Soon, I move to wide angle frames, getting all of Bobby and all of the goats. These are for me, I promise. Not the blog, I think possessively, taking a page from Bobby’s book.
“Look at you, Nashville. Show us how you model. Give me a Zoolander Blue Steel look,” Brutal barks out, laughing before he can even get the insult out.
I spin, capturing that too.
“Hey, I didn’t agree to shit,” Brutal tells me, sobering in an instant.
“Oh, sorry,” I say, dropping the camera down to make eye contact.
“It’s fine,” Bobby interjects. “Tell her it’s fine. She can take pictures of anything or anyone she wants to.”
“No, really, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
Shayanne whistles loudly. “Hey, Brutal, know what would probably get Allyson all hot and bothered?”
Quick as a blink, he deadpans, “Me.” For a scary motherfucker, the guy’s got jokes. I think he’s joking, at least. Sort of.
“Exactly. Hey, Willow, think you could send Allyson that picture? Brutal needs all the help he can get to get laid.” The insult is harsh, as intended, and given Brutal’s growl and Bobby’s howl of laughter, it’s completely untrue.
“Sure. I can do that.” I laugh along with them, and any tension is broken.
Before long, I’m taking pictures of all three of them—holding goats, standing alone, standing together, sitting in the Gator, and more, and they’re really getting into it, posing and pulling faces.
Mostly, I let them interact with each other, not directing them at all so I get real, candid shots. Those are the moments of true beauty. Unfiltered, unaltered moments of heartfelt connection, even if it’s couched in giving each other a hard time.
When Shay decides that climbing on the roof of the Gator is a good idea, despite the loud protests of both of her brothers, I take a shot while lying on the ground so it will have the added effect of a cool perspective. Even through the lens, I can tell that Shayanne looks powerful, invincible, ready to take the world by storm, which fits what Bobby has told me about her. The second shot I take of that moment includes both guys standing at the ready to catch her and watching her closely. The affection is obvious and shines brightly.
“Oh, my phone,” Shay says, jumping from the roof of the Gator as if the five feet are no big deal. Pulling it out of her pocket, she grins that evil smile again before looking at Bobby. “Mama Louise says it’s time for us all to wash up for dinner.”
“Oh, I’ll go then,” I offer, not wanting to intrude any more than I already have. I’m sure Bobby and Brutal had chores to do today, but they’ve spent the last hour goofing off with me. It’s been fun and I’ve gotten some amazing pictures, but I know their family dinners are pretty sacrosanct.
Bobby stops me with a growl and his arms around my waist. “The fuck? She said ‘us all’. That means Mama Louise is expecting you at dinner too. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now that I have you here, I might never let you go.” He sounds serious, and rather than being scared at becoming his pseudo-hostage, my whole body lights up like fireworks again. He wants me here as much as I want to be here. While I’m playing through mental images of never leaving his side, he keeps talking, trying to sell me on the idea of staying. “The last person you want to disappoint is Mama Louise. You also don’t refuse her food. She’s the best.”
“I thought Ilene was the best,” I tease.
“So does she,” Bobby says sadly, shaking his head like Ilene is delusional and everyone just goes along with it. I’ve had Ilene’s food, though, and it’s delicious. But if Mama Louise can top it, I’m in. Hell, I’m in if only to meet the woman he says rescued his family.
Chapter 12
Bobby
I shove Shayanne toward Brutal’s Gator, grabbing at the keys as she tries to hold them behind her back.
“I can drive Willow up to the house!” she argues. She knows it’s a losing battle, but that doesn’t stop her. It never does.
“Shayanne. Give me the keys,” I sternly order. Once upon a time, that’d be enough to get her to do it, but now, she’s all independent and wild, thinking she can do any old thing she wants, like invite Willow out for the day without telling me.