Page 55 of Just Another Silly Love Song

I glanced behind at the sea lions—fifteen to twenty of them—and then waved Lori closer. I tapped the camera button on my phone and hit selfie mode, trying to angle it to show both of us but still see all of the sea lions behind us.

I moved the camera around, looking for the perfect angle. “Almost got it. Hang on.”

“Do you want me to take your picture?” A woman with a floppy hat and huge sunglasses gestured to my phone.

“Yeah. That would be great. We want to get as many sea lions in the shot as possible.”

She took the phone from me. “I can do that.”

I must have had at least a thousand different photos there, mostly in the evening since the sunsets there are gorgeous. The area was also popular with snorkelers, kayakers, and scuba divers.

I moved closer to Lori and smiled for the camera.

The woman lowered the phone and frowned. “Hmmm. I can’t get everything in the frame. Move a little closer to each other.”

I scooted closer to Lori. “How’s this?”

The woman lowered the phone again. “You need to be closer. In fact, have her stand partially in front of you.”

Lori didn’t say a single word, which was odd.

I inched closer, now close enough that my chest was grazing her back and my nose just inches from the side of her face.

She smelled wonderful.

“Oh yeah, this is going to be good,” the woman said. “On the count of three . . .”

Was it wrong for me to be enjoying her essence so much? It was addictive.

Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice—

“Are you smelling me?” Lori whispered, not turning back to look at me, and still smiling for the camera.

I kept the smile on my face and tried to talk through my closed teeth. “Your hair is in my face. A person has to breathe, you know.”

“You’re going to love it!” The woman handed the phone back to me, even though I had no clue she had even taken the picture.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” The woman smiled and walked away.

I tapped the gallery button, wanting to make sure it was a good picture, since there was a good possibility one or both of us was talking when she had taken it.

“That’s what I thought . . .” I stared at the picture, shaking my head. “Not good.”

Lori leaned over and laughed. “We both look psychotic. You more than me, of course.”

“On the contrary, your psychosis is shining through like a lighthouse.”

She laughed. “This picture is ridiculous and you’re not posting it anywhere. I don’t understand how it could be so bad.”

“You asked me a question while someone was taking the picture.”

She crossed her arms. “You were sniffing my hair.”

“I was inhaling naturally and it was a coincidence that I just happened to be doing it in the vicinity of your hair. Most human beings need to breathe in order to survive on earth. You should try it sometime.”

“Right. You were sniffing my hair.”