Staring at the scars, then the small makeup kit I had on hand—including a couple of things I’d grabbed while we were out—I got to work.
There would be no hiding the scars completely, but I could minimize them, and I’d been avoiding trying to do it. Maybe I’d been worried I wouldn’t actually be able to make them look any better. Maybe I’d subconsciously just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t have to have a pound of makeup on every second of my life—for fear that the man who took an interest in me might run away if he knew what I really looked like. Either way, I hadn’t made a good attempt to cover them until now, so I started.
The makeup took a while between the base, contouring, and details I put into it, but by the time I was done the lines of the scars were still there, but the livid pinkness had vanished, leaving behind a man who looked more like the one from before the accident. Tears wanted to slip out, but I utterly refused to ruin my hard work with something so stupid and forced them back. I added a dab of green glitter to my eyeshadow—Because why the hell not?—and dotted some shiny glitter onto the freckles on my nose and cheeks. Winking at myself, I grinned.
I rushed over to the back of the door where I’d hung the dress on a hook, took it off the hanger, and then carefully got into it, tugging everything down until the material was wrinkle free. I was delighted to discover two pockets hidden in the flared skirt, and I quickly grabbed my phone from the green marble sink counter and tucked it in the right one. Smiling, I picked up a pair of green silk split panties with pearl buttons down the front and a heart-shaped hole in the back, then stepped into them. I had a pair of white flats that I thought were best for dinner and slipped into those.
When the transformation was complete, I studied myself in the mirror. Shaking my head, I grinned because I matched the bathroom. I wished I had earrings, but I’d never been brave enough to pierce my ears because, if I had it done at all, I would want both ears pierced.
Rather than lament things I hadn’t done, I moved on. The final touch was the perfume, and I picked up the large pink bottle of Lost Cherry I’d found in one of the stores. Legend hadn’t batted an eye at the price tag, and I felt like the luckiest guy alive as I stroked a finger along the name on the front. Spritzing a fine mist into the air, I walked through the cloud of vanilla cherry scent that would make me smell like a sweet candy Legend could eat.
My hand shook as I set the bottle back on the counter, and I gave myself one last check in the mirror. My heart squeezed and I wanted to sob. I looked likemefor the first time since that fucking accident. I inhaled deeply. This type of outfit actually wasn’t something I wore at home. Most of my clubbing clothes were nearly see-through and specifically designed to get fucked in. This skirt was still short, but I could go places that weren’t about getting laid, and that was scary and new—and a wonderful gift from Legend. I swallowed hard.
Even if things didn’t go the way Legend had sworn they would, and at the end of this collaboration between the Killough Company and his company he sent me home, I would have to thank him for this new experience. I reached out and touched the cool mirror, smiling at myself, then rushed to open the door.
Legend wasn’t in the bedroom, so I went out into the dining area, then found him standing beside his mother. She sat on a couch with her book in her hands, even though it didn’t seem like she was reading; rather, she was talking a mile a minute in his direction. He nodded along with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
He glanced up at me and his mouth fell open as his shoulders shot back.
Mrs. Sweeney peered in my direction, then swung her head around to stare as well. “Oh, my. Well, I get it now,” she said, slapping Legend so hard on the thigh that the sound echoed in the room.
He yelped and shuffled away, and she laughed.
Mrs. Sweeney stood and walked over to me, looking me up and down. “You know, hon, I’m gonna ask a question, and maybe it isn’t polite, but do you go by he or she when you’re dressed this way?”
Laughing, I shrugged. “It’s fine to ask. That isn’t rude. Better than doing the wrong thing all night, right? I use he and him pronouns. I like the glitz and glam, but I don’t feel like I’m not a man. I just feel like a beautiful one when I’m dressed like this.” My face heated and the true interest in her gaze made me slightly dizzy. “I love the clothes.”
She grabbed my hand and smiled, dragging me off through the dining room toward a door that I thought led into a bedroom. “I have a necklace that will go with that dress. Come on. You are so pretty.”
Flushing, my hand flew toward the biggest scar on my face, even though I didn’t touch it, simply let my fingers wander in the air over the spot.
“Oh, stop that, honey.” She patted my hand.
“Okay,” I said, though I doubted there would ever be a time I didn’t think about my scars when other people complimented my looks.
“Over here.” She rushed to a vanity set up along one wall, and beside it she had a tall wooden standing jewelry box that matched the hardwood floor. She bent and pulled open a drawer, then rustled around until she emerged with a black leather box. “Legend’s dad bought me this for our fifth anniversary.” She popped the top off and inside was a round emerald that glittered as if it was maintained regularly. Around the outside of the circle-cut gem was silver lace that curved in. She set the box on the vanity and pulled the necklace out. “Turn around, go on. Cyclone will get such a kick out of seeing you in this. She’s not much for jewelry this delicate. She’s too rough with it. Gets that from her father, you know?” Mrs. Sweeney smiled, and I did as she asked. The necklace slipped around me, landing on my chest between my collarbones, in the perfect spot. “I have earrings.” She patted my shoulder.
I moved over to the vanity to look in the mirror and my head swam. “Thank you so much, but my ears aren’t pierced.” I smiled at her.
Her mouth fell open. “Well, why not?”
I shrugged.
“We’ll get it done for you sometime this week.” She waved her hand. “It doesn’t take much time.”
“I... would really like that.” I smiled at her. My gut cramped. I couldn’t imagine my mother being excited to share her jewelry or take me to get my ears pierced, and a happy pang settled into my chest. “Thank you, Mrs. Sweeney.”
She rubbed my back as I straightened away from the mirror. “Maybe you could call me Diedre? Do you think?”
“Thank you, Diedre.” Not giving it much thought, I turned and hugged her, and she felt good against me as she gave me a squeeze.
She leaned back and smiled. “Well, I’d say we’re ready. I can’t wait for you to meet my granddaughter, Stormy. She’s such a cute little thing and so smart and funny. She’s four and at that know-it-all stage.”
“She sounds perfect,” I said.
She laughed and whapped my arm with the back of her hand. “Oh, you. Yes, she is, though. That’s quite right. Let’s go.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me along, and I had no other choice except to follow her. Most people probably would’ve thought Legend took after his dad, but he reminded me a lot of his mom.
“Will your daughter be surprised?” I asked, feeling desperate for any type of conversation that might let tonight go well.
