Free Loved by You by Victoria H. Smith Page A

with him and he looked like he wanted anything but. His body remained rather stiff as they placed her hand on his shoulder, and ridged as his arm was put around her. Also, I knew Griffin. He would have mentioned such a thing, him modeling with a half naked woman. At least to prepare me for what I’d see tonight.
    “A last minute decision this evening.” Rich tapped his finger to his lips, the excitement in his eyes evident as the two began snapping stiff pictures. “Such a vision. Exposure with Rose will give him that ‘it’ factor. She debuted at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show last year. They simply look great together.”
    I watched actually seeing that greatness he spoke of. That was undeniable. They were both very good-looking people, and naturally good-looking people looked good together. That couldn’t be denied.
    My lashes lowered a bit and that was only because it was kind of hard to watch. I didn’t consider myself the jealous type, and I didn’t believe I was. But another woman’s hands on your fiancé… my stomach clenched a bit. Who could enjoy that?
    Wanting a minute, I went to leave Rich’s side. I was going to head to the snack table and sit, watch so I wouldn’t be in the way, but stopped at the photographer’s voice.
    “Griff, where’s that light from before?”
    I turned. He stood before Griffin, Rose at his side, watching on. He shook Griffin’s shoulders. “That life in your eyes you had before? I know it’s been a long night, but we almost got it. We just need that perfect shot and we’re done.”
    He tapped Griffin’s shoulder and went back to his station. The man took a moment to fix something on his camera and while he did Griffin stood there, awkward and looking so small. He was uncomfortable, and Griffin Chandler was never uncomfortable.
    That felt worse inside than what I saw.
    His eyes flashed to me, but almost like he was ashamed he wouldn’t keep them, opting to stare at the floor while he waited for this thing to begin again. Meanwhile, Rich stared on, grinning like he was unaware of his client's discomfort. Maybe he was but he just didn’t care.
    “All right folks let’s begin again.” The photographer shouted, getting below his camera. “Griffin, we just need that light. Find it again, okay?”
    They positioned him with Rose again, close with their tanned bodies up against each other. That’s when I decided to do something instead wallowing, to act instead of thinking about myself. In the wake of the self-pity’s absence, I chose to think about him.
    The man I loved.
    I went to Rich’s side, and like before, he paid me no mind, watching the set gleefully. Ignoring him, I got closer to the set, into the light but out of the fray. I was close enough to the photographer and his team that I got Griffin’s attention. His eyes flickered to me but being so close to the camera no one else noticed but me. They probably thought he was just doing his thing by performing for the camera.
    Smiling at him, just for him, I opened my mouth and tilted my head. I said only two words but didn’t really say them at all. I mouthed them. I mouthed to him, “ It’s okay .”
    I was letting him know that in more ways than one. I mouthed them again, “ It’s okay ,” and after, this time, I placed my hand on my heart, silently saying, “ I love you ,” right after.
    He understood completely. His arm moved and he tightened it around Rose, but not really. He wasn’t with her in that moment. I think no one saw that but us, the only two that mattered. He gave that heartbreaking, heart-aching model expression right into the camera. He owned it after that. He freaking owned it.
    “I don’t know what juice you just sipped,” said the photographer, snapping a photo with a grin. “But keep doing it, Griff. Amazing.”
    He laughed to himself just once before posing again. The shoot was over before I knew it, and as soon as it was, my heart jumped. It jumped because I caught