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“I didn’t say I take pictures of loneliness I specifically used the word emptiness”

“And you don’t think that emptiness translates into loneliness?”

“Not always Don’t make more of this than it is, okay?” Ty sounded exasperated and defensive He raked an i is a fucking metaphor for my sad life”

She sighed and squeezed his other hand reassuringly

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to psychoanalyze your hobby It just seems like such a…” She bit back the rest of what she’d been about to say, and he shook his head

“Uh-uh Finish that sentence”

“It seems like a lonely pursuit”

His lips thinned and he stared at her through, dark troubled eyes He reached out to tuck a curl behind her ear

“Thank you”

His words surprised her, and she stared at him bewilderment “What for?”

“For caring”

“Ty…” She really had nothing else to add to that What could she say? Of course, she cared It was hard not to He was a young, vitalit “I’d like to see your photographs I want to see the world through your eyes”

His lips thinned, and his eyes shuttered, but he nodded “Later For now, let’s enjoy the rest of our walk”

When they reached the long, long line to the Eye, Ty surprised her by bypassing the queuing crowd and heading straight to the fast-track line Chance and Ty exchanged a few hushed words, before the Australian nodded With a fleeting smile at Vicki, Chance stood aside as she and Ty joined the line The group ahead of them was a loud, cheerful hen party

“Hey, you wanna lend us your fella?” one of the not-quite-sober woape at them as well There was a chorus of raucous “oohs”, and Vicki chuckled

“What do you need him for?” Vicki asked Ty squeezed her hand as if to dissuade her froroup

“Only, Shelly here forgot to hire a stripper, didn’t she?” The wo toward a tall, solidly built brunette, who—despite the cold—earing a tank top, glittery hot pants, and platform heels