Page 21 of Just for the Cameras
Mother.
Of.
God.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such…such athleticism encompassed in one singular body.
Are those muscles real?
I mean, he’s a huge man, but look at his side, you can practically see the sinew wrapping around each individual rib. He’s bulging and expertly carved in every section of his body.
Is that sort of physical form obtained by strictly drinking protein drinks all the time? I doubt he knows what a milkshake even is—I think this as I sip harder on my churned ice cream drink.
I swallow, my mouth growing dry as I gesture to the phone. “See? Hot.”
“Yeah.” Everly stares at the picture longer. “God, why do I like the fauxhawk?”
“Ugh…I like it too.”
We both look at each other, then burst out in laughter. She sets her phone down and then picks her shake back up. “Sucks to be that hot but have the ugliest personality.”
“For real, what a waste.”
“Hey, at least when he’s at the zoo, being a grump of a man, you have something nice to look at other than analyzing the color of bird shit.”
“That’s true.” I pull my leg up and wrap my arm around it. “Ugh. What am I going to do, Everly? I’m so embarrassed. He clearly thinks I’m the king of dorks, and I have to see him three times a week and do events with him at night to gain support from possible donors.”
“Do what you’re supposed to do.” Everly shrugs. “Be yourself. Teach him about flamingos and show him that you won’t take his shit. If he’s rude, you snap back. If he’s kind, pat him on the head and tell him he’s a good boy.”
I chuckle. “I’d need a ladder to be able to pat him on the head.”
“That tall?” she asks.
“When I say he barely fit in the golf cart, I’m not kidding. He’s gigantic. Also, I think his hands are bigger than my face.”
“Wow…that’s…that’s nice,” she replies, staring off into space.
I snap my finger in front of her. “Um, hello, you’re married to my ex-boyfriend.”
“That I am,” she says dreamily and then snaps out of it. Eyes focused on me, she continues, “You’re going to go into your next meeting with him, and you’re going to show him who’s boss and that he can’t treat you with disrespect. And your pants, if they’re not at least five inches off the ground, showing off your ankles, I don’t want you stepping outside your apartment.”
I smirk. “I think I can do that.” I sip my drink. “Give him hell.”
“But also…teach him the way of the birds, because at the end of the day, we are really here to use his celebrity to help save the flamingos.”
“Have you been reading JP’s emails again?”
Everly shrugs. “They’re catchy.”
CHAPTER 5
GRAYDON
OC:Got your number from Gretchen. Thought I would start a group chat with all of us. So…how’re the zoo chores going for you?
I stare down at thetext message and groan because no. This is not happening. I’m not doing this whole bonding thing.
My phone dings.
