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Bea

debatable, I think a kilt would be your downfall

Cal

don’t tempt me to buy one to prove you wrong

anyway relax wear a dress. why are you panicking?

Bea

because I just realized I own two formal dresses and one has a wine stain on it and the other one might be too much

and I don’t know what too much means at a hospital gala versus a normal gala

is there a normal gala?

confession...I’ve never been to a gala

Cal

there’s not really a normal gala

Bea

that’s not helpful

give me something

Cal

floor length. women usually wear floor length dresses

and nice ones

Bea

so much to work with thank you for the insight

okay, I think I have something

hold on

I wait. I don’t know why I’m still sitting on the kitchen floor. I should be getting coffee. I have things to do, a song to not write, a morning to continue failing at.

My phone buzzes.

It’s a photo.

Bea stands in front of her mirror with her phone raised and her bottom lip caught between her teeth. The dress is dark red, fitted tight through her waist and breasts, with a slit cut high along one thigh.

Her hair is down.

Jesus Christ.

My gaze follows the slit upward before I remind myself she sent this for fashion advice, not so I could imagine pushing the fabric aside and putting my mouth on her.

It takes me several seconds longer than necessary to remember she asked a question.