"He didn't even get my number. I will go back and get some shots of the game."
I leave Emma and her family behind and set up my camera. When I look up and across the arena, my eyes connect with a pair of emerald green ones. Talon is watching my every move.
Chapter 4
Iwheel my mom into the church, and for once, she doesn’t argue as we navigate through all the people. "Stacy has a spot for us in the third row to the right, but we need to pay our respects to the family first," she tells me.
We continue up to the center of the church to where the Wards, including Talon and his wife, stand. We wait our turn, with my hands sweating on the chair's handles. I just have to make it through today, and then all of this will end. I feel a little guilty for my thoughts. This family has lost someone they loved, and I'm worried about awkward encounters with my ex-boyfriends. We take a few minutes to get to the front of the line.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Mr. Ward was a great man." my mom tells Tiffany.
"Thank you for coming." The two women hug before Tiffany turns to me. " The pictures you sent over this morning were amazing. I can’t wait to see more. I appreciate it," Tiffany tells me as she wraps me in a perfume-soaked hug.
"I'm so happy that you liked them. I’ll have the rest ready for you next week," I tell her.
She turns to Talon, standing next to her, but he's facing away from us and talking to a couple of older men. She grabs his arm to get his attention, and I try not to look up as I feel the heat of his gaze on my face.
"Have you met Blake? She took those wonderful pictures last night," Tiffany says to him.
“Yes, I do know her. It's nice to see you again," he says in his smooth voice.
"And this is his wife, Mia.”
"Soon-to-be ex-wife," I think I hear Talon say, but I can’t hear much over the blood rushing in my ears.
The beautiful woman looks at him before giving me a brilliant smile. "Nice to meet you. I love your dress," she says, sounding completely genuine.
I smile back at her, "Thank you. Your hair is amazing. I wish I were brave enough to try a color like that."
"I'm not brave, just bored," she says, and we laugh a little. Talon looks between us in confusion.
"Let's get to our seats," my mom says, and I roll her over to where Stacy is waiting for us. I get my mom settled, then take my seat. I've talked to Foster and Talon and survived without falling apart—one more to go. I can do this.
I'm still trembling when I sit on the pew in the seats Mrs. Thorne has saved for us. We're in the middle of the church, and I'm second in from the aisle with an empty place waiting for Cole. I try to focus on the pastor droning on with his spiel, but my brain can't help wandering. First, I find Talon at the front, his hand clutching his wife's, but his eyes are dry, and his face is blank. Then I seek out Foster, who’s on the other side of the aisle and a few rows up. His eyes are red-rimmed, and he looks sad. I'm horrified when he looks over at me like he felt my stare. He gives me a small smile, which I return before facing the front.
Flashbacks to my father's memorial service, held a month after his death at this same church, strike me. Both my mom and I were healing from our injuries, and I had to be sedated to cope with my extreme emotions.
Lost in my dark memories, I barely registered the jolting of the bench when someone sits next to me. The faint smell of expensive cologne tickles my nose, and I look over. Grown-up Cole is a sight to behold. His body had always been bulkier than the other two, but now he's a wall of muscles. He barely fits in the space I've left open for him, and his hard thigh presses against mine.
I scooch closer to my mom on my other side, and the movement draws his attention. He looks down at me with his sky-blue eyes. I remember them always sparkling when he looked at me, but now they're so flat. I give him a shaky nod that he barely acknowledges before returning to the service.
The dismissal sets off anxiousness, causing a riot in my body. Cole is not impressed by me anymore, and it hurts. Tears come to my eyes, which I don't bother hiding because what's more appropriate for a funeral than crying?
Between this interaction and the memories of losing my father, I am losing my battle with anxiety. My heart feels like it will break out of my chest, and my vision gets blurry. I use the techniques my therapist has taught me to help drag myself out of these episodes, slowing my breathing and focusing on things around me. My vision clears, and my heart slows, but I'm still shaky and overheated.
"I need to use the restroom," I tell my mom and stand on unsteady legs. I practically crawl over Cole, mumbling an apology before I take off up the aisle.
In the empty ladies' room, I soak some paper towels in cold water and wipe my face. When I feel calmer and more put together, I check myself in the mirror to ensure I haven't destroyed my makeup. Collecting myself, I leave the bathroom and run into a warm body.
Stumbling backward, I meet the fierce green eyes as Talon looks down on me.
"You okay there, Kitten?" he asks me, his hands coming up to my arms to steady me.
The old nickname knocks the breath out of me, and I know I'm just staring at him. How can I not when faced with the rockstar version of Talon Ward, and he's calling me Kitten?
I shake off the stupor, "I'm fine. I should be asking you that."
He rolls his perfect eyes at me. "You should know better. He hadn't been much of a father to me in a long time. I'm just here for appearances. The step monster would have thrown a fit if I hadn't shown up. I need to get back before she sends someone to look for me. Find me later?" I nod, and he walks off. I forget all about my anxiety attack as I watch him stroll away. A deep need grows inside of me instead that I haven't experienced in a very long time. My body still remembers him.
