Liz said, as she tried to talk through her smile without moving her cheek muscles.
“This is a great pose,” Coco said. “Peter, do you mind if I pan closer to her for a minute?”
“Be my guest,” Peter said. “I’ll switch my batteries.”
She swept around from the back of Liz’s head to the front, and finally zoomed in on her toes. The macro focus let the rest of the room blur behind Liz, and Coco zoomed in and out of the pearls in her hair. “Now, give a slow small smile … but really slowly. I want to make it look like butter.”
“Don’t say butter unless you want to make her laugh,” Jenny said. Liz had once melted butter too much, and it had tasted terrible on the popcorn she poured it on. Since then, Liz hadn’t melted butter for their movie nights.
Then Liz busted up laughing. “It’s true. I’m sorry, Coco. Can we try it one more time? I promise this time I won’t laugh or think of butter.”
“Fine. Melt into a smile,” Mandy said.
Jenny laughed. “Still a butter reference.”
“Girls, it’s not popcorn night. Butter isn’t funny right now.” Coco could barely keep it together.
Peter took a few more pictures. “These look great.”
They finished up the session in record time. By 10:20, Liz was changing out of her dress. Coco changed the lens on her camera and put them in her bag.
“Nice work in there,” Peter said. “You’re really good with studio work. The butter thing really got some fun natural smiles out of Liz.”
“My master plans always work well.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“You never really wanted her to smile slowly, did you?”
She grinned. “Maybe a little. It would have been a bonus shot, but either way, I got some fun, relaxed footage I think Liz will really like. It was easy to get a good session with Liz because I know her.”
He shook his head. “Your skills are much higher than just understanding friends. I bet you’d be able to get any group of people to smile and have a good time during a photo session because you’re personable, and you know how to get the moment you are looking for.”
Coco beamed at him. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve said to me all day.” And a perfect segue into partnering with me. “Speaking of, I’d like to talk some details with you.”
Peter drew in a breath. It was better to get this conversation over with. The way Coco worked in his studio made him wish he could convince her to run his videography services. He knew she’d be great at it. The br
idal shoot with Liz went well, and not just because Liz was Coco’s friend.
He looked at her left hand again. No engagement ring. Either Jeffrey didn’t propose yet, or maybe it was getting sized. Without a ring to confirm she’d heard Jeffrey’s plans, he couldn’t bring it up.
It was a no-win situation for him. He didn’t want to brush her aside and pretend her skills were inadequate, because they weren’t. She was talented, and he wanted to partner with her. But how could he do that when he knew in a matter of days or weeks she’d find out all her planning would be a waste of time once Jeffrey proposed?
His mind raced for a safe way to bring it up. Maybe start with her own idea. He could start with asking her opinion on pricing. He had done his research, but she seemed to instinctively get this as a business.
“You mentioned you’d be willing to help with the videography side of my business,” he began, wishing he could just offer her the entire position.
She beamed. “I’d be happy to help. It’s how I made it through college. I might not have it all down exactly right, but I’ve done all right for myself.”
“Before I hire, I guess the first thing I should figure out is how the pricing works, and then figure out how to get recruits for the job.” He wanted to ask her. The word recruit was thick on his tongue.
Her smile faltered for just a moment, but it was quickly back in place, making Peter wonder if he’d imagined it. “Didn’t you figure out your pricing before you started your interviews?”
He blinked. How did she know about that? Once Jeffrey had told Peter about his plans, Peter had jumped full force into finding someone else. Except, it hadn’t helped him solve his problem, only made it obvious that he’d compare everyone else to Coco. He hadn’t even done the interviews. He’d let Becca handle them. “I—”
Coco started speaking rapidly. “Competitive pricing is always the place to start. No one is going to pay higher than that without some sort of marketability behind it. As you differentiate yourself in the marketplace, you can raise your rates. One advantage you might consider is giving an overall discount if they book both photography and videography through your studio.”
“You’re sure you didn’t like the business world? You have a knack for it.”
“Business is great; it was the accounting side that got to me.”
Liz came out of the dressing room. “Thanks, guys! I had fun.”
“It was a great shoot. I think you’ll be happy with the results. Let’s set a time for next week, and you can choose your favorite photos.”
Mandy came out behind Liz. “Hey, Coco, I just confirmed with Dan. We’re so excited to double with you tonight. It’s going to be great.”
Coco’s eyes stayed locked on Peter’s a second longer, then she turned to Mandy. “I can’t wait.”
Coco turned back to him. “So about partnering—”
For a moment Peter thought he could offer her the job, and let her work until she married Jeffrey, but at Mandy’s mention of doubling with Coco and Jeffrey, he knew he couldn’t do it. She’d be leaving with him soon anyway, and after Tyler and Liz’s wedding it was best not to add more fuel to the fire. He needed to extinguish his feelings—it was easier that way. “I left you a voicemail already on that subject.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
After Liz’s bridals, Coco tried to do some editing, but all her creativity was gone after the rough cut. Every clip she viewed seemed to replay the last conversation she’d had with Peter. He hadn’t wanted her to find out he was interviewing for the position he’d hinted at giving her.
He had a right to do anything he wanted with his business, but she wasn’t sure what she’d done that had caused the change. It was obvious as a well composed picture that she’d impressed him enough with the bridals today and with the final wedding video she showed John and Tina. What had changed? Even their inside joke of her standing in front of his camera barely got a smile out of him.
