Page 4 of Framed for Life
But I don’t see her.Where was I supposed to meet her?
I lean back in my car to check the text message from thewoman but get distracted by the other texts. Beatrice and Jess must have sent ten messages. God these girls and their memes. I’m tapping a quick reply,that they can chill—I’m going through with their crazy plan and that they will PAY big time.
But before I can send the message my phone dies.
Oh shoot. Now I really don’t know where to meet the owner of Hot Date Pics.
I’m such a ding-dong. I can’t believe I let my phone die and I don’t have a charger.
“Katie!”
The sound of my name startles me. Everything startles me now.
“Over here!” a woman calls.
I’m hit with relief, but the nerves come right back.
I toss the dead phone inside and close the door on my beater, the hinge squeaking loudly as I do.
“Sorry I couldn’t remember where we were supposed to meet. I was just about to text you.”
What I wanted to text is that I was running away to hide.
But the minute I see the hopefulness on her face my urge to flee becomes a pain in my chest.
Lord, I’m gonna stay.
Please let this be over quickly.
“You look beautiful. That color is amazing.”
Honestly the girls picked it and bought it. But I just smile. “Thanks. Looks like a great day for pictures.”
Grimacing, I think, and a great day to die from social anxiety.
“Right this way. Now I’ll take your hand and you close your eyes.”
“What?” I squeak, staring at her outstretched palm.
“Hold my hand and close your eyes. That way you’ll get a nice surprise when you turn around to see him.”
Gulp.Him.
My stomach does that thing that happens on roller coasters.
“I don’t know…”
But she’s already grabbed my fingers with the force of an alligator chomping on its lunch and is dragging me toward some trees.
“Step up, there’s a curb here.”
I haven’t even closed my eyes yet.
But then the nerves hit and I don’t want to see whoever this stranger is. I want to disappear into one of those park trash cans and wait till everyone leaves.
“Not far now,” she sing-songs.
Ha. The end of this photo shoot feels like a lifetime away.
