When Stars Align

Chapter 13

This is probably the hottest day of the summer yet.

I lay on my beach towel, listening to the waves as I read the new romance book I got in the mail the other day. I've been absolutely addicted to this book. I guess having your own romance brewing makes these books all the more enjoyable.

In the days since our date night, Jamie and I have seen each other a few times. Like the day after the date when Jamie came to the Saloon with all of us for a night out. And the day after that, when Jamie gave me a tour of the farm to show me all of the changes that she's made since moving in. Then, the following day, when Jamie came to my doorstep holding a beautiful sunflower for me.

I put down my book and close my eyes to think about these past few days. I've learned a lot about Jamie. She's opened up about her life before moving here, talked about her Grandpa, and really just about everything. It made my feelings grow a considerable amount, learning more about her. It's like every piece of information is a brick that has built Jamie into the incredible woman that she is today, and I just feel like I want to know everything and anything.

I feel a smile ghost over my lips at the thought of Jamie, and I groan at myself because I can't believe this is what I've turned into. Jamie has quickly chipped away at the cold exterior that I have built up and I'm in a completely unknown territory. I can't lie, I'm pretty scared. I could fuck this up somehow and Jamie also has the ability to break my heart. It's all so scary.

Breaking me out of my thoughts, I hear someone walking towards me.

I open my eyes to see Alex walking towards me.

He sits with me and we just chat for a few minutes about how our days are going, and it's really nice.

We sit in silence for a moment until he starts trying to find something in his pocket. He find it quickly when he extends a pamphlet in my direction. I look at him questioning before taking the paper and looking it over.

It's a photography competition.

I study the paper for a long time before looking up at Alex.

"You should enter!" Alex says with a large smile.

"Do you really think I'd have a chance?" I ask, turning my attention back to the information in my hand.

The competition is set for the end of fall so I have over a whole season to prepare. The prompt is to showcase your small town. It's a tourism competition, they want nice pictures of towns to post on their websites to increase foot traffic, but it would still be incredible to get my name out there. Plus, I really do enjoy finding the beauty of this place.

"Without a doubt." He says matter of factly while resting his hand on my shoulder.

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Walking through Cindersap Forest with my camera in hand, I try to find some inspiration for this contest. I take some scenic shots in the afternoon light. I know I want to take some pictures around town to capture the aesthetic of the cute buildings, but I want to wait until sunset for that.

I'm feeling good about this. This is what I do. I'm pleased with some of the shots I've taken, I'm already excited to go into my dark room and develop these later on.

As I'm walking back towards town, close to Leah's cottage, a voice stops me in my tracks.

"Well don't you look cute today" Jamie says from behind me and I can't help but smile and turn around to look at her.

She looks nice. Freshly showered after this mornings chores, wearing a nicely fitted pair of blue jeans with a white tee shirt tucked into the front, and her hair is pulled up in a messy bun. I'm too busy looking at her beauty, I don't even notice her outreached hand.