CLAIRE

Friday morning, I woke up before my alarm, my stomach already twisted with nerves, today was the day Ava was sending the final photos.

Today I would decide whether to launch or wait. I found Julian already awake in the kitchen, coffee brewing as always.

"Big day," he said, sliding a mug toward me.

"Huge day," I corrected, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic. "What if the photos aren't as good as I remember? What if I looked at the previews with rose-colored glasses and the finals are terrible?"

"Then Ava isn't the professional Nina claimed she was," Julian replied calmly. "But that's not going to happen."

I...