“I don’t know,” she said with a sigh. Oliver had been with her when she tried it on in the shop, and he couldn’t have given her enough compliments, telling her how great she looked in it, but now, she didn’t know.
The chime of the doorbell took her away from her thoughts. It was probably Oliver and Alvaro. They were supposed to stop by today or tomorrow and go over the new menu they were finalizing for Sun and Sand. Alvaro was always asking to try out new dishes and over the last few weeks, he’d been coming up with new ideas and testing them out on Oliver and Jackie.
She wasn’t complaining. Alvaro was an amazing chef, and everything he made was delicious, but it wasn’t that simple. They had to keep their customers in mind as well as the ingredients and where they would source them from.
Jackie answered the door in her dress, ready to tell them that she’d get changed, but it wasn’t Oliver and Alvaro.
“Payton, hey,” Jackie said, her cheeks heating up as she watched Payton’s eyes rake over her.
“Hi. Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt... Fancy dinner?”
Jackie glanced down at her dress. “No... Do you want to come in?” Jackie asked, stepping back from the door and holding it open for her. “I’m trying to figure out what to wear to Oliver and Alvaro’s wedding next week. I’m running out of time, and I can’t make up my mind.”
“Well, you look amazing,” Payton said, following her inside.
“Thanks.” Jackie swallowed, resisting the urge to wipe her clammy hands down the sides of her dress.
“What’s the other option?”
“A suit.”
“Oh,” Payton said, her eyes widening slightly, and Jackie wasn’t sure what to make of that reaction. “Do you want my opinion?”
“Uh. Sure. You don’t mind?”
“No. Not at all,” Payton said, taking a seat on the couch. “Not that I’m some sort of a fashion expert or anything.”
“Give me five minutes,” Jackie said, heading down the hall. “And help yourself to something to drink,” she called over her shoulder.
Jackie carefully took off her dress, putting it back on its hanger. She took down the black suit, stepping into the pants. She removed the strapless bra she was wearing and put on the blazer, closing the buttons. She took a pair of black heels out from the bottom of her closet and slid her feet into them. Her aching feet could handle it for five minutes. She wanted to give Payton an idea of the complete look.
She stood in front of the mirror, pulling her hair free and shaking it down, letting it fall in loose waves. She really didn’t know what to do. This could definitely work. It was a gay wedding, but was it too much? The dress was the safer choice, but man, she felt good in this, sexy even, wearing nothing underneath the blazer.
Jackie took a deep breath and walked down the hall, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. Payton came out of the kitchen with a glass of wine in her hand and met her in the middle of the living room, her mouth agape.
“Well,” Jackie said. “What do you think? Too much?” She took a few more steps and then turned to face Payton.
“No,” Payton said, slowly shaking her head. “It’s... Wow,” she said with a smile. “I thought you looked amazing in that dress but this... This is...”
Jackie’s hands were on her waist as she walked towards Payton. “Really? I feel like I might be too old for something like this. I don’t know.”
“What? No. Definitely not.”
“You don’t know how old I am,” Jackie said, moving into the kitchen to pour a glass of wine for herself, taking an open bottle of Chardonnay out of the fridge.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are when you look like that.” Payton’s eyes were on her again.
Jackie took a drink, a wave of heat washing over her. Did Payton really mean that? “Thank you.”
“Which do you feel more comfortable in?” Payton asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa.
“This one. Easily.”
“Then maybe you should go with the suit.”
“What do you think?” Jackie asked, taking another drink.
Payton blew out a breath. “For the record, you look stunning in both outfits, but I’d have to go with the suit.”
Jackie smiled. “Thanks for saying that. So, the suit it is.” She knew she was blushing. So many compliments. Jackie cleared her throat. “So, what did you need?”
“Hmmm?”
“You rang my doorbell a few minutes ago.”
Payton stared at her with a blank expression on her face. “Oh. Yeah. Angela’s flying in on Thursday. I’m not sure what she’s doing about the wedding. I didn’t want to bring it up, but I was wondering if you could ask Oliver? Maybe they could reach out to her? If not, that’s completely fine, too. I invited her out here to catch up, spend a few days together.”
“No, I’ll ask. I’m sure they’d want her to be there... Are you busy next weekend?” Jackie asked, coming over to the couch and taking a seat.
Payton sat down beside her. “No. I’ll be with Angela if she doesn’t go to the wedding, but we haven’t made any plans. Why?”
“Would you like to go? To the wedding, I mean. I have a plus one.” The words were out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. “If you’re free, it might be a fun day. If you’re not interested, I won’t be offended. I know you hardly know any of us.”
“No. I’d love to go, but are you sure? You don’t have someone else you’d rather ask?”
Jackie traced the rim of her glass with her index finger before she looked up to meet Payton’s eyes. “No. I hadn’t really planned on asking anyone. I know we’ve only just met, but I’m pretty sure I’d have more fun if you were there.”
Payton smiled. “Alright. I’ll be there then.”
“I’ll let you know what Oliver says about Angela, and we can figure out if we want to carpool. It’s about an hour away.”