He mentioned his voicemail, and she listened to it again, but it explained nothing. He had said she’d know why he couldn’t give her the job. But she didn’t. Men.
Thoughts of teaching him how to dip raced through her head. He’d kissed her. Was that part of his problem? He’d caught her completely by surprise. Now that she wasn’t Jeffrey’s girlfriend, the kiss was framed in a new light. Fireworks exploded in her memory. They’d seen each other since then, and it hadn’t been awkward, but maybe she just hadn’t picked up on the signs.
She shivered, goosebumps prickling her arms as she remembered Peter’s very kissable lips. Had she missed something? Could there be something between them? She’d had fun with him, he’d helped her with her car, had driven her the rest of the way to Aspen even when she’d had a bad attitude about accepting his help … Then he’d kissed her and now he was doing his best to ignore her. Why?
Mandy ran into Coco’s room. “You’re not ready.” Mandy opened Coco’s closet and pulled out a purple sweater and dark skinny jeans. “Here. Wear this. It makes your eyes pop.”
Coco blinked. “Where are we going?”
“Have you been in an editing fog all afternoon? What video has you so wrapped up inside that you’ve forgotten about our double date?” Mandy glanced at Coco’s laptop screen and laughed. “Your screen is blank.”
Suddenly Coco didn’t want to go on a blind date. She had someone else in mind. Someone who’d kissed her, and now she couldn’t get him out of her thoughts.
“Did you tell him my name? Maybe Jenny can go.”
Mandy pouted on the edge of the bed. “Jenny is boring on dates. She can’t get out of the legalese, and she grills guys to death. She’s way too intimidating and Liz is engaged. So. That leaves you. Quit pining over you-know-who. Let’s go out and have fun.”
Coco wiggled her mouse until her computer screen turned on, right where Peter’s face was paused mid-smile. Maybe she was pining, after all.
“I go out. Enough.”
Mandy held out the outfit again. “Please come. I’m only in town for another two weeks before I travel again. I don’t have time to reschedule. Please.” She shook the outfit closer toward Coco.
“Fine. But I need to come home early.” She glanced at the screen one more time. “I have a lot of work to do.”
Mandy gave a little hop. “You’re the best. I have a good feeling about this.”
Mandy and Coco walked into the Chinese restaurant. The hostess led them to a booth, where two guys stood up as they approached.
A guy about her height stuck out his hand. “I’m Landon. You’re Coco?”
“That’s me.” She forced a smile as she sat down next to her date on the outside end of the booth.
“Mandy was right; your hair is shorter than mine.” Landon shook the messy mop on top of his head, seemingly unaware they were in a restaurant. “Normally that would bother me, but Mandy insists you’re still cool. And hair can always grow, right?”
Mandy’s date reached across the table. “I’m Dan, but Mandy’s probably told you all about me.”
Coco eyed Mandy’s face and blinked. Mandy was barely holding back a laugh. This was going to be a long night.
Landon filled the silence, not allowing Coco time to answer Dan. “So, Coco, Mandy tells me you’re a film student.”
Coco forced a smile. Normally she loved talking about her passion, but he’d just insulted her hair. She set down her water glass on the overly shiny table. “She told you right. I’m graduating soon.”
“That’s great.”
Coco wanted to let Landon squirm to find a new topic of conversation, but finally asked, “What are you studying?”
“I’m an archaeology major. Most people think that’s just playing in the dirt, and they’d mostly be right.” He laughed at his own joke.
“What do you—?”
“Now most people think of the pyramids of Egypt when they think of archaeology. If I hadn’t told you that, would you have thought of that first?”
“Um,
probably?” Coco was confused by the question.
“Ah. I should remember to ask dates what place they think of first when I mention archaeology.” He pulled out his phone and made a note. “Where was I? Oh yeah. Egypt. Don’t get me wrong, Egypt is amazing, but it’s so hyped up in the movies. I mean, Indiana Jones really blew it out of proportion. Now, my last dig in Turkey was amazing.
“See this scar?” He rolled up his sleeve. “I got this in Turkey. Oh, and I got the tan in Turkey, too. It’s hard to get this much color in the winter, but archeology majors tend to stay tan and toned all year long. Blessing in disguise. It could be one of the reasons why chicks dig the guys who dig.” He flexed.
Coco bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. This date would make the list of funny things to talk about during their next roommate sundaes for breakfast. She could see Liz rolling her eyes, and Jenny teasing Mandy for setting Coco up with such a fun person.
She rubbed her neck and scooted away from him on the bench so she could turn and face him more directly. She glanced over at Mandy, who seemed engrossed in the conversation she and Dan were having.
“When I organize my tools like this,” Landon said, swiping through a few photos on his phone, “I can get in three extra tools, and I don’t need to carry my other bag. Isn’t that great?”
Mandy, you owe me for this date. “That’s amazing.” She’d be getting a bored headache any moment. Where was the food?
There was a slight lull in the conversation when he took a drink, and Coco found her opening. “Excuse me one moment, will you?”
Coco got up from the table and headed toward the restroom. She’d need to splash cold water on her face to keep herself awake during dinner. With any luck, the food would be out by the time she got back, and she’d be able to eat in silence.
Mandy came with her. “How’s it going? Landon said he liked artsy types. Are you hitting it off?”
“Uh, no. It’s not great.”
“You guys are talking a lot.”
“He’s giving me the detailed play by play of the last dig he went on. It might be interesting if it didn’t include a whole slideshow on how he organizes his tools.”
