Page 43 of Washed Up
There’s no need. Lewis floors it toward the causeway, massively exceeding the speed limit. If they wind up in the water, I won’t mourn.
“Good fucking riddance, you fucking arsehole.” I’m possible still a teeny bit irate, and my head is sore.
Reid gently teases my hand open and returns the candelabra to the table. “Big guy,” he prompts, even as I’m already turning to Max for a hug. I bury my face in his pec, snuffling.
“I’ve got ya. It’s going to be fine. You’re okay, Iris.”
Wynter retrieves the camera from by the car where I must have dropped it. I don’t even recall doing so. Thankfully, it’s undamaged, bar a little bit of dust that’s easily brushed off. “Haven’t you seen Ric yet?”
“I get to keep it.” I gasp around the thickness and panic that still resides in my throat. The drama is over now, and I’m safe. Max still has me in a protective swaddle. “Ric’s giving me a chance.”
“What sort of chance?”
I show them the cheque.
“Well fuck me!” Reid whoops. “You fucking nailed it. Did I not tell you; you had this in the bag?”
He did.
“It was all those yummy pictures of me, right?”
It wasn’t, but he doesn’t need to know that. It was a shot of Wynter that swayed it. One image that made Ric pause for long enough that he was prepared to consider nurturing the talentthat captured it. Now, all I have to do is make that potential bear fruit.
Wynter whistles over the number of zeros on the cheque. “What’s the plan, Iris? How are you—”
“Nothing’s changed. You’re still stuck with me,” I say, cutting him off because I’m not going to waste my time living up to anyone’s expectations. Which isn’t to say I don’t want to impress Ric, I do, but I want to enjoy the opportunity I’ve been given, too. “Shall we go, guys?”
We cross the causeway back to the mainland, and I grin the whole way.
EPILOGUE
Iris
Six months later.
Spotlights sweep above the heads of the gathered festival goers. I’m at the side of the stage on which Lucidity are about to perform. It’s dark. The crowd stretches into the distance. The only lights are those that illuminate the stage.
“Good evening, Equinox.”
The spotlights coalesce on Wynter, bass slung low.
There’s a rumble of voices as the crowd respond.
“We’re Lucidity. This is the title track from our new album, which drops at midnight.”
The crowd roar.
Wynter leans in closer to the microphone. Max’s drums kick in, followed by that now familiar riff.
“This isWeep, and it’s dedicated to a very special friend. You’ll find her gorgeous photography on the album sleeve.”
~?~