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he looks at me as I walk in the kitchen.
    “How was your nerdy book club?” Zoey turns and asks while shoving a cold beer in my hand.
    “It’s called Cool Nerdy Girls and Books. Please never leave out the cool part,” I correct her with a smirk that says thanks-a-lot. Now that my book club has been outted, I feel embarrassment all over my face. It’s not like we read history and autobiographies. No, we read fiction with drama, hot guys and it sometimes teeters on the edge of porn.
    She arches her eyebrow at me. “Cool and nerdy…isn’t that an oxymoron?”
    “You could be right,” I reply, taking a big drink of beer and try to calm my breathing. I look at them all and say, “Whatcha’ guys doing?” Jaxon is drinking me in, even with the black and white work dress that hugs at the top and flows at the bottom. I realize I have my black grandma looking cardigan sweater on that I wear at work so I don’t freeze to death. Embarrassing! I should have left it at work where it belongs!
    “We were all listening to Ty cry like a bitch about having to answer his phone all week, and do a shoot alone today. He misses his Emily.” Pierce acts as if he’s wiping a tear away.
    “I do miss her; it was nice having her help me run it all. She did a shit ton for me. I don’t think I realized how much until my first week back at it solo.” Ty’s eyes are downcast, staring at his hands as if someone stole his puppy.
    “You did this for almost two years without her, bro. Now, what? You need an assistant full time?” Pierce questions.
    “No, not full time, business is good, but not that good.” He looks up at us with that angel face. “She booked appointments, handled emails and cleaned on Fridays. Shopping was always done and everything was stocked. Of course, she helped on the photography side because she had the knowledge,” he sighs. “It’s going to be hard to do big shoots without her. I’m spoiled; I just don’t want to do it alone anymore.”
    “So, did the half-naked twenty year model you had in the studio go fine without an assistant today?” Jaxon asks with his Ty-you’re-a-scumbag voice.
    Mischievously, Ty replies, “Yeah, it did go smooth, but I had to stop twice to answer client calls. It feels rude now. She understood, though. Not to mention I had to clean a bit today,” He winces as if something hurts.
    The guys erupt with laughter. I can’t help but feel sorry for him. I’m sure he’s one of those guys that sleeps until noon and orders food in or goes out for every meal, much less, has to clean. He probably had a maid before Emily.
    “Ty, you cleaned for yourself for almost two years, and with the bullshit Lacey pulled, you had to learn the domestic shit quick. Not to toot my own horn, but I do feel like I taught you well, son. The six months of living together, my student, was …well, it was harmonious…thanks to my teaching of cooking and cleanliness.” Pierce has on his proud face and pats his own back.
    “Thanks for bringing that up, dick. You’re right. I had no choice due to my, um…change in living arrangements. Living with you, Pierce is like living with five very neat and tidy chicks. It’s kinda weird and a little gay,” Ty chuckles, smirks at Pierce and leaves the kitchen.
    “When he comes out of the bathroom, you should ask him to hire you, Stella,” Zoey suggests to me while filling shot glasses full of vodka.
    “What? Why me? He didn’t ask to hire me!” I try to dial down my face from horror to uncomfortable. Why would she suggest something so ridiculous? I don’t have any photography experience other than taking pictures of my nephew at his soccer games. Not to mention, I think I might explode being around him. My body is already humming and he’s not even in the room.
    “Who’s Lacey?” Zoey quickly dismisses my deer in the headlights look as she questions Pierce.
    “That’s a long story, honey. I’ll tell you later.” Pierce comes up behind her and its