His unwavering support has gotten me through so many rough times in my life. It’s one of the only things that I’ve always known that I could count on. Every time I think about telling Zack how I feel, I imagine what things would be like if it didn’t work out. Then not only would I lose him but Gabe’s friendship, too.
“Thank you. That means a lot. It also means that I can pretty much shoot whatever I want for my next show. Mr. Hartwell is pretty sure that he can sell whatever I give him now. So I decided to focus on the male body for my next series.”
His eyes narrow. “What does that mean exactly?”
“It means that I’ll be focusing on men this time around. No couples. No women. Just the male form. One male form, specifically. I think it makes sense for the whole series to be about the same person.”
He shifts in the bed. “Have you already found someone?”
Suddenly, I’m not so sure I want to tell him. Sasha said that the way Zack was looking at me wasn’t very brotherly but Gabe is very much the big brother type. I’m actually more worried about telling him certain things than my real big brother.
“I think I’m going to hire someone. A model.”
His face goes hard immediately. “A stranger. You’re going to be alone taking naked pictures of a stranger? What if the guy isn't trustworthy?”
“Don’t be such a prude. We can always do a background check to make sure the guy isn't a criminal.”
“You know just as well as I do that background checks aren't worth shit. I would have passed one.”
I have to admit that he’s right on that score. As many things as Gabe has gotten into in the past, he was usually able to charm his way out of trouble. Also, being alone with someone I don’t know sounds like a bad idea. Izzie’s suggestion about being my assistant doesn’t sound like such a bad idea all of a sudden.
“A clean background check doesn't tell you a guy is safe. It just means he was good enough not to get caught.” Gabe winces as he moves.
That’s when I really look at him. This conversation is seriously stressing him out. And worrying him is the last thing I wanted to do when I came here today.
“Okay, just take it easy. I’m not doing anything yet. I’m just thinking about it.”
“Promise me you won’t do anything crazy. Promise me!”
“Whoa, okay. I promise. Now calm down before Sasha comes back and we’re both in
trouble.”
chapter three
†
ZACK
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the way Josie looked right before she walked away. The sight of her in tears is particularly disturbing since she rarely cries.
My distraction is particularly inconvenient right now since with Gabe out of commission I’m pulling double duty at the auto garage we co-own. It’s a grind trying to keep up with the scheduled repairs and run the front desk. We have a great team of guys but most of them aren’t really well-suited to customer service.
“This goddamned computer. It’s broken again.”
Jim, the older guy who taught both of us everything we know about cars, swears like a drunken sailor and thinks most technology is out to get him. He was happy to take a turn standing behind the counter for any walk-ins but I’ve had to take time out between jobs to correct the customer information he’s entered in the computer all day.
“It’s okay, I’ve got it.”
He moves away quickly, grateful to escape back to what he knows best. I type in the last information from the customer slip that he was trying to input in the system and then walk over to the front door and lock it.
Reed, one of our motorcycle specialists, is helping a customer at the other end of the counter but he can unlock the door for her when they’re done. Usually I don’t flip the sign to closed while there are still people in the shop but at ten minutes to seven, I’ve had all I can take today.
After another hour in the back finishing up, I make my escape. When I get home, I’m shocked to see Gabe sitting downstairs. He looks a little better but suddenly I’m hit with visions of him passing out and bleeding all over the floor.
“Do I even want to know how you got down here?”
He grunts. “Tired of being a fucking invalid.”