“I… I think we got all the shots we needed.” Cameron cleared his throat quietly as he finished, setting down the camera. “You’re… a really great model. I can’t help but wonder why your photographer quit on you, you need almost no direction.” He stabbed a hand through platinum locks, pale blue eyes glancing away quickly as the dark-haired male sat up in the bed, reaching for a long, soft-looking pale pink sweater.

A soft chuckle escaped Aleksi’s lips as he tugged on the sweater, straightening it until it fell around his thighs. “You know, for someone whose whole job revolves around being around half-naked people, you still turn an awful cute pink.” He teased, grabbing a pack of smokes from the nightstand drawer. Nimble fingers pressed one between his lips. He lit it quickly, taking a deep drag and sighing out softly. “His wife got tired of him taking pictures like this. Didn’t believe him that clients were clients, accused him of cheating with me.” He scoffed, rolled his eyes. “As though Marcus were my type for a damned second. I may be gay, and take pictures in stuff like this, but I have standards, y’know? But the man values his marriage, so he bailed. Can’t say I blame him, I suppose.” A shrug, another deep drag. Aleksi tipped his head back on the exhale, smoke curling around his head.

“O-oh! So uhm… you’re g-gay then?” Cameron questioned awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. God, it must be nice to be able to be so open with who you are. “Well, I’m sorry she thought that. I don’t mind filling in until you find someone ne-” He was cut off by his cellphone ringing, swearing lightly as the screen light up.

Incoming Call, Emily.

“Shit, one second, I have to take this.” He apologized, hitting talk and holding the phone to his ear. “Hey babe. Sorry I forgot to call sooner. No, no, I just finished the shoot, so no late night tonight. I’ll definitely be home for dinner, Ems. That sounds great…”

The moment Cameron had his back turned, wandering back out to the living room to talk, Aleksi’s smile fell into a frown, brow furrowing. Ah, yes. The girlfriend, he noted with displeasure, fingers curling into the soft fabric of the sweater tight. How could he possibly have forgotten about her? It wasn’t as though he had seen her often, only once or twice in passing, usually hanging off of the blonde’s arm when they passed each other in the lobby. It was a sharp, stark reminder- no matter how flushed and flustered Cameron had seemed during the shoot- he was painfully straight. The girlfriend was proof of that, she could be a model herself if she wanted. Even still…

There was no harm in letting himself get closer to the other man right? He took another drag on his cigarette, sighing to himself quietly. “Dammit, Leksi. You always go for the ones you can’t have.” He muttered, shaking his head. “It’s not even like you know anything about him.” Other than he would pay good money for Cameron to pin him to a wall and kiss him breathless.

“Sorry about that.” Cameron smiled sheepishly as he returned, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “My girlfriends parents are in town, and she wanted to make sure I’d be home for dinner with them tonight, it’d been a while since we’ve seen them last.” And there was that guilt, settling deep in Cameron’s stomach once more. He pushed it aside, settling into a chair opposite the other. “You really were great to work with. Like I say, if you need someone in the interim until you can find a new photographer, I’d be happy to help.” Shut up, Cameron, are you a masochist? He pushed the thought down, as he had the rest. Not the time, nor the place.

“I’d like that. Your work is amazing, I think these are going to be some of my new favorite shots I’ve had done. They’ll definitely get chosen.” Aleksi nodded eagerly. “Imagine my luck, having a photographer as talented as you down the hall. I seriously can’t thank you enough. Let me take you out for a drink sometime? On me?”

“You don’t have t-”

“Nonsense.” Aleksi snorted, rolling his eyes as he put out his cigarette in the ashtray on the nightstand. “It’s the least I can do, you’re seriously saving my ass here.I would have been completely fucked if you hadn’t agreed to help me. Please? I’ll feel bad if you don’t let me.” He purred. “Just one night for drinks. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

Cameron was quiet a moment, teeth worrying his lower lip in thought. What could one night hurt…? “Alright, I suppose it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to go out for a boys night. Sounds fun. I’m free Saturday?”

“Perfect.” Aleksi stood, hesitating a moment before reaching out to brush back a lock of platinum hair, ignoring the way his heart pounded in his chest. Fuck, it was so soft… “I’ll pick you up at nine? Casual is fine, it’s not a dive I have in mind, but it’s not fancy as hell, either.”

“I can do nine.” Cameron agreed. “Emily is going to be out of town this weekend anyways, so I won’t have to worry about coming home drunk and worrying her.” He slung his equipment bag over his shoulder as he made his way out of the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to the apartment, glancing over his shoulder, an almost shy smile on his lips. “I hope we can become friends, Aleksi. I look forward to hanging out with you Saturday.”

With that, he was gone, that smile burned into Aleksi’s mind as he fell back onto the couch, covering a now reddening face with his hands.

Fuck. He was screwed.