Breath Of Life

I glance over my shoulder. “I’m not sure.”

“Tell me.”

“There’s been this black car behind me for the past twenty minutes.”

“You think it’s following you?”

“Maybe. Could just be in my head.”

“Where are you?”

“About fifteen minutes away on Main Street.”

“Come over.”

“I don’t want to bring them to you if its—”

“Stop being so damn sassy for once, and let me help you. It’s my turn.”

“Okay.”

“Good. Stay on the phone until you get here. Are they still following you?”

I glance in the rearview. “Farther back, but yes.”

“Tell me about your day.”

“What?”

“Your day.”

“I ... uh, I had a gig with a model I’ve been working with for years. She needed new photos. It was fun.”

“Oh yeah. How did the pictures turn out?”

I cling to the normalcy he’s trying to provide.

“From what I saw they’re going to be gorgeous. I think she needed the boost. She’s been trying to break through for the past five years, and I think she’s losing her love for it.”

“That has to be tough.”

“Yeah, I think the new direction she’s trying for is

going to do her well. It’s all about reinvention in that industry.”

“Do you work with a lot of models?”

“Not as much as I used to. You didn’t go to work today?”

He snorts. “Not on the job but behind the scenes. I’m catching up on what’s been going on and picking up the slack of the paperwork.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“Sassy,” he mutters.

I giggle.

“Did I finally find a nickname you’re not going to shoot down?”