Chapter 2

I sat in the dressing room reviewing the travel plans Delia had sent me. By the time I'd sent her my ID and the paperwork she needed, it was dark outside.

Nathaniel and Yvonne had come inside too and started choosing photos.

Yvonne held Nathaniel's hand and whined playfully about how many photos there were. Looking through them was giving her a headache, she said, so she asked him to choose for her.

Nathaniel agreed. He rested a hand on her head and told her to get some rest, then sat down at the computer. He studied each photo carefully before making his choices.

My eyes stung.

So he did have that kind of patience. Just not for me.

Yesterday, I'd tried on dress after dress and narrowed it down to two. I couldn't choose between them, so I'd asked what he thought. He'd been lying on the couch and hadn't even looked up.

"If you can't even choose a dress, let's just not get married."

Once he'd finished choosing the unedited photos, Nathaniel noticed me watching.

He rubbed between his eyebrows as if he had a headache.

Normally, by this point, I'd have been arguing with him out of jealousy and demanding an explanation.

I didn't this time.

I just looked away and called a member of the crew over to help me out of the dress.

Something flickered in Nathaniel's eyes. Instinctively, he reached out to stop her.

"Still angry?"

He came over, took my hand, and pulled me in against him.

I stayed quiet.

"I was just looking through the photos. I don't think you're in any of them."

He pinched my cheek.

"Let's go take a few together. All right?"

He rarely gave me a chance to end a fight, but this offer came far too late.

I was about to say something when Yvonne called to him. "Nathaniel, I can't reach the zipper. This dress is impossible. Come help me."

He let go of my hand immediately and went to her.

I closed my empty hand.

Of course. Yvonne always came first.

He took the crew member with him, too.

Partway across the room he looked back at me.

"We'll take the photos next time. Go get changed. Yvonne's had a long day. Don't hold everyone up."

Nathaniel White, there is no next time.

I stared after him for a long time before dragging my heavy skirt toward the changing room.

To make the dress look fuller, the crew had layered several underskirts beneath it. Each one was tied and knotted around my waist.

With no one to help, I was exhausted by the time I got out of the dress. All I could think about was going home and lying down.

But when I came out, Nathaniel was gone. So was the car he'd parked outside.

I got my phone out and called him.

The phone rang for a long time before he answered. His voice was flat, without a trace of guilt.

"I forgot to tell you. Yvonne said she was hungry, so I took her out to eat first.

"See if you can book a ride on your phone. I'll send you the location. Come join us for something to eat."

I checked the rideshare app. No drivers had accepted my request. "I can't get a ride," I told him.

He went quiet for a few seconds, then let out a barely audible sigh. "Then stay where you are. Don't wander off. I'll be back for you in an hour at most."

Three hours went by.

Most of the lights at the shoot location had been turned off.

Nathaniel still hadn't come.

My phone battery was below 20%, and I was stiff with cold. I pulled up directions home.

I was halfway home when Nathaniel's car finally pulled up beside me. The first thing he said was, "Didn't I tell you not to wander off?"

Not a hint of guilt about being late.

Deep down, he seemed to believe I should stay in one place and wait for him forever.

I was shivering and didn't want to argue. I got straight into the back seat.

Up front, Yvonne was fast asleep under the blanket I'd spent ages choosing. The heat was cranked up.

Nathaniel got out and came around to fasten my seat belt.

His stern expression softened the moment he touched my freezing hands.

Back in the driver's seat, he tossed a coat at me and turned the heat up another notch.

He looked back at me, his voice softer now. "You haven't eaten? Yvonne and I were worried you'd be starving, so we brought you some food.

"It's all your favorites. Go on, eat."

I hadn't eaten since that morning. Hunger won, and I opened the containers they'd brought.

Inside was a cold steak.

I didn't eat beef. Yvonne was the one who loved steak.

The fat had turned white and solid. My stomach churned with nausea.