Picture Perfect

A few more shops later, the two of you end up wandering into a small surf store near the far end of the boardwalk.

The inside is cooler than outside, filled with racks of hoodies, swimsuits, postcards, and entire walls covered in sunglasses. Some upbeat pop song hums softly overhead while a couple near the front argues over matching hats.

Jane immediately disappears toward the accessories section.

Of course she does.

You follow more slowly behind her while she picks up pair after pair of sunglasses with increasingly terrible judgment.

“These are awful,” you tell her while she tries on bright orange heart-shaped lenses.

“They’re fashion.”

“They’re a cry for help.”

She snorts laughing before setting them back down.

A second later, she grabs another oversized pair and slides them onto her face dramatically before turning toward one of the mirrors mounted beside the display.

For a moment she studies herself seriously.

Then she places one hand on her hip.

“Be honest,” Jane says. “Do I look hot or divorced?”

You burst out laughing immediately.

“How are those the only two options?”

“They’re very different aesthetics.”

You walk closer while pretending to evaluate thoughtfully.

“Hm.”

“What?”

“Honestly?” you say. “Both somehow.”

That immediately breaks her composure.

“Oh my god,” she laughs while hiding part of her face behind the giant sunglasses. “That is so rude.”

“You asked.”

“I expected support.”

“You expected dishonesty.”

She keeps laughing anyway while turning back toward the mirror again.

The oversized black frames somehow actually do look ridiculously good on her. Combined with the messy beach hair, oversized hoodie, and bikini barely visible underneath, she somehow manages to look both incredibly pretty and like she’s about to file for custody of a yacht.

And unfortunately for your ability to function normally, she notices you staring again almost immediately.

“There it is,” Jane says smugly.

“What?”

“That look.”

You shake your head while smiling helplessly.

“You make fun of me and then immediately stare at me.”

“You look good,” you admit.

Her expression softens just slightly beneath the teasing.

“Yeah?” she asks more quietly.

“Yeah.”

For a second she just looks at you through the sunglasses with the smallest smile tugging at her mouth.

Then naturally she ruins the moment herself.

“I’m buying these and emotionally reinventing myself.”

“You can’t reinvent yourself three times in one afternoon.”

“Watch me.”

You laugh softly while she finally takes the sunglasses back off and sets them onto the shelf again.

A few minutes later, the two of you leave the store and continue farther down the boardwalk together.

The sunlight outside has shifted warmer now, painting everything in soft gold while music drifts from nearby restaurants and open windows. Crowds move lazily around you while ocean air flows through the street.

Then suddenly—

“Oh my god.”

You glance over immediately.

Jane is staring ahead with dangerous excitement.

“No,” you say instantly.

“Yes.”

Before you can react, she grabs your wrist and starts pulling you across the boardwalk.

“Baby—”

“We’re doing it.”

You finally spot what she’s dragging you toward.

An old-fashioned photo booth tucked near a small arcade entrance, covered in faded stickers and handwritten signs advertising printed photo strips.

You laugh under your breath.

“You’re way too excited about this.”

“Because this is adorable.”

“You say that about literally everything today.”

“Because today is adorable.”

That answer alone almost makes your chest hurt a little.

The booth itself is tiny once the two of you squeeze inside. Your knees bump awkwardly against hers almost immediately while Jane pulls the curtain shut behind you.

“Oh my god,” she laughs. “Why is this thing so small?”

“It was built in like 2007.”

“It smells haunted in here.”

You laugh while she presses herself closer against your side to make room.

Not that she really needs an excuse.

The screen flashes suddenly.

PHOTO 1 IN: 5

“Oh my god wait,” Jane says immediately. “We weren’t ready.”

“You dragged us in here!”

“Okay smile.”

The countdown immediately starts.

4

3

2

At the last second, Jane grabs your face dramatically while making the most ridiculous overexcited expression possible.

FLASH.

The first picture shows on the screen.

She bursts out laughing instantly.

“Oh no,” she says between laughs. “That one’s terrible.”

The next countdown starts almost immediately.

PHOTO 2 IN: 5

“This one has to be cute,” Jane says seriously.

“You’re putting a lot of pressure on me.”

“You were born for this moment.”

For the second picture, she presses close against your side while both of you smile properly this time.

FLASH.

“Okay wait,” she says excitedly while looking at the preview. “That one’s actually really cute.”

PHOTO 3 IN: 5

“This one should be funny,” you say.

Immediately Jane sticks her tongue out while throwing up peace signs at the last second.

You barely manage to react before—

FLASH.

The preview comes up blurry because both of you started laughing halfway through it.

“Oh my god,” Jane wheezes. “I love that one.”

Then the screen changes again.

FINAL PHOTO IN: 10

A longer countdown appears this time.

Jane looks back toward you while still laughing softly.

Then her expression shifts slightly.

Softer now.

Closer.

The tiny booth suddenly feels even smaller than before.

Outside, you can faintly hear the ocean and distant music through the walls of the booth while warm golden sunlight slips through the edges of the curtain around you.

Jane glances briefly toward the countdown.

Then back toward you again.

And the look she gives you makes your stomach tighten instantly.