“I’m not staying much longer,” Eden said. “I’ve schmoozed my way around the room, and now I’m more than ready for pajamas and my bed.”
Anna’s smile was softer this time. “Same. I’ve already been to my label’s party. I just stopped by to thank Colin Braithwaite for the invitation, and then I’m going to call it a night.”
“That’s him over there by the window.” Eden pointed him out to Anna.
“Thank you,” Anna said. “And thanks again for this whole experience. Performing with you tonight has been a career highlight for me. Not sure anything will top it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of bigger moments. You’re just getting started.” Eden sipped her champagne. This was her second glass, and she could feel the warmth of alcohol in her veins. It soothed her aching feet and the chafed spots from her dress. “I actually wanted to thankyoufor your idea with ‘After Midnight.’ It went over well with the audience.”
“Sounds like it,” Anna said with a cheeky smile. “My phone’s been blowing up with notifications all night.”
“Really?” Eden hadn’t even looked at hers since before she left her condo earlier that evening.
“Oh my God, I think everyone I’ve ever met has messaged me tonight,” Anna gushed. “Not to mention my social media.”
“I don’t have notifications turned on for any of that. It makes my head explode even trying to look at it. Paris will probably send me a few screenshots of the good stuff.”
“That sounds like a good strategy.” Anna looked down and adjusted the sash of her dress.
Eden was suddenly reminded of their encounter on the steps of the arena before the ceremony, and maybe the alcohol had loosened her tongue after all, because she heard herself saying, “Forgive me if I’m about to ask a really stupid question, but what’s a pan flag?”
Anna blinked. “What?”
“Earlier, Camille Dupont said your dress looked like a pan flag. I thought that meant pansexual? But she made it sound like an insult.” Eden could feel her face heating. She was probably making a fool of herself, maybe even being insensitive. She wasn’t a member of the LGBTQ community, but she did try to be a good ally. “Sorry if that’s an inappropriate thing to ask.”
Anna shook her head. “Not at all. You’re right. I’m pansexual, and the colors of the pan flag are pink, yellow, and cyan.” She gestured to her dress.
“Oh.” Now Eden wasn’t sure what to say.
“Camille was my voice coach. And my ex.”
“Sorry.”
Anna waved a hand. “You didn’t say anything wrong. I had blinders on for a very long time where Camille is concerned.”
Eden frowned. “Mentors should lift you up, but she sounded so condescending.”
“Making people feel small is a special talent of hers.” Anna pressed her lips together, and now she looked vaguely sad.
Eden searched for a change of topic. “Could I ask another possibly insensitive question?”
Anna gave her a somewhat wary look. “Sure.”
“It’s just ... I’ve never quite understood the difference between bisexual and pansexual.”
“Oh.” Anna’s expression brightened. “That’s not insensitive at all. In fact, I love when people want to better educate themselves. It shows that you care.”
Eden nodded. “I do.”
“So, the difference between bisexual and pansexual is fairly nuanced, and some people define it different ways, but to me, bisexual means that you’re attracted to more than one gender, and pansexual means that you’re attracted to a person regardless of their gender.”
Eden smiled, relaxing into the cushion beneath her. That actually made sense. “So for you, attraction is more about a connection with a specific person, not their gender?”
“Exactly.”
“Thank you,” Eden said. “For explaining, and for not making me feel silly for asking.”
Anna’s eyes sparkled playfully. “You may be a lot of things, Eden Sands, but silly is not a word I’d use to describe you.”
