by Chelsea Hale
She put a hand to her temples. “Did you see that pathway? We’ll be in each other’s shots. It’s narrow, and I want to be front and center, and your pictures can’t be off-center either.”
“Hence your stress.”
She nodded.
“I think I have an idea.” He took her outside and they examined the path lit with the warm glow of lights strung overhead. A romantic scene to send-off the newlyweds. “Let’s try something. If you crouch down a little, filming from the bottom of center, and I take pictures over you, we can both split the space.” They practiced walking backward together.
“I’m like a Halloween monster walking like this.” She laughed.
“Do we get the shots without getting in each other’s way?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s worth looking a little ridiculous. After all, the camera won’t be pointed toward us.” He ignored it when she bumped into him a little, wishing he could embrace her again.
“Brilliant thinking.”
They walked back inside, so the rest of the party could take their places outside before the send-off. They’d been surrounded by people for the last several hours. He had about ten seconds to give an apology. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, looking into her beautiful emerald green eyes. “I never should have kissed you.” He shook his head. If she was available they’d be having a much different conversation. “I got caught up in the moment.”
She leaned in. “Me too.”
For a moment Peter wondered if she’d be interested in him if she didn’t have a boyfriend. He should ask her. Be bold. “Coco—”
Tina cleared her throat, and they both spun in her direction. She cocked her head and smiled. “We’re ready for the send-off.”
“Of course,” Peter said to Tina. “We’ll take our places.” The moment was lost. He couldn’t ask Coco. Not now.
The rest of the party lined the pathway outside.
As John and Tina came out of the reception hall, Peter and Coco pulled off their exit, walking backward. Coco bumped into Peter only once, but he didn’t mind.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t worry. I’ll match your speed. We’re doing great.”
They got the parting shots of the bride and groom leaving the party as their guests cheered and blew bubbles at them.
“You did it,” he said.
“We did it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Coco went back into the reception hall after capturing a satisfying ending scene to John and Tina’s wedding day. Her entire body buzzed with energy as she relived the crazy turn of events. Having spent the entire week helping Liz with wedding plans and filming for her, she’d planned to catch up on all of the video editing she needed to do.
Usually before a day of rigorous filming, she took it easy, but last night she and her roommates had been out shopping until her feet were sore. She hadn’t regretted helping Peter today though, even with a blister forming on her heel.
Her mind reeled as it played over Peter’s delicious kiss—the kind she loved filming. It was sudden and urgent and she’d surprised herself when she’d pulled him closer, running her hand through his hair. Two fingers were on her lips as she relived the memory. They’d been showing John and Tina how to dip. That was all. Getting caught up in the moment. She shouldn’t overthink it. Her pulse quickened, pounding in her ears. Distraction. She needed … to check her phone.
A text from Jeffrey several hours ago waited for her. Odd. He didn’t send many texts when he traveled. He preferred emails.
Surprise! I came home a week early. Cancel your plans tonight. I have the best movie I saw on the plane we need to rent.
Home early. That was a surprise. I’m sorry I didn’t see your message until now. I was helping Liz’s photographer shoot a last-minute wedding today. Are you still up for getting together?
It’s late. I’m tired from traveling. Call you tomorrow.
Okay. Goodnight. It would have been a nice surprise, but she still had a life when he was gone. She couldn’t always drop everything.
Coco carefully packed up her lenses and took apart her steady-cam, storing it in a bag. Without prior knowledge of the venue and lighting, she had packed nearly double the amount of gear needed. Two trips out to the car should get everything out.
A soft knock came at the door, and Peter stepped inside. Her heart skipped a little as she consciously avoided looking at his lips. “The parents of the bride and groom are sending you home with this.” He handed her four platters of food, a spread of desserts, and a bag. “Those are the sauces. All labeled.”
Coco’s eyes widened. “Do they think I’m part of an army?”
“They’re grateful you came today. It’s the least they can do, until you send them a bill.”
“I’m not sure what their budget was for this.” Her cheeks flushed.
He waved his hand in the air. “Bill them what you’d normally charge for this. They made me promise you would.”
She nodded, wondering why she wanted to continue the moment. Her nerves tingled. “Help me eat some of this before we go?”
Uncertainty was written on his face, and she didn’t want to see it there. “Or just take half of it home with you.” She held up the food to him, holding her breath for a moment. “I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”
His face smoothed. “They’re ready to lock up the building for the night, but we can find a place outside.”
Peter helped her load her car with the rest of her gear and they took the food down the lit path through the opening in the side garden. The dim lamp posts stood guard around a secluded table and chairs on the upper stone patio, overlooking the rose bushes not yet in bloom.
“We made a good team today,” Peter said.
She swallowed her sandwich. “It’s been a great day.” Oh no. Would he think that she enjoyed their kiss? She had—but she shouldn’t admit it to Peter. They had made a good team today. But that kiss. The moment wouldn’t leave her. It was like fireworks she could still see even after the sky went black. Confusion swirled around her, as guilt crept in. She shouldn’t have enjoyed the shivers jumping up and down her spine so much.
