Sheltered

Renolds took one look at me and immediately shook her head. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to put on makeup?”

“Uh…”

“Poor unfortunate being… Aren’t you lucky I’m here?!”

“Well…”

“You are. You’ll thank me for it later. Or now, you know, possibly with monetary compensation. Or sexual compensation, I mean, I can’t say no to that.”

Playfully, I hit her arm and rolled my eyes. “You’re a hussy.”

“I’ve been told so before. Now sit and let me fix you!”

So I sat and let her fix me.

“Glossy lips. Black eyes. Smoky green shadow. There you go. I guess I need to teach you how to do a lot of things, Flo. You’re sheltered.”

“Not anymore,” I snorted.

“I’m slowly breaking through your bubble. Now stand up and let me see you.”

I stood and turned around, my straight hair falling on my shoulders. The dress just barely covered the hickeys. The fabric clung to my skin and hardly covered my ass (which looked quite nice, I must admit).

“Quite nice, don’t you think?” Renolds was behind me, wrapping her arms around me. No… that wasn’t Renolds. I was back in time a few hours, feeling Astrid’s arms snake around my waist. She kissed my neck, my shoulders…

“Florence… Florence?”

I snapped out of my mind and stared at Renolds.

“What are you thinking about?”

The story of my afternoon was on my lips. I could tell Renolds, it’d be easy. She’d get it. But…maybe she wouldn’t. I didn’t think Renolds would kick me out or take me home or anything. I didn’t really think Renolds would do anything much about it. The words just wouldn’t pass my lips.

“Nothing,” I managed to say.

“Well then. Let’s go.”