“You know what kind.”
“Ruby Valentine, are yousextingon my bed right now?”
Ruby scoffs. “No… Fine. Maybe. Yes.”
Stella gasps. “Who?”
“None of your business!”
Stella turns around and puts her hands on her hips. “If you want to use my studio to take naughty pictures I deserve to know who they’re going to.”
Ruby looks at me with pleading eyes, but I shrug. “I’m curious, too, but it’s not my mirror.”
“Thank you, Mikey.”
Ruby stays silent, her eyes darting between Stella and her phone. She types something, the sound letting us know the message was sent, and then a reply comes immediately. Whatever is written on her phone makes her bite her lip.
“I can’t tell you his name. It’s a casual fling which will be over soon,” Ruby admits.
“How long have you been seeing him?” Stella asks.
“Since November.Casually.Less than casual. It’s only sex.”
“You’ve been fucking someone for three months, and you haven’t said anything?!”
“It was only supposed to be one time, but one time turned into more, then… Like I said, it’s just sex. I plan on ending it after tonight, anyway. One last hurrah before we go our separate ways.”
Stella’s head tilts, and I swear I can see the wheels turning. “First of all, three months is notcasual. Second, there are only five eligible men within an appropriate age range living here, so I’ll figure it out eventually. Third, I’m a little hurt you haven’t said anything. Why did you keep it a secret? Does Saint know?”
“No, Saint doesn’t know.” Ruby looks at me, “You can’t tell him, okay? He’ll… he’ll freak out if he ever finds out.”
I frown. “I think he’ll be more hurt you’re keeping it from him. He loves you so much, he just wants you to be happy. It’s not my secret to tell, though, so I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you. Stell, I’m sorry. I thought it would be a one-time thing. Then one turned into two, then two turned into weekly, and… and I don’t know. But like I said, it’s not serious.” I can tell Ruby is trying to make it sound like she’s okay. Like shewantsit to be casual and not mean anything at all, but I think there’s a bit of melancholy in the words. She’s trying to convince herself as much as she’s trying to convince us.
“It’s okay, Ruby. All is forgiven. Do you want me to take the pictures for you, instead? It is my job after all. Leave him something to stare at when it all ends?”
Ruby perks up and nods. “I would love that. Let me freshen up my hair and makeup. Mikey, you should take one for Saint, too. Really drive him mad.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never taken a picture like that.”
“No pressure, but it can be… freeing. Empowering, even.”
I think about how I felt this morning while looking in the mirror wearing nothing but lingerie. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t hate my body. Maybe this can help further my healing.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
Twenty minutes later,Stella is spraying setting spray over my face. She didn’t let me watch the process because she wanted to do a big reveal. She has me close my eyes, spins me around to face the vanity mirror, then counts down from three.
When I open my eyes, I gasp. The woman in the mirror ismebut not at the same time. The eyeliner makes my eyes pop, and the subtle highlight enhances my cheekbones. My hair looks pretty much the same but slightly less frizzy than usual.
I look… pretty.
I like it.
“Wow, Stell. You really are a wizard.”
She shrugs. “I know. So, you like it?”