Kissing Jeffrey was never like that. Was it because it was new or that Peter caught her by surprise? She blamed it on the impulse of the moment. She was in love … with Jeffrey.
“Where did you learn how to dip?” he asked.
The question seemed sincere, but it kept their kiss at the forefront of her mind, and her cheeks grew warm. “Just a trick I learned from my social dance class on how to hold a pose at the end of a number.”
“Is that how you come up with creative poses?” He tilted his head.
Thankful the topic led away from kissing she said, “Performing is about creating those magical moments on the stage. My photography poses are nothing more than fancy frozen dance poses. Now you know my secret.”
“How did you know that Tina was afraid of being dropped?”
“She was unbalanced, and unsure what to expect. When you’re unbalanced you wonder if you’ll be dropped.” In poses and in life.
“I wouldn’t drop you.” His eyes sparkled, and she again avoided looking at his smile showing off his white teeth.
She arched an eyebrow, unwilling to read more into his statement. Suddenly sharing food with Peter in the empty garden felt too much like a date. She shouldn’t be here, laughing with him. She stood, wrapping up the tray. “I should probably get going.”
They walked in silence to her car, and Coco felt the cool air for the first time all night. She unlocked her car door, and Peter placed the food tray in the back seat. Then he opened her door. Ever the gentleman.
He paused, holding open her door. “I want to apologize again.”
How many times was he going to say he didn’t like kissing her in so many different ways? It stung. She forced a smile. “We can forget about it. No need to mention it again. I’ve already forgotten what we’re talk
ing about.” She’d have to forget about it. They needed to maintain a professional relationship.
He nodded slowly. “We can touch base next week about when you’d like photos for the wedding video.”
Touch base. It sounded formal, like a business meeting—which was exactly how it should be. “Okay. Goodnight, Peter.”
He was sorry he kissed her, and he should be. But then why was her heart plummeting into her stomach at the thought that he was sorry?
Chapter Fifteen
Peter shot weddings on Monday and Tuesday. Monday’s wedding had a relative as the videographer, and Peter found her constantly in his shots and could now fully relate to Coco’s frustration during their first shoot.
Tuesday wasn’t much better. He preferred working with Coco. The back-to-back days had him full of wedding cake and small sandwiches. They didn’t seem as appetizing without Coco next to him, sharing the food. He wanted to see her again, see how her progress was going on John and Tina’s wedding video. As he shot the weddings on Monday and Tuesday, the memory of their kiss came back in full force. He shook it off as best as he could until the memory flooded him again.
He started editing Saturday’s wedding photos on Wednesday morning. He’d texted Coco a few times since then, but going through the photos from Saturday brought her to the forefront of his mind again. He looked through the images, clearly recalling where Coco stood as he took each one.
The idea of asking her to partner with him on weddings swam around in his mind. He put several business cards out for businesses and associates that he particularly enjoyed working with at weddings. They returned the favor in their own shops.
Maybe Coco would like to advertise at his studio. She set up amazing shots, and his pictures sprang off the page in an engaging way from the shoots they did together. She was able to draw a level of comfort in her shoots that made it easy to capture the perfect moments.
He assured John and Tina that he’d approve the final video before Coco delivered it. He knew it would exceed their expectations … and his.
She’d probably be in class right now, but he called her anyway. She picked up after only two rings.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” she said.
“I thought you’d be in class.”
“You wanted to talk to my voicemail?”
“No. I just couldn’t wait to talk to you until later.” Don’t make it awkward between you two. It’s a crush. You’ll get over it. But the memory of the kiss didn’t agree. “The last two days of wedding shoots have been busy.”
She laughed. “The curse of being in high demand.”
He loved hearing her laugh. This was not helping. Next time he needed to text her his question. “How are the edits coming?”
“I’m rethinking everything. It’s fine, but I really want to impress them, you know? I’m not sure if it’s what they will like or what they are expecting…”
“I’d love to see what you’ve done.”
“I’d be grateful for another set of eyes.”
“We should also go through the picture selection for the DVD cover. I can get my assistant to work on it soon.”
“Is that what you usually do for the videographer, or is that just the arrangement this time? I’m happy to make up the covers. I always do it on my own jobs.”
They hadn’t talked about it before, so he didn’t want to assume. “Whatever makes it easier for you.”
“Can we discuss this later? I’m headed to another class and I’m swamped until dinner.”
“I can come up to Boulder. I’ve been meaning to catch up with Tyler on a few things.”
“See you tonight.”
Tyler ended up being pushed against a deadline, so Peter scouted out Boulder, looking for good outdoor photo shoot settings. Maybe bridals for Liz, maybe for someone else … backdrops were always on his mind. He drove down small streets, noting old buildings or interesting fences. He took a few photos, using his geo-tagging setting so he remembered each location.
Coco texted that she’d finished up. He headed to her house, noting that the campus might be a great place to take photos with the mature trees and brick buildings.