“Yeah. Sounds good. I’ll have to go shopping. I didn’t pack a dress. Or a suit. Not that I’d step on your toes with the suit.”
“Wear whatever you want,” Jackie said, swallowing the compliment that almost escaped her lips. Payton would look gorgeous in anything. An image of Payton in a dress flashed in front of her mind, and she immediately pushed it away. She’d asked Payton as a friend, nothing more.
Payton finished her drink. “Thanks for this,” she said as she stood up. “And sorry for interrupting your evening.”
“Are you kidding? I’m glad you stopped by. You helped me make a decision. Speaking of which, I’d better get out of this before I spill something on it,” Jackie said, standing up and leaving her glass on the coffee table next to Payton’s. “Thanks for your help.”
“Thanks for the fashion show.” There was a flirtatious tone to Payton’s voice.
Jackie laughed. What else could she do? She wasn’t going to acknowledge it, anyway. That would be a terrible idea. “Let me know if you need help. I’d gladly return the favor.”
“Hmm. I’ll let you know,” Payton said on her way to the door. “Have a good night, Jackie.”
“You, too.” Jackie closed the door with a smile on her face. It had been a long time since anyone had checked her out like that. So what if it felt good? That didn’t mean she had to act on it, and maybe, Payton was just being nice. Either way, it gave Jackie a much-needed boost in confidence.
Chapter Nine
Payton crouched and brought her camera up to her eye, closing the other as she pressed the shutter, capturing the beautiful courtyard while it was free of tourists which didn’t last long. A man with a camera hanging from his neck entered the secluded garden from the other side.
Payton strolled through the garden, the soothing sound of water trickled from a fountain in the corner surrounded by pink and purple flowers. She hadn’t seen Angela in a while but they both knew their way around the Alcazaba. It was one of her father’s favorite places in Malaga. It was right in the old part of the city, just a five-minute walk away from sh
ops and cafes. The views of the city below made it worth working up a light sweat climbing the steps and navigating the old Moor palace.
Payton kept moving, walking along the fortress walls and stopping to take a few more photos. This time her view was of the Port of Malaga. A cruise ship dominated the scene below, towering over the tree lined street between here and the port, making the yachts look tiny. A few clouds drifted by the mountains in the distance, the water bluer than the sky above it.
“Hey,” Angela said, her phone in her hand as she pushed her shades on top of her head, tucking a lock of espresso brown hair behind her ear. “I know you’re taking those professional photos, but how about a selfie?” she asked with a smile.
“They’re not professional,” Payton said, leaving her camera down on the stone wall beside her as they backed up against it, and Angela slid her arm around Payton, angling her arm to get the view behind them as they both smiled.
She liked to think that her photos were improving. She’d taken photos here at least once a year since she was seventeen, and they’d evolved. She’d bought new gear over the years, taken shots from different angles as she learned more and started to see things more creatively.
“Perfect.” Angela slid her phone into the back pocket of her jean shorts. “God, it’s strange being here.”
“I know. I’ve come here plenty of times without him, but it is different now.”
“I never thought I’d say this,” Angela said as she leaned against the wall, “But I wish I was religious. My mother keeps throwing out things like ‘He’s in a better place’ and ‘He’s with his father now.’ I never know what to say, because I don’t think that. I don’t know what I think, but it’s not that.”
“I know. I’m the same,” Payton said, picking up her camera. “I’ve just tried to come to terms with the idea of not knowing and being happy with that. There’s no point worrying about something that I’ll never get the answer to, so I don’t. I’m just trying to keep going, to make him proud.”
Angela nodded. She slid her shades back on, blinking back tears.
“Anyway,” Payton said with a sigh. “I’m starving. Lunch down at the port?”
“Let’s go.”
Payton brought the ice-cold bottle of beer to her lips and took a long drink before she started making another fajita, adding a generous portion of guacamole to the chicken and vegetables already in the wrap.
“This is still one of the best places to get Mexican food,” Angela said between bites. “I don’t even bother in London anymore, because I’ll just compare it to this place.”
“I know. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get down here.” Payton rolled up her wrap and took a bite. She should have come here on day one. “Delicious as always.”
They finished their food, taking their time people watching. Tourists and locals strolled along the port, some stopping to admire the yachts, others pausing to read menus of all the restaurants along the way.
“You know,” Angela said, sitting back, “Now, that I’m back here... There are people I should have told about your father. The owner of this place, for example. I know he recognized me but was probably wondering where Luke was. There’s a tapas bar near the apartment that he always went to. An English bar... There are so many people who are probably wondering what happened to him. It’s been more than a year since anyone would have seen him.”
Payton nodded. “Yeah. I’ve actually gotten to know the owners of Sun and Sand. Jackie lives across the hall and I’ve met Oliver and his fiancé.”
“You have? They’re such lovely people, and I never reached out to them. God, I feel awful, but those first few months went by like that,” she said, snapping her fingers. “I know it was a small funeral, but I still should have tried to contact them.”
“I apologized. Oliver was quite emotional when he found out.”
“They’ve actually invited me to their wedding. Oliver and Alvaro.”
“Hmm. I thought they might. I’m going too.” Payton took another drink. “Jackie invited me.”
