Free Another Shot: A Modern-Day Ruth and Boaz Story by Brooke St. James

minute. "I don't think he'd go for me. Maybe for a fling or whatever, but nothing more."
    Another minute passed with just the low murmur of the television in the background. "I'm not trying to encourage you to do anything you're not ready for, but Maria told me she thought he was smitten with you."
    I put the other hand over my face, reinforcing my embarrassment.
    "Did he email you the photos from today?" she asked.
    "Yes," I said, not removing my hands.
    "Can I see them?" she asked.
    I grabbed my phone from its place on the ottoman next to her and opened the email he sent me earlier.
    Rae,
    Thanks again for the great photos. These haven't been edited, so please don't share with anyone besides Lu for now. I'll send you the final version once I finish editing it. You're more talented than you know, and I'm excited about watching you realize your potential. Let's do it again sometime, but with me behind the camera.
    Best, Dominic
    I scrolled past the message to get to the photos and handed her the phone. She gasped. "These are amazing Rae! Aww, he's handsome, isn't he?" 
    I smiled, thinking of the way I had gawked at him through the camera. "He's extremely handsome," I said, "…and smart, and rich, and all the other good things you can think of."
    "Oh sweetheart, it makes my heart sing to think about you finding happiness with Dominic. I was so afraid I would hold you back by bringing you to New York with me."
    "I can't even comprehend something working out with Dominic," I said, honestly. "He's just too good, and I've heard enough guys joking around at the deli to know that these Italian men don't just run off and marry little blonde girls like me."
    "My Anthony did."
    "Yeah, but he was in Arizona. I think the guys here get more pressure to date Italian girls."
    "Where'd you hear that?"
    "I heard one of the men that always sit outside the deli mention the fact that I was blonde. He asked what my maiden name was, and when I said McBride, he said I must be pretty great if you and Gianni were okay with Anthony marrying me. I think he meant it as a compliment, but I got the idea that I was a different breed to them."
    "Don't listen to those old men," she said. "Dominic is his own man and he can decide who he wants to go out with." 
    I sat up and stared at her seriously. 
    "Do you honestly think he would ever go for me?"
    She reached out and cupped a hand on my cheek. "Yes. And I think he already knows he would be lucky to have you." 
    I put my head in my hands again, feeling overwhelmed by the mix of fear and hope. "I can't believe I'm even thinking about this," I said.
    "I think you two could have something beautiful together," she said. I was stunned speechless by her support in the matter. I sat there for a few minutes, not knowing what to say. I thought for sure she'd be protective of Anthony and want me to wait years before I even considered moving on.
    I reached out for my phone and she handed it to me. I glanced at the screen, taking in the photo. He was perhaps the most handsome man I've ever laid eyes on and I got butterflies in my stomach at the thought of having the green light to pursue him.
    "I don't know what to do to make him notice me like that. I'm sure there are about a hundred other girls in line ahead of me, and I don't want to throw myself at him."
    "Well, there's not much you can do with your work uniform, but we can get you all fixed up for the Thanksgiving feast and see if you can catch his eye."
    I giggled. "Are you serious?"
    She smiled down at me. "Why not?"
    I spent the rest of the weekend thinking about Dominic and wondering how things would play out between us. It was the first time something else consumed my thoughts besides my sadness over losing Anthony, and it was refreshing.

 
    Chapter 9
     
     
    My photo of the one-man band was displayed with the others in the top ten when I got to work that Monday. It was surreal seeing a photograph I took displayed in an official setting like that.