Page 63 of Just for the Cameras
I slide into my tub, the hot water seeping into my worn-down muscles as I lower myself to the bottom, my limbs straining, begging to be put out of their misery.
Candles are lit.
Folkloreis playing on my Bluetooth speaker.
And there’s a glass of wine waiting to be consumed while I pick up my phone and pull up Instagram.
I click on the profile for Flock and Tackle while the Epsom salts do their job.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
Over five hundred thousand followers. That’s…that’s insane.
After one picture.
That’s all it took.
One picture.
Imagine the impact one picture could make if it was geared toward the right thing…like bringing awareness to flamingos.
That’s exactly what I’m going to try to do.
I click on the post button, then pull up the pictures that I took today of Graydon. God, he’s such a large man. He looks like a giant compared with the birds. I scroll through to find which one would be best. All are great options.
I narrow it down to two: one of him with his back toward the camera while looking off at the flamingos, and then one of him in profile, squatting down and tossing a pellet.
Unsure what to go with, I send him a text with both pictures.
Maple:Trying to decide which picture to post tonight. Do you have a preference?
I set my phone down on the tray that runs from one side of the tub to the other and pick up my glass of wine. I lean my head back and stare at the lights dancing across my ceiling from my light orb—highly recommend.
I’d never been a bath kind of girl until I had a hard day at the zoo and needed to ease my muscles. I talked to Everly about it, and she set me upwith all the things that I would need when it came to relaxing. Spending years in Peru living in a permanent tent makes you really appreciate luxurious things such as a bathtub…a nice glass of wine…running water.
My phone pings with a message, so I set my wine down and pick up my phone.
Graydon:Don’t care.
I roll my eyes. God, why did I even ask? He’s so not helpful.
My phone pings again.
Graydon:Maybe the one of me squatting down.
I snort.
Maple:I thought you didn’t care.
Graydon:I don’t, but if I have to choose, the squatting one.
Maple:Didn’t say you had to choose.
Graydon:Why are you testing my patience?
Maple:Unsure.
I open Instagram again, but my phone pings with another text.