“Oh? She didn’t ask Megan?”
“Her ex? They split up a year ago she said.”
“Oh. I never met her, but I thought Jackie was happy. So, are you two...?”
“What? No. I’m just going as a friend,” Payton said, reaching for her drink again. She’d know if Jackie had asked her as a date, wouldn’t she? No. She definitely asked her as a friend. “We’ve gotten to know each other over the last couple of weeks, with her being across the hall and everything.”
“She’s lovely. She’s actually from the same part of London as your father. Shoreditch.”
“Really? I mean, I thought the accent was similar, but I’m not exactly an expert on English accents.”
Angela nodded. “You’re surrounded by Londoners.”
“Some of the best people I know,” Payton said, clinking her bottle against Angela’s.
Chapter Ten
Jackie took the elevator down to the hotel bar, scanning the tables for any familiar faces, and she spotted a group of Oliver’s friends from London who’d flown in two days ago over in a booth at the far side of the room. She didn’t see Payton or Angela, but they were probably still settling in.
Jackie had unpacked her clothes, hung up her suit and made sure she had everything she needed for the big day tomorrow. Now, she thought she deserved a relaxing evening. She was debating going for a wander around Marbella, but she’d wait and see what Payton and Angela were doing. She also wanted to make sure that Oliver was okay. He was definitely the more nervous of the two.
“Jackie.” Speaking of Oliver.
“Hey. All set for tomorrow?”
“Yes and no. I’m fine, but we have a problem, and I don’t really think it’s a big deal, but Alvaro is going to lose it,” Oliver said in a rush.
“What? What is it?”
“Our photographer was in a car accident last night. He’s okay, but he broke his leg.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you drinking?” Jackie asked, getting the bartender’s attention. “Whiskey?”
“Yes. A double. Please.”
Jackie ordered the same for herself. Alvaro was a bit of a perfectionist. When she first met him, she thought it was just with his cooking, but it extended to almost every area of his life. This would be a disaster.
“I’ve rang all the numbers he gave me for other photographers in the area,” Oliver said, “And then I went to Google and tried a few more, but naturally, everyone’s booked,” he said as he ran his palm across his face. “I know everyone will have their phones out, but Alvaro wants professional photos. He already has a wall lined up in the living room for a huge photo from tomorrow.” Oliver sighed. “I can’t let him down, but I don’t know what to do. I haven’t told him yet.”
“Have you talked to anyone at the hotel? This place is high end. They might have a contact that we wouldn’t know about.”
Payton and Angela entered the bar just as Oliver pulled her into a hug. “That’s a good idea, Jackie. They have to know someone. Somebody who’s done weddings here before.” He let her go.
“It’s a long shot,” Jackie said as brought her tumbler to her lips and took a sip, “But I can’t think of anything else.”
“What’s a long shot?” Angela asked as she gave Oliver and Jackie a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Oliver took a drink after he’d said hello to Payton. “We don’t have a photographer. Well, we did, but he was in a car accident. He’s fine, but he’s in no shape to do the wedding. I have to go tell Alvaro. I should have told him already.” Oliver wasn’t far off a nervous breakdown. He was rambling and getting jittery.
Angela grabbed Payton’s forearm, whispering something in her ear, and Payton frowned. Jackie could just about make out Payton’s words. “What? No. I’m not-”
“What’s going on?” Jackie asked, pushing herself on to a bar stool.
Ang
ela and Payton shared another look, followed by a sigh from Payton. “I have my camera with me,” Payton said, biting her lower lip. “But I’m not a professional or anything. I have a decent camera though, and if you’re really desperate, I’d be happy fill in.”
Angela wrapped her arm around Payton’s waist. “She’s being modest,” Angela said. “She’s an amazing photographer.”
“I don’t have a ton of experience with portraits, and I’ve never done a wedding.”
Oliver threw his arms around Payton, practically lifting her off the ground. “Would you really do it? I was going to ask my brother, and that’s only because he has the latest iPhone,” Oliver said, finally letting go of Payton.
“Yeah. Of course, I’ll do it. I have an Instagram account if you want to show Alvaro and make a decision. I won’t be offended if you find someone else before tomorrow.”
Jackie watched the whole exchange with a smile on her face. Oliver went from the depths of despair to the happiest man in the room in a matter of seconds.
“What are you drinking?” Jackie asked them.
“Wine,” Angela said. “Anything white.”
“Same for me,” Payton said, her cheeks flushed as Oliver gave her arm a squeeze and left the bar, presumably to talk to Alvaro.
Jackie got their drinks and they found a table out on the terrace, overlooking the ocean and the beach below where Oliver and Alvaro would be getting married tomorrow.
“At least it was the photographer,” Angela said, crossing one leg over the other, “And not the celebrant.”
“Yeah,” Payton said with a laugh. “I would have been no help there.”
Jackie could see what Payton meant when she’d said that Angela didn’t feel like her stepmother. They looked like friends, easily joking or finishing each other’s sentences.
“I guess, I should have a look around,” Payton said, her gaze focused out across the ocean. “See what their plans are for the ceremony and double check my gear.”
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