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“Yes, duh. I need to do a gender reveal soon and you’re my favorite photographer.” She ran a hand over her rounded stomach.
That was when it hit me. Lacy wasn’t here to be nice. She was here because she wanted something from me.
“Um, I’m not sure if a family dinner is the place to network.”
“You’re working anyway.” She laughed as if this weresomething Iwantedto do. “Besides, I have the best idea. A baseball reveal at a local park.”
“Which one?”
“Redstone Falls south of Nashville.”
Nope.That was not my territory.
“I don’t work there.”
“Why not?” she pouted.
“One of the park rangers and I don’t get along.”
That was the understatement of the decade.
Lacy opened her mouth to argue, but thankfully, Reed tapped on his champagne glass—the universal signal for speeches. He did this ateveryparty. I didn’t know why, but I was starting to think he just liked the sound of his own voice.
At least this time, it saved me from talking further with his sister.
I listened to him drone on about how it had been such a good year for him and how he’d made so many great memories. I snapped a few photos of everyone looking at him like he was the sun itself.
Even though I was starting to hate him, I at least knew what moments to capture.
“Now,” Reed said, “I’d like to invite my lovely girlfriend, Stella, to join me.”
My blood turned to ice. I did not want to be in front of these people. Absolutely not. “I’m good right here.”
Reed waved his arm.
“Come on!” his brother, Chad, yelled. “Don’t tell methe girl who did drunk karaoke last year now has stage fright!”
I gritted my teeth. The karaoke was what caused the guffaw that his mom still complained about.
“My girlfriend’s not shy,” Reed said with an easygoing smile. “Come on, dear. Get out here.”
“We’re wasting time,” Patricia groaned before she turned to me. “Don’t be difficult about this.”
He wouldn’t let this go. None of them would. Taking a shaky breath, I made the painful steps over to him.
Gazing at his pretty face, I could see why I liked him two years ago. I’d met him at a client wedding where I’d been running around with my camera in hand, making everyone smile.
“I’ll take this,” Chad said, reaching for the same camera slung around my neck.
“No, thank you. I’ll keep it.”
“But it’ll ruin the?—”
“Stella,” Patricia snapped. “Give him the camera.”
I glared at them both. “Why can’t I keep it?”
“Why do you need to?” she hissed.