Page 52 of Colors and Curves

That’s weird. But you know what? I don’t really care. I shake my head and shove open the door. I pause to enjoy the cool air that greets me. Then the damn buzzer goes off, pissing me off even more. I toss my bag on the front desk, then turn around to see if Monica has done anything with Julius’s pictures yet.

I fall back onto the desk and blink several times. Each photo of his that was hanging in the front has been replaced with a black and white photo. Of me.

I don’t understand. Is this why Monica left?

I push off the desk, my heart pounding. My legs feel like rubber, but I make it to the first picture. My mouth falls open. It’s from the shoot. He said he was going to touch up the pictures and show them to me when he was done. And he did show me a few, but not this one. It’s only of my face. It’s a good thing because I’d be pissed if one of the full body shots was displayed out in the open. Not that I’m high on myself, but I look beautiful. And sexy. And happy. I walk to the next one. It’s also from the shoot, when he was standing above me and I was looking up at him. A smile forms on my face, but my chest hurts from missing him. I’ll never forget the way Julius made me feel that night.

I step around the corner to see if there are more. A screech leaves my mouth, and I come to an abrupt stop. “Julius!”

He’s standing about six feet away, watching me intently. My stomach swirls in delight like it always does when he’s near. I want to jump in his arms, but I don’t move.

“Hi, Sky,” he says with a weary but sweet grin.

“Monica knew about this?”Of course she did.

He nods. “Some other elves helped too. They’re big fans of yours.” I open my mouth to respond, but he raises his hand. “Wait. Let me say what I came here to say first.”

I nod and suck my lower lip into my mouth to prevent myself from smiling.

“Before I pushed you out of my life, you said I didn’t see you. At that moment of time, you were right. I couldn’t see anything or anyone because I only saw darkness. I didn’t want to believe you loved me.” He steps closer and points to the wall to the right. “If you look through these pictures, it’ll become clear that I did see you.”

I glance at what he’s referring to and gasp. My hand covers my mouth. Back here too, the walls are covered with photos of me. Not just from the shoot. These pictures are also only of my face. He’s always got a camera on him, but when did he take these?

“I want you to know exactly how I see you—through my eyes. You think everyone’s blinded by your curves. Don’t get me wrong, you’re the most beautiful woman I know. But that’s just a benefit. No matter what we were doing, I could see your different moods, your kindness, your positivity, intelligence, and confidence, and the love you show for others… and me. Half the time, you didn’t even know I was taking your picture. I know that sounds kind of creepy.”

“Pfft.You think?” I walk down the line of pictures with my arms wrapped around myself, then stop at one. He approaches me, but still keeps his distance. I don’t want him to stay away, but maybe it’s better this way. At least I try to convince myself of that. He points to the photo I’ve stopped at.

“That one’s my favorite. I took it the first night we spent together. You were sleeping so peacefully.”

“I remember. I woke up to you watching me.” I eye him. “Speaking of creepy.”

The side of his mouth quirks up. “The idea of taking pictures of you like this came to me not long after we met. There’s a light that radiates from you. It fascinates me. I think Chance saw it too. But you inspired me to take pictures of living things—people, not structures. I used to treat the models like objects, not humans. You’ve changed my perspective. My bodyscapes—those photos are distant. They’re beautiful, but they lack life. You bring life to my photos. No, you bring life to everything you touch… including me.”

He points to the tiny smile I’m wearing in the picture. “That’s the face I want to wake up to every morning. I want to make you smile like that every night before you fall asleep and every morning when you wake up.”

“Julius. I’m speechless.” I want to reach out to him, but I stay where I am. I don’t want him to stop talking.

He takes my hands in his, and I melt. That instant heat and electricity that I became familiar with when he touched me is still there.

“Sky, even though I see you only in black and white, I see your different colors better than anyone else. I lived more in the short time we were together than I have my entire life. I felt happiness, excitement, and hope when I was with you. You were and still are my addiction. Just like I loved Chance unconditionally, you loved me like that too. Broken pieces and all.

“Chance died, and it was a repeat of my past. I couldn’t prevent it. I wasn’t able to save my mom, I couldn’t help my aunt when she died, then Chance… I didn’t want to feel anymore.”

I nod my head. “I know. But what made you change your mind?”

“Easy. The silence. You and Chance filled my life with constant noise. I could sit and listen to you talk and laugh for hours. The way you interacted with Daisy like she’s your own sister. How you played with Chance and spoiled him rotten. You introduced Daisy and me to your family. That little glimpse at the barbecue made me want a family with you. If Chance hadn’t banged into you, we might never have met that day in the park.”

He presses our clasped hands against his chest. “Photography has always been my dream. It’s what I lived for. But it’s not anymore.”

“It’s not?” I move closer to him and glance at his perfect pink lips, then into his glimmering beautiful eyes.

“No. It’s not. You are. We are. I was a complete asshole. I know that, and I know I don’t deserve you. But let me show you how much I love you and not just through pictures.”

I pull my head back with astonishment. “What—what did you just say?”

He smiles warmly. “I love you, Sky. I do. You’re the love of my life. I can’t go back to the way I lived before I met you. Please give me another chance.”

My heart swells in my chest. “Julius, neither one of us is perfect alone, but when we’re together, we’re more than perfection. It’ll take a lot more than this before I give up on us.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “Can I have a kiss now? Or do you have something else to say?”

He cups my cheeks with his hands, then hovers his lips over mine. “Not until I hear those three magical words again. The words I never thought would come from your beautiful mouth.”

“I love you, Julius. And I always will.”

“Music to my ears.”

Then he captures my lips with his, proving to me that this is exactly where we’re supposed to be.

Thanks, Chance.