Michael winked at Kerri. Her blush, a charming shade of pink, matched her short-sleeved dress.
Jenna lowered her camera. “You two are total pros. Great job.”
Her bright-as-the-midday-sun grin lit up her face. How could Ash have believed she’d lied? Talk about stupid. Stupid for breaking up with her. Stupid for not calling her these past two years. Stupid for pretending he’d been fine since asking for his ring back. He wasn’t fine and only had himself to blame.
He’d been so quick to judge her. Strange, given she’d been a ray of sunshine in his life. Even after he’d called off their wedding, she’d changed his life when the viral photo led to a job offer at the top law firm in town. His now-boss had wanted to hire someone who didn’t fit the typical lawyer mold to work with out-of-the-box clients—creative types as well as eccentric ones. Jenna’s embarrassing picture had earned Ash an interview.
“We’ll have plenty of photos to choose from for your engagement portrait and save-the-date card.” Jenna continued snapping photos. “I’ll upload the proofs, then send you a link to your online album tomorrow.”
“This was more fun than I thought it would be.” Michael’s words earned him a slight elbow from Kerri. He laughed. “Just being honest, babe.”
“So am I.” Kerri shimmied her shoulders. “This was great, Jenna. Thank you. I can’t wait until you’re photographing me in my wedding dress.”
“Did you find one?” Michael asked.
“Not yet,” Kerri said with a smile. “But I will.”
Finding a dress wasn’t hard, Ash thought. Amber had found hers the first day she looked.
Jenna’s forehead creased. “Are you planning to buy off-the-rack?”
Ash had no idea what that meant.
Michael scratched his chin. “Is off-the-rack like buying illegal Fourth of July fireworks out of the back of a white van?”
Kerri shook her head. “No. And I hope that’s not how you’re planning to buy fireworks this year.”
Michael pleaded innocent with a who-me look that suggested he’d already placed his order.
Jenna looked like she was trying not to smile. “Off-the-rack means buying a dress that’s in stock rather than ordering one from a designer, which can take months.”
“And is more expensive.” Kerri’s serious tone contradicted the grin on her face. “The bargain shopper in me cannot fathom paying full price for a dress I’ll wear only once. I’ve been checking bridal store clearance racks and scouring thrift stores and consignment shops.”
“October isn’t that far away,” Jenna said.
“I’m not worried.” Kerri sounded confident. “I’ll find what I want. I always do.”
“Yes, you do.” Michael touched her shoulder. “She did the same thing when we went to our senior prom in high school. Found a beautiful dress.”
Kerri beamed. “For less than twenty dollars.”
“Sounds like you know what you’re doing,” Ash said, impressed.
Nodding, she picked up Peaches. “Thanks for taking such good care of my baby. She’s worn out from playing. That’ll make the car ride back to my place quieter.”
On the way to the front door, they exchanged good-byes. Kerri, Michael, and Peaches left. Ash hung back.
Jenna kept the door open, her hand on the knob. “I appreciate your help with the puppy.”
“Peaches and I had fun.”
“Well, thanks.” Opening the door farther, she looked at Ash expectantly.
He remained in place. Michael had joked about being honest. Honesty here would serve Ash best with Jenna. “Amber is on her way.”
Something flashed in Jenna’s eyes so fast he didn’t have time to figure out the emotion. She gripped the knob so tight her fingers looked frozen.
“That’s not necessary.” She spoke slowly, as if considering each word.
“Maybe not for you, but Amber needs to apologize in person. She believes the world is Amber-centric. She needs to learn the universe doesn’t revolve around her.”
“Amber might not want to learn that lesson.”
“It’s time and for her own good.”
Jenna started to say something, then stopped herself. “You can wait in the living room. I’m going to clean up the studio.”
“Want help?”
She eyed him, warily, cautiously, as if she hadn’t decided if he was friend or foe. “No, thanks. It won’t take me long.”
At least she hadn’t told him to leave or asked him to wait outside. Progress? Ash hoped so.
Inviting sunlight shone through the wood paned windows in Jenna’s living room. So homey and quiet compared to Ash’s condo in Sweetwater’s downtown district, where the train station and fire department made silence a rarity, not the norm.
He recognized the braided rug and the white coffee table in front of the couch. Many nights he’d kicked his feet up, shared a bowl of buttered popcorn with Jenna, and watched a movie.