“Sounds like a plan.”I brush a curl back from her face.She’s brushed glitter over her cheeks to make them pink and pretty.The color reminds me of her well-fucked pussy.
Does she know that I'm obsessed with her?That there’s no other woman for me?
Does she know she’s it for me?
I lean in closer.“One more thing.I’m sure Missy is lovely, but I’ve never noticed her.It’s always been you.”
Maisy
Matthias leans on the bar, posing like he’s in a photo shoot.In his black tuxedo, he looks like a star of the silver screen.The sort of handsome heartthrob who banters with a tall, regal femme fatale.
I don’t feel like I deserve to be on his arm, but he thinks I do, so I keep my shoulders straight.
“High school was hard,” I share with him.“Dealing with Allen…my self esteem was a wreck.I was grateful Missy even noticed me.She’s a beauty queen, you know.Her parents made her do all sorts of pageants as a kid.And then she was always the star of our theater productions.I guess I got used to hiding in her shadow.”
“No more hiding.”He tips my face up to his.“I’m going to show you off to the world.”
He kisses me right there in the casino, and then everyone's jaws drop with jealousy.He escorts me with a hand on my back to the Cirque du Soleil theater.
“Do you want to play a little roulette?”he murmurs, but I shake my head.The casino floor is crowded, and the stale smell of cigarette smoke reminds me of Allen.
Matthias’ friend who owns the house where we’re staying has season tickets that come with VIP perks.They allow us to get into the theater early.We have seats in the balcony right next to the stage.When people start filing in to take their seats, I keep waiting for more people to come and sit in the seats around us, but no one does.
“Is this a private box?”I ask.
“Maybe.Or maybe I bought all the tickets to this balcony, so I could have you all to myself.”He stretches out his arm along the back of my seat.
“This is the best date ever,” I tell him.
“I have a confession to make.I read your journal when you left it at the clinic.I saw your list of symptoms, and…” He rubs the back of his neck.“I shouldn’t have done it, but you were in pain, and I wanted to help.”
“It’s okay.”I put a hand on his knee.“I’m glad you helped me.”
“I saw your New Year’s resolution list.It fell out of the journal.”
I think of my bulleted list.Glow up, go on a date…“Oh.Did you read it?”
“Yes.”
A hot rush of embarrassment closes my throat.I rub it, wishing I could wipe the flush away.My fingers touch the diamond necklace, and I play with one of the jewels until I can speak.“So when I asked you on a date…is that why you said yes?To help me?”I’m afraid to ask the real question.Was it a pity date?
“No.”His voice deepens.“Maisy, look at me.”
I shake my head a little.I can’t.I don’t dare to, in case he looks sorry for me.
With a growl he grabs my hand and places it right on his crotch.“Do you feel this?”
My mouth parts in shock.I’m in a gown, he’s in a tux, and here he is in the theater, pushing his hard cock into my hand.
“This isn’t me helping you,” he bites out like he’s angry, but I know he’s not.Or if he is, he’s not angry at me.“This is pure homegrown lust.That's what I feel for you.”
I nod, still not able to look at him.He turns to me and pulls me against his chest, so I can hide my hot face against him.
“We’re going to work on this,” he murmurs, a warrior, picking up a sword to slay my inner demons.“There’s no reason for you to think badly of yourself.”
“Okay,” I whisper.If Matthias wants to be my champion, willing to fight my own insecurities, I’m all for it.Sometimes I need a little help.“Thank you.”
“No more negative self-talk, beautiful.I won’t allow it.”
