Sixes & Sevens (Seven Hearts Book 1)
Page 25
“It will probably be the only one I win, Marc,” Jaycee said, chuckling.
“I think I should get a consolation prize,” he stated boldly.
“What would you want?” Jaycee asked, surprised.
“How about a photo of us, for my background on my cell phone?” The other guys’ eyes lit up as the idea hit home. They needed to start taking photos of their time with her. They could even start their own family album. Marc pulled his iPhone out, unlocking the screen with his forefinger. “Smile for me, sweetheart.” Marc snapped a solo photo of Jaycee before flipping the screen around. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Instead of looking at the camera, Marc kissed Jaycee on the cheek at the last second. A flurry of flashes filled the room as Jaycee was told to look this way and that.
Marc disappeared upstairs after he’d gotten several photos of Jaycee and the guys. When he returned downstairs, he was carrying a large photography bag filled with a DSLR and lenses. He carried a tripod in the other hand.
“What’s all that, Marc?” Jaycee asked, turning from the match between Lee and Sean.
“I thought we could get a nice photo of all of us to hang here in the living room.” Marc answered sweetly.
“Oh Marc, that’s such a wonderful idea!” Jaycee gushed.
Marc set up his tripod and camera, while the guys finished up their game. Sean was victorious, which wasn’t a huge surprise since it was his game. The next match would be Jaycee versus Jonathan. She knew she couldn’t beat Jonathan without cheating, but she wasn’t sure she could do that to the man who was nursing her back to health. Besides, she was going to share his bed tonight. She wanted to stay on his good side. Marc decided to wait until the tournament was done before taking the picture. Jonathan and Jaycee set up the game, and off they went. Jaycee refused any of the underhanded methods the guys suggested, but she did throw quite a few bananas. It was a defense she felt comfortable with. Even so, Jonathan wound up miles head of her taking the lead. It was a shutout. Then it was Sean versus Jonathan, brother against brother. The final battle had everyone leaning forward, excited to see who would be the champion. While Jonathan was the smarter of the two, Sean was the more experienced one. Knowing computers more thoroughly than his brother, and having spent countless hours attempting to beat the game in every way possible. Sean won! Jonathan came in a close second, but the results were clear. Sean was the best gamer in the house. Jaycee gave him a kiss on the cheek as a prize.
The day was wearing down, and Marc suggested everyone clean up the living room before they took their photo. It didn’t take long with everyone helping. Soon the photos were stored safely, and all traces of the guys and Jaycee sleeping there had been erased. Marc arranged everyone on the couch leaving a space in the middle for himself. “Right of the photographer” was what he told them with a laugh. Turning on the timer, Marc lined up the shot. He checked the focus and lighting, and hit the shutter button. Giving himself ten seconds to get arranged, Marc walked to his seat, and settled in with plenty of time. The camera blinked several times in succession before it took three photos back to back. Marc hadn’t wanted to take any chances on someone blinking.
Walking back around the camera, Marc scrutinized the shots. Sure enough Sean had blinked in two of the photos. The third, however, was perfect. Everyone was smiling, their eyes open wide. When they were all feeling more up to snuff, Marc planned on taking his memory card to a photo department, and getting a large canvas print ordered. While the guys had photos around the house of two or more of them together, they’d never taken a family photo. With Jaycee making the family feel whole, it was time to display it proudly on their walls. This house was now truly a home, even if sometimes they felt a little sixes and sevens. This group of six guys had found their seventh and she was lovely.
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading my labor of love! I’m so very grateful to every one of you for choosing to give my story a chance. A special thanks to my husband, who supported me and put up with me ignoring him so I could write (and asking him questions about video games, the military, and grappling). Thanks, babe! To Heather, you have been such a wonderful friend. I can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your day to read my work. Without you, this book probably would have wound up like so many others I’ve started, and never completed. Your support kept me going!
This book is going to be the first of a series. So, keep an eye out for book two! Thanks!