He knocked on the door. Liz answered and tilted her head. “Hi, Peter. I wasn’t expecting you. What’s up? Don’t tell me we have to reschedule bridals.”
He looked around, and his laugh sounded nervous even to his own ears. “I was actually looking for Coco. We’re going to look over some of her video from Saturday night, and she wanted to get the pictures for the cover.”
Liz’s smile widened. “Ah. Sure. I’ll go get her. She probably has her headphones on. When she’s in the zone, she hears nothing else in the house. Have a seat.”
“Thanks,” he said, picking one side of the couch. He took his laptop out of his bag and placed it on the coffee table. He surveyed the spacious room, the modern art and high contrast black and white photos on the walls catching his eye immediately. A large bookcase was filled with novels, arranged by color. To his left was an archway into a dining room and next to it a kitchen. The whole layout was open and inviting.
Coco came down the stairs with her laptop. Had it only been a few days ago they’d kissed? She smiled at him, with no sign of awkwardness about it. She’d said she had already forgotten about it, but he hadn’t been able to.
“Hi,” she said, “Sorry, I thought I’d get in a few more minutes of editing before you got here. I just hit a breakthrough with some of the transitions.”
She sat close to him, and he caught the scent of her fruity shampoo as she angled her laptop screen toward him. They watched a clip of the bride and groom walking around together, holding hands. Then it slowly faded into a closer shot of them sitting together on a bench. The music was timed perfectly with the flowing transition.
He looked up at her, and she was watching him.
“What do you think? Does it feel like them as a couple?” she asked. A slight line formed between her two dark eyebrows.
“It’s exactly the right moment.”
She smiled triumphantly. “That’s what your face said, just wasn’t sure if you meant it or not.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t watch the clips when I show them to other people; I watch their faces. If I sense a negative emotion, I need to change something.”
“How do you know if my opinion is valid to begin with? You don’t want to trust everyone.”
“I suppose trial and error. I don’t worry too much if my roommate Jenny doesn’t like it. She’s very practical, and efficiency is her method of screening. If I let a scene linger too long, even by a second, she checks out. She’s great for deciding if I’m spending too much time on something, but not always the best at judging the artistic need to lengthen out a moment.
“I’ve been paying attention to Liz’s advice so that I have an idea of what is best on her video and what she’ll like. That doesn’t mean she knows what I should do for other clients. It just gives me insight on her.”
Coco had a very systematic way of creating her videos. It made her art repeatable. “What about your other roommate?”
“Mandy is by far the most reliable to give me feedback. She is the first to understand the complexity of what I’m doing and makes solid statements on why the scene works and how it’s balanced with the rest of it. Her creativity in her own art and drawing help her see that. If I ever have a question about something for an assignment, I ask for her opinion first. She’s gone traveling so much, sometimes it’s hard to get her for specific questions.
“You also have an eye for the creative.” She pointed to him. “The photos at your studio prove that, and you know the bride and groom better than I do, so you have a sense of their personality and style. I want them to like it. It almost doesn’t matter if it’s a perfect transition if it doesn’t feel like the couple.”
“You’ve certainly thought this through,” he said.
“You have to in my line of work. Probably in yours, too.
”
“Reading people is a very important part of the job, though it’s not an obvious piece of it. Photography aside, it’s good for entrepreneurs and business owners to have that sense.” He gestured to the screen. “I think it feels exactly like them. You have a good sense about it. Don’t sell yourself short.” He was so glad she was capturing the vision of what John and Tina wanted with only one day of getting to know them. The video was in good hands.
Peter pulled up the photos from the wedding shoot on his laptop. “I have an assistant who can do the cover, so don’t feel pressured to do it.”
“May I?” Coco asked, pointing to his mouse. She double clicked on the first picture, enlarging it to fill the screen, and then scrolled through them rapidly, flagging a few as she went through them. “I’ll do it. I created a few templates, and it’s just a matter of changing the background to the wedding colors and dropping in the photos. I’m fast, and I like having the DVD cover taking on some of the personality that I put into the video itself. It helps keep things cohesive.”
It took her less than ten minutes to go through the entire digital photo album. She filtered the photos by the flagged ones. Nine showed up.
“I like all of those,” he said, amazed at how fast she’d picked her favorites.
She laughed. “Of course you do; you took them. They’re nice.” She gave him back his laptop and pulled hers from the table. “Now, I need to look at my templates. I think they cap at six photos, so now it’s a matter of which ones work the best together in the layouts I already have. I’d rather not create a custom cover.”
She pulled up a template, studied it, and then looked at the photos on his screen. She repeated the process until she ended on a template with one big photo on the front, and three photos on the back. “This one is it. If I replace the background with the picture of their flowers cradling their wedding rings, I can fit one more picture on. Then the DVD labels can have two, and that gives me seven to use and two to delete.”
She clicked through the pictures again. “Too many horizontal photos, so I’ll get rid of these two.” She unflagged them. “Would you do a quick edit on these pictures? Make sure this horizontal one with them on the bench is perfect; I want to use it for the DVD menu.”
