Page 26 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
She tossed me a pillow. “Black? It’s spring.”
“What? Black is a classic no matter the season.”
“Fine. Are you at least going to wear heels?”
I scrunched up my nose at the thought of my toes pinched all evening in my black pumps. “How about flats?” I was a tennis-shoe-and-sneaker kind of girl these days, but I had one pair of patent flats that weren’t too bad.
Gigi gave me her mom look and I knew there would be no winning an argument about my footwear.
“Okay, I’ll wear heels.”
“Good,” she said smugly.
I smiled and went back to cleaning, glad Gigi was here and we could spend some overdue time together. I’d grown up in Prescott, and I had friends in town that I’d known since childhood. But my relationship with Gigi was special. Not only had we survived something traumatic together, but we connected on a deeper level than I ever had with another girlfriend. If I was struggling, she was always there with a comforting hug. When I’d found out I was pregnant, I’d gone right to her for advice. Besides my mom, she was my best friend and confidant.
And yet for some reason, as the day went on, I didn’t once mention Hunter.
Normally, she’d be the first I’d tell about hot motel guests, but something about Hunter was different. I wanted to keep him all to myself right now. So I stayed tight-lipped about him all through the morning, even as we cleaned his room.
But by the time we made it back to the utility room to start the laundry before lunch, I’d decided to at least tell her about getting my photograph project started. “So, I think I’ve got a photographer to start taking pictures for new art in all the rooms.”
“Really?” She handed me a pile of sheets for a washing machine. “That’s awesome! Who is it?”
“He’s a guest.” I started one washer and then moved to the next. “He came into the lobby the other day with his camera and we got to talking. He’s pretty inexperienced so we’re just going to see how it goes, but I’m taking him around Sunday to show him some places I thought would be good for room photos.”
“I hope he turns out better than the last photographer you approached.”
I scoffed and dumped some detergent into the machine. “It can’t be much worse.”
When I’d originally had the idea to do local photos with matching postcards, I’d approached the one and only photographer in town. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been interested in my project, preferring her weddings and senior portraits, and on top of that, I had a small budget. So I’d gone out of town and hired a cheap photographer to come to Prescott.
The guy had been my age and good looking with a hippy vibe. Basically, he’d been the anti-Everett. He had also been the first and only man I’d slept with since Everett.
The morning after I’d hooked up with the photographer, he’d left a note backing out of the photography job. Gigi and I had speculated that he hadn’t wanted to get involved with a single mom. Maybe he’d thought I’d be clingy or ask for a discount on his photos. Whatever. To this day, I hadn’t a clue.
Regardless, he’d left and I had decided to postpone the art replacement. Now I was getting excited about the project again and hoped things with Hunter would turn out better.
“I’ve been meaning to apologize,” Gigi said, pulling me from those memories. “I shouldn’t have brought up that new doctor the other night. Not in front of everyone else.”
I shrugged and started folding a basket of towels. “It’s okay. Sorry I got snappy about it. I’m sure your doctor is nice but I just can’t go there.”
“I understand.” She took a towel too. “I should have known better than to bring it up but Sara was so excited, I couldn’t tell her no.”
“It’s okay. I know everyone is coming from a good place.”
“We just want you to be happy.”
I set down the folded towel. “I am happy. Even if it’s only ever me and Coby, I’m happy.”
She gave me a sad smile, like she didn’t beli
eve me. “Okay.”
We folded quietly for a few moments until Gigi asked, “Where are you thinking about taking the photographer on Sunday?”
Anywhere. I’d take Hunter Faraday anywhere, just for the chance to get to know him.
The butterflies in my stomach fluttered like crazy as I told Gigi about the places I’d brainstormed for Sunday. By the time we took a break for lunch, I could barely contain my excitement.
