Page 95 of Not Safe for Work

“Not if you don’t want.” He cocks his head. “Though you’d be the most beautiful thing on my feed.”

The way he looks at me makes me wonder if he’s in the murky backwoods of something real, too.

I’ll follow you anywhere, Tris.

“Maybe we’ll work up to that. I’m not quite ready for fame.”

He grins and brings his phone closer, snapping a few pictures at different angles. He shows me the result. Only my hands are visible, backdropped by the splash of my pink polka-dot shirt blurred in the background. I’m no expert, but even I can see the light, the color, and the composition look like that of a professional.

“You’re really, really good at this.”

“Thanks,” he says with a smile that somehow manages to be both vulnerable and proud.

“Rafe,” comes a voice, and we both look over to find David Gallagher holding a plate topped with a slice of pineapple cake.

He eyes his son before his gaze falls to the photo still visible on Rafe’s screen.

“Dad,” he responds, his pride from a moment ago shriveling into decay.

Diane Hart also stands at the dessert table, looking us over as she selects items from the buffet.

“You skipped breakfast with me and Bruce this morning to do this? Take pictures of cake?” David asks as his lip curls in distaste.

I’ve never wanted to punch his smug face more.

Rafe missed a meeting with his father and the CEO?

I blush when I think about what we were actually doing around breakfast time.

“You promised you’d take this retreat seriously,” David continues.

“I promised I’d come,” Rafe says quietly, his voice strained. “That’s all.”

David’s nostrils flare ever so slightly, and I see red.

I snatch the phone from Rafe’s hand and hold it out to David.

“Do you see how good he is? Can’t you see how much he loves it?”

David Gallagher and I already have a complicated history, so what’s one more transgression?

“Tris,” Rafe says, laying a hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I’m sorry, but your dad should recognize your talent even if he refuses to respect it.” I shake the screen at David again. “Look at all these likes and how many followers he has and the comments he gets. They love him.”

David stares at the screen for several long moments while I notice Diane watching all of this go down. Great, I’m making a fool of myself in front of her again.

But I’m angry for Rafe, and I don’t care right now.

Then our gazes meet as the barest hint of a smile hugs her bright pink lips before she resumes her dessert selection.

David’s gaze has moved past the phone and is now focused on Rafe as father and son engage in a silent standoff.

“Don’t bother,” Rafe says, addressing me while he keeps his eyes on his dad. “I’ve heard it all before.”

Rafe grabs my hand. “C’mon.” He tugs me away, refusing to look back. I cast a glance over my shoulder to see David watching us as we return to our table.

“Are you okay?” I ask as he collapses into the booth, his head dropping in his hands. Lan and Gabrielle are still getting treats from the buffet, and I give him a moment to collect himself.