You know how sometimes you are just so shocked your brain freezes?

Well this is one of those times.

Ashlynn and I stand there frozen taking in the scene in front of us. Now I understand why Ana didnt tell us everything. 

She knew Ash and I might choose to pass on it. I don't think I would've, I just would've liked to be informed. 

On the amount of men in speedos I would be working with. 

There are four female models and at least twelve male models. 

That's a lot of man.

Ash turns to look at me, wide eyed. 

"Are you seeing this?" She asks and I nod. 

One of the photographers calls for us again and we head closer. 

"Why are there so many of them?" I ask and Ash looks at all of them. 

"This feels like a start to a bad porno." She says, her voice full of humor. 

We each do separate shots before shots with a few of us and then shots with every one. 

"Ava darling lay out a few feet from the water." Moira one of the photographers says. 

I sit down, propped up on my elbows with one leg propped. 

"Zane I want you in this one too." A tall muscular blond guy comes over to me. 

Moira and a few other people get us set for the shots. She has Zane stick a step of a cherry in his mouth, then she has him lean over me, his arms caging me in. 

"Now Ava I want you to look up at him and lightly bite the cherry between your teeth." She says and I follow her directions. 

Moira gets a bunch of shots before she lets us move. 

"Great job you two." She says as she looks through the pictures. "We'll call you guys when we need you again." She says before walking over to another group.

Zane reaches out a hand to help me up. 

I take his hand and stand up. Zane is a whole lot taller than me. Probably six seven at least.

"Have we worked together before?" he asks, he has an Australian accent. Wow. 

I shake my head and he gives me a lopsided smile. 

"This might sound unprofessional, no it definitely is but you are absolutely stunning." He says and I blush. 

"Is it a bit forward if I ask if you're single?" He asks and I suck in a breath. 

Ashlynn told me I should get out there now that I am single. That I should be dating. 

"Sorry I'm not." I say and he nods in understanding, "Figured someone snatched you up already. You tell whoever this guy is how lucky he is." Zane says before heading over to the tent.

I don't know what is it, but something held me back from telling the truth. It isn't Austin. 

There was just this feeling I can't explain. 

"If one more sweaty ass man touches me I am going to lose it." Ash says walking up to me. 

I bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing. 

She points to the guy with curly hair, "He smells like pickles Ava. Pickles. I was stuck next to him for twenty minutes because that stupid photographer couldn't get the shot right." She says and now that I look closer she does look a little pale. 

"It's not so bad." I say and she snorts, "I saw the hottie you just shot with. He looked into you, did you give him your number?" She asks and I shake my head. 

"Why not?" She asks her brows punching together, "I'm not ready to date yet." I lie. 

She hums, not believing me. 

We shoot for a few more hours before Ash and I are can go home. 

"Ugh tonight is game night, I think I'll just stay at your place and not go home first." She says as we get off the freeway and head into down town. 

"How's the apartment?" I ask her. Her landlord finally came back and was did not love the welcome back present Ash left for him. 

He did however get someone to come and check out the building for rats. 

She rolls her eyes, "Still a dump."

There has been no luck on finding a new place. I asked her why she didnt take Desiree's second room before I got here and she said she prefers her independence. 

Pulling up to the apartment we get out. 

I let Ash shower first, giving her some of my clothes. When she finishes I jump in the shower. 

I change into a pair of shorts and a t shirt, letting my hair fall damp on top of it. 

When I leave the bathroom I see Dez sitting on the chair and Ash sitting on the couch. 

I go to sit beside Ash. 

"The guys should be here soon." Dez says and I nod in acknowledgement. 

Not even two minutes later there is knocking at the door. 

"I'll get it." I say getting up and opening the door. Kai is the first to greet me, followed by Cole, Spencer, then River. 

When I see River I smile, "I like your flannel." I say referring to his purple and white flannel he is currently wearing. Under it is a white t shirt. 

He smiles back at me, "You can have it." He says and I raise an eyebrow, "Are you sure? You know I won't give it back." I tease. 

Not really though I won't give it back. I still have the one he lent me a while ago. 

"I wouldn't mind." He says walking into the apartment. My palms begin to feel a little sweaty and I wipe them on my thighs. 

I sit back down on the couch and Kai lays the food out on the table. 

When he opens one container I see it's full of pickles. 

I burst out laughing. 

Beside me Ash looks like she is about to throw up. 

"What did I miss?" Cole asks and Dez shrugs, "Beats me."

Ash pinches her nose, "I can smell him."

I laugh even harder while everyone else looks at us like we have two heads. 

"I feel like we are missing out on something." Kai says and I shake my head.

"Not really we had a shoot today and Ash had to work with a guy that smelt like pickles." I say and she gags. 

"Put those away." She demands and Dez closes the box. 

Ash removes her hand from her face. 

"He didnt smell that bad." I tell her and she raises an eyebrow, "How would you know? You got to work with the hot Australian surfer who probably smelt like heaven."

"Wait why didnt the two of you tell me this? What hot Australian guy?" Dez asks from her chair. 

Ash wiggles her eyebrows, "Miss Ava here got to work closely with this guy who was totally into her. He almost popped her cherry."

I gasp, "Ashlynn." I say and she laughs, "You should see your face."

"Wait you almost slept with this guy?" Dez asks and I hear Kai cough. 

I shake my head, "She means an actual cherry. It was for the picture." I say and out of the corner of my eye I see River's shoulders relax. 

I turn to Ash, narrowing my eyes, "I will open the pickle box." I say and she sobers up.

We dig into the food, no one opens the box of pickles. 

After that we play charades. Kai and Ash are paired and at some points I thought she was going to strangle him.

He really sucks at these kind of games. 

The guys eventually pack up to head back to their places. 

Once they are gone as well as Ash, Dez and I head to bed as well. 

It's a little chilly tonight so I wear River's flannel I had. 

Tucking myself in the covers I fall asleep. 

Dreaming of the reason I rejected Zane.