“Because it’s Trina.”
Now I was the one smiling. Trina was the one Mets players’ girlfriend who actually talked to me the first season Jack played on the team. When we met, she had been dating Jack’s teammate Kyle. She was a model and missed a lot of games due to her travel schedule, but whenever she was there, she was my savior.
“We’re shooting Trina? That’s amazing! What’s the focus of the story?”
Nora waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Something about ‘From Models to Moms in Manhattan.’ I haven’t worked out all the details yet, but she’ll be the focus. And she’ll only work with you.”
As I shook my head in amazement, my mind drifted back to when I’d first met Trina, and the man who became her new husband.
After the fiasco where our driver, Matteo, tried to kiss me and Jack fired him, Jack eventually allowed him to work for us again. In the meantime, Matteo had opened his own car company for exclusive clientele only. Once he began working with us again, Matteo personally only drove and worked for one couple, Jack and me, but his company was rapidly becoming the go-to car service for all the local pro athletes.
Matteo and Trina started dating right after she and Kyle had called it quits. Their wedding ceremony several months later was small, but elegant. Trina claimed the rushed date had to do with Jack’s spring training schedule, so that we could attend the wedding, but I knew the real reason was because she didn’t want to be showing in her wedding pictures. Matteo also insisted that they be legally married before their baby entered this world. I remember him saying, “I could wait and marry you someday, but I’d much rather marry you today. Someday may never come. Today is already here. Please don’t make me wait to make you my wife.”
When Trina had told me she and Matteo were getting married, I nervously asked her if she were certain this was what she wanted. I had clearly gained a deep-seated fear of people marrying for the wrong reasons over the last couple of years; whenever I thought back to the situation with Jack and Chrystle, I shuddered. Putting my fears to rest, Trina had informed me that while they didn’t plan on having a baby first and a wedding second, she didn’t care what order they did things in. They were truly happy and that was all that mattered. And I had to agree because happiness was all I truly wanted for my friends as well.
Nora looked at me over her glasses and raised her eyebrows, obviously waiting for a response.
“The only reason Trina wants to work with me is because if she hates the pictures, she can make me pay for it later,” I said with a giggle.
“You’ll do great. We’ll book a studio with lots of natural light for you, okay?”
I breathed out in relief. “You know me so well.”
“I want pictures of her before and after. Make sure you schedule something with her husband after the baby is born so we can show off the happy family.”
“No problem. Is that it?”
“Go pick out a damn picture already.”
“Fine. But if it sucks and loses, it’s your fault.” I shot Nora a grin as I pushed out of my chair and headed toward the door.
Back at my desk, I was no closer to choosing a photo than I was an hour ago. Glancing up, I spotted one of our interns walking through the elevator doors, balancing two cardboard trays filled with coffee cups.
“Becca,” I shouted and she glanced up, trying not to spill the drinks. “When you get a minute, can you come over here, please?”
She nodded her head as a small smile appeared. Becca was young and still in college, but she had a good eye. And I liked her style.
“Hi, Cassie. You needed me?” Becca sounded nervous and I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Yes! Thank God you’re here. You have a great eye and I love the way you see things. I need to pick a photo to submit for something, but I can’t choose. I’m too close to the subject matter. Which one do you like best?”
A giant, toothy grin spread across Becca’s youthful face. “I’m honored. Thank you,” she said before hovering over the pictures splayed across my desktop.
It took her all of two seconds to grab a photo and declare it was the one. And I trusted her eye because it meant something in that particular picture stood out above all the others.
“Thank you, Becca. You’re a lifesaver!”
After work, I stepped through the revolving door and onto the crowded sidewalk. Sidestepping the pedestrian traffic, I weaved my way toward the idling black car at the curb. Matteo stood patiently waiting for me next to the car, just like he did every evening. His handsome face broke out into a wide grin as I neared and he held open the passenger door.
“Why are you so smiley?” I asked and he shrugged.
He hopped into the driver’s seat and pulled into traffic. “Life’s good, Cassie. Life is good,” he said in an annoying singsong voice. Matteo’s attitude had been like this ever since he and Trina had hooked up.
“You’re so annoying. Go home to your hot wife.”
“I will. Right after I drop you off at your hot husband’s office,” he said playfully with a wink.
“Ew,” I said with a shudder. “Don’t say Jack’s hot and then wink. It’s weird.”
Unable to respond, he broke out into a huge belly laugh. He was still chortling a little over it as he navigated his way to the field while I scrolled through my personal e-mails on my phone.
A few minutes later, he straightened up and said over his shoulder, “Trina told me about the photo shoot,” which got my attention.