“That’s totally up to the two of you, and obviously, consent is sexy, so get that first. I’m just saying, I think confidence isalsosexy and I’ve been watching you blossom like a lil’ disgusting butterfly for months and I think you’re finally ready to emerge.”
Aspen gave her a wry grin. “You’re the only person I’ve ever met who thinks butterflies are gross.”
Blair shrugged one shoulder and lifted her foot back up, placing it on the chair right between Aspen’s legs to spin it back around to face the mirror.
“I won’t apologize for being right.”
Aspen took the opportunity to shake their head, while there wasn’t a blade being pressed against it. Maybe if they shook it hard enough, they could dispel all the wild thoughts she was trying to put in their head.
“I have a tattoo above my ass that says butterflies are hot as hell,” Aspen said.
“Do you really have a tramp stamp?” Blair screeched, frantically grabbing at the cape.
“That’s none of your business!” Aspen said, slapping at her hands until she gave up.
“Fine, I’ll just leave that for Noah to find.”
Aspen groaned and tipped their head back, staring up at the chrome lamp hanging above Blair’s workstation. “Why are you shipping us so hard?”
“Because I’ve listened to you whine about how you can’t wait to get out there on your newly single steed and try having non-cis, non-heteronormative sex. Now that you’re finally single, you’re clearly nervous about it, so why not just pop your divorced-sex-cherry–”
Aspen tried to stand up, but Blair pinned them back down with both hands on their shoulders, a Cheshire grin on her face. “With someone else who is also–” she dropped her voice to a whisper. “Not cis, incredibly kind, and from the way he looks atyou, more than willing to help.”
All the fight left Aspen, and they deflated like a holiday balloon past its season.
Was that…true? Did Noah really look at Aspen any sort of way?
“What if I ruin everything?” they whispered, and Blair’s smile fell. Aspen closed their eyes and, in the darkness, they were confronted with the fear they’d been carrying around with them for months. “Just like I ruined–”
Blair pressed her hand over Aspen’s mouth, and their eyes flew open, in time to see her lean over the back of the chair to press her cheek against theirs. With Aspen wearing the black cape and Blair in a high-neck, black crop top, they looked like two floating heads, leaning on one another for support.
“My beautiful, sweet, sensitive friend,” she murmured, pressing her temple firmly against the partially shaved side of Aspen’s head. “You did not ruin your marriage by coming out. You did not ruinanythingby being your authentic self and speaking your truth. If you have feelings for Noah, whether they be romantic, sexual, or platonic, you will not ruin anything by telling him.”
The smell of Blair’s familiar, tropical perfume somehow made them feel even worse. It made them even more aware of everything they’d slowly begun to build for themself–a career, friends, and a loving support network–and how badly it would destroy them to lose one of the most integral parts of that.
“I can’t lose him,” Aspen whispered. “I have him, platonically, and if that’s all we’re ever meant to be, I wouldhappilytake that for the rest of my life.”
Soft lips pressed against Aspen’s cheek. “And if that’s all you want, then that’s fantastic, hon. But if you want more, Noah is calm, level-headed, and platonically loves you to pieces. He would never fault you for starting a conversation, even if it leads you right back to where you are now.”
Aspen slowly turned, searching the depths of Blair’s pale blue eyes for any sort of platitude or doubt. All they showed was warmth.
“Okay. I don’t…know if I’m going to do that, but I appreciate the advice.”
“I just don’t want you to limit yourself out of fear or routine. Sure, this is how things have always been with him, but it doesn’t mean they have to stay that way. You could just see where things go, whether that be staying friends, having casual sex, or dating. You’re also always welcome to try out polyamory and come join my commune.”
The bell above the entrance door jingled, and Kayla's sweet voice could just barely be heard welcoming the client to the salon.
“Ignoring your polyamorous propaganda and commune billboarding, I promise, I hear you,” Aspen said, and they patted her cheek and then obnoxiously ruffled her hair.
“Menace,” she said, smacking another kiss next to the first, leaving a dark smudge of her lipstick on their cheek.
They didn’t wipe it off right away. Instead, it stayed there almost like an artist’s signature as Blair began to reveal their new hairstyle. She always said cutting hair was like sculpting, carving away excess hair to reveal the beauty underneath.
“How’s this length looking, hon?” Blair asked some twenty minutes later, scratching her fingers gently over the short hair now covering the side of Aspen’s head. This was clearly not the sort of treatment aregularclient would get, but Aspen was special.
“Really good. Can you bring this side up, maybe two and a half to three inches, and clean up the bangs?”
“Of course,” she said, spinning her scissors around on her hand and reaching for the clips soaking in a neon green cleaning solution.
