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I dared to glance over at him again. With his rough exterior, he looked nothing like the last four men I’d dated. Yet we had ended with the same conclusion that all of my other relationships had.
There was something wrong with me.
“Have to cancel any photography sessions?”
The question nearly made me drop my spoon. “You’re asking about my life?”
“Is that a safe topic? Or should we spend the next few days in silence?”
I was tempted to say silence, but even I knew I couldn’t survive that.
“None other than the one my stupid boyfriend had me working,” I answered. “I lighten my workload around the holidays to spend time with my family, which obviously isn’t going to happen now.”
“A lot of plans are dashed,” he said. “Mine are too.”
“Your plans with us, you mean?”
“I do other things with other people, you know.”
“Like what? Spending time with a girlfriend or something?”
As far as I knew, Alden didn’t do long-term girlfriends. I didn’t know how I would have handled it if he did. Sure, he had on-and-off girlfriends in high school, but I was a green-eyed monster even then. Nowadays, I’d love it if I was over that feeling, but even the idea made my spine straighten.
Maybe I’d never be over my first heartbreak.
“Not exactly,” he replied. I tried not to let the relief show on my face. “I usually find a place to go hike at on Christmas.”
“Why?”
“The quiet is good for me.”
I could see him walking alone in nature. I’d never considered hiking in my adult life because it was always associated with Alden. Despite how much he had hurt me, I wondered what it was like to be on those walks with him.
The wind blew again, stopping any conversation. I turned to the window in the dining room. This was oneof the few without curtains since Amma liked to look out of it while she ate her breakfast.
Slowly, the world outside had only gotten worse.
While being stuck in this house was a nightmare, the scenery outside was still beautiful. I didn’t often get to see the trees and ground covered with glistening ice. Eventually, it would be covered with white snow, but for now, I bet I could get some incredible shots—if only I had my camera.
New note to self: take iteverywhere.
“What’s that look for?”
“I don’t have my camera. It feels like I’m missing a limb.”
“A camera, huh?” His lips twisted into a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
He got up and went to the living room where he grabbed an eighties Polaroid. “Amma had me pull this out of her room. There’s also more of the film. I have no idea if it works.”
“More of the film as in film packs?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think so. They looked newer.”
I nearly ran back to the living room to find them. I’d used Amma’s Polaroid when I was a kid. I knew the camera would still work so long as the film packs did. I found them on one of her side tables and loaded in a new one before going back to the dining room.
“Smile,” I said to Alden before shooting a picture.
He only had time to turn before the camera flashed.Moments later, it printed a picture of him looking like a deer in headlights.