Page 62 of Hallows End

“I don’t have time for this,” she says against my lips. “No matter how sexy you are, I don’t have time.”

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Maybe I should wear makeup more often.”

I smile. “It’s the whole ensemble put together. The gown, the hair, the makeup. You’re a goddess.”

“Aww, how sweet.” This is followed by the sound of the shutter on a camera.

Our heads turn at Breena’s voice.

“That’s gonna be a framer,” Breena decides, looking down at the back of her camera. “Wow, Jonas, youdoshow up on film.”

Lucy laughs as she pulls away from me. “He’s not a vampire, Breen.”

“Hey, you never know. But now, we do. Okay, so let’s start with photos inside the shop, and then we’ll go outside.”

“Perhaps I’ll go to my cabin while you two have fun with this.”

“No, you should stay,” Lucy says. “We’ll have a few more photos taken of the two of us.”

Her eyes are full of humor, but I know there’s more to the request than meets the eye.

And I find that I simply can’t tell her no.

“Let’s start by the wall of herbs,” Breena suggests. “Your burnt-orange dress isperfectagainst the green of this wall.”

At first, Lucy seems to be self-conscious as she poses, but then she gets into the spirit of things, and the two of them have fun.

“Now I want you to look like you’re going to put that lotion on your face,” Breena says to Lucy.

“Actually…” Lucy eyes me. “Come here, Jonas. This will be fun.”

When I approach, she takes my chin in her fingers and gently brushes the lotion onmyface, all the while Breena snaps photos.

“That’s sexy,” Breena says with a sigh. “And will besoperfect for your social media. Okay, I think we have enough of the inside. Let’s go outside.”

Breena gets photos of the sign out front with the Blood Moon Apothecary logo, then the building itself with its deep front porch. And then she asks Lucy to hold her broom and stands on the first step by the sign. Nera sits perfectly at his owner’s side.

“Brilliant,” Breena murmurs. “Oh, put your fingers in the ends of your hair and look out toward the water as if you’re lost in thought or conjuring a witchy spell.”

“Are there spells that aren’t witchy?” Lucy asks with a half smile but does as she’s told. Finally, she crooks her finger at me. “Join me.”

I don’t know how to pose for a camera, and I feel awkward and foolish.

But rather than face Breena, Lucy simply hugs me, her arms firmly around my shoulders.

This part is easy.

I fold her against me and close my eyes, breathing her in.

I love you, she says in my head.And I know that I’ll have you always, but just in case, I need these images.

I love you, too.I pull back and press my lips to her forehead.I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to figure all of this out.

She smiles, nods, and then pulls back to turn to Breena, who wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.

“What’s wrong, Breen?” Lucy asks.