“It’s fine, Harrison. What did I expect? I used to work out six days a week, eight to ten hours a day when I was a ballerina. Now I limp around, testing out éclair flavors and eating macarons or a croissant or two every morning.”
Some people may look at me, not understanding, because they’ll see a somewhat petite, lean, and toned body. Muscles from twenty years of dedication don’t fade overnight, but that doesn’t dismiss the changes my body has gone through and my feelings about them.
Women’s bodies change for many reasons, including injury like me, age, and motherhood, to name a few, and that’s okay.
It’s part of life.
But I have the right to be affected by not fitting into my favorite dress or the new stretch marks on my behind. I like and appreciate my body.
I was too skinny.
This is better…healthier…just different.
However, it doesn’t make it any less shocking when something changes, even for the good, like the fact that I suddenly grew boobs at twenty-four.
Harrison interlocks our fingers and guides me out of the room, and before we leave, he stops me at the door.
His eyes hold mine with understanding as he speaks with a gentle but meaningful tone. “To me, Juliette, your body is perfect, however, I would never, and will never, dismiss your feelings. For whatever it’s worth, your body doesn’t define you. This”—he points to my heart—“and this”—then my head—“define you. Your kind heart and intelligence are the important bits. Well, and these too”—he traces my lips, smirking.
I stand wordlessly. I’m sure he can hear my quick beating heart pound against my chest.
With his hand cupping my face, his thumb sweeps across the apple of my cheek, and he says, “Now it’s time to get the fuck out of this weird apartment.”
I burst out laughing, so happy he changed the subject.
He looks around. “It’s a fucking shoe box. Am I not paying her enough? What the fuck is up with this place?” He fakes a shiver, cringing.
“Don’t be snobby, Harrison.”
“Juliette. Let’s be serious, this place is out of a scary fucking movie. What the hell is that lamp? It has fake fucking blood on it.”
I throw my hands over my face and laugh, like a full-on belly laugh.
When I calm myself, I tell him the story of Becks high on shrooms while she was in college. “She called me, and I had no idea what the hell she was saying. The next morning, she called me again, with no recollection of talking, and while I was on the phone, she walked into the living room of her townhouse she shared with five other girls and started screaming. I was so nervous, I couldn’t make out one word she was saying.” I shake my head at the memory. What an idiot she was. “She took pictures and sent them to me. The whole room was filled with all this weird furniture. More than what’s here—the otherroommates took some too. None of them remember how it got there, so now, it’s just a part of their history. She’ll never be able to give it up.”
He looks at me like he wants to call me a liar.
Trust me, I know it’s the craziest freaking story on the planet.
“You know what…if Seb and I weren’t so out of control in college, I would think this was a prank.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “Lock up, and let’s get out of here, babe.”
“Look.” Harrison hands me his phone as Robert drives us through the city, somehow getting us to the event on time.
I take it, and instantly, I’m smiling. “Why is she so stinking cute?” I zoom in on Claud’s face covered in flour. “What is she baking?”
“No clue. Nate sent it to me, saying to send help,” he mutters as he leans over me, smiling at the phone.
“Look at her smile. She’s so proud.” I hand it back to him. “Is it hard not being with her on a holiday?”
He sighs. “Extremely. Though I have a brown-eyed beauty keeping me company.” He kisses my head, then sits up. “Her uncles like having time alone with her, without me there, so I have to suck it up. I’ll see her soon.” He pauses. “I told you I’ll be there for three days next week, right?” His tone is apologetic, though he should never feel bad for seeing his daughter.
Still, I swallow the lump in my throat and nod.
It’s three nights, and I shouldn’t feel any type of emotion over it, although after spending the whole week with him, every night in his bed, I already know I’ll miss him terribly.
The rational part of me…which is a very, very small part, knows this is good for us because once Claud comes home,things will change drastically, and I won’t see him anywhere near the amount I do now.
With his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me in closer to his chest, and I lean my head on his shoulder. “What are you thinking about?” I mumble.
