AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mama D turned to face me before I could walk in much farther. “Will you please close your eyes? I want you to get the full picture once we’re done. I promise I won’t do anything that you can’t wash off.”
I closed my eyes without a word, trusting her expertise, and she led me toward the dresser I’d seen in the corner when I’d walked in. I opened my eyes once I was seated and realized that she’d positioned me so the mirror was behind me.
“Okay, what I’m going to do first is dry your hair and then style it, okay?”
I nodded, and she got to work, picking up a hair dryer from the dresser behind it. As she worked on my hair, I wondered what Brady would think. He always encouraged me to be myself, so he wouldn’t mind, right? Would he still want to hold me, to kiss me when I was like this? I didn’t want to believe that he wouldn’t, but it was a possibility, right? But then…I’d been wearing this exact outfit the first time Brady kissed me, so maybe he would like it this time around too?
Mama D turned off the hair dryer, and the sudden silence pulled me out of my thoughts. She ran her fingers through my now-dry hair and smiled at me. “You’ve got such silky hair. It’s going to be a breeze to style.”
I smiled at her in thanks, reaching up to touch a strand. I’d always loved my hair, and keeping it long had made me feel better even before I understood exactly why I felt the way I did. My hair had always been the one part of my body that had been exactly the way I wanted.
As she ran her fingers through it, braiding it this way and that, she spoke, “My best friend, Monica—” she waved to the picture I’d been examining when we came in, “—used to do this for me, back before I’d gotten my treatments and surgery. Me, Monica, and Ryan, we’d been friends since we were kids. They’d supported me immediately when I came out, and the next weekend when my parents had been out of town, Monica showed up with a bunch of her clothes and a makeup bag. She sat me down and did a whole makeover on me. It had been such a monumental experience for me. It was the first time I’d truly felt like myself.”
I hadn’t even realized she was done with my hair until she stopped speaking, and I felt the tip of the eyeliner against the edge of my eye. I stilled as she stroked it under my lids and at the base of my eyes in quick, precise swipes. She made it seem so easy when it had taken me hours to master. But then again, she had years of practice over me, so I couldn’t really talk.
She uncapped a light pink lipstick before tilting my chin up and applying it evenly on my bottom lip. “Pout a bit, sweetie.” I followed her instructions, and she repeated the move on my upper lip. Smiling, she pulled back before looking me over with narrowed eyes.
“All right, we’re done. Stand up, sweetheart.” I did as I was told, and she touched my arm lightly, motioning me to turn around.
I gasped as soon as I saw myself in the mirror. My hair was braided around one side of my face, winged eyeliner framing my blue eyes. My lips looked soft and were the pinkest I’d ever seen. My eyes trailed downward, snagging at my full chest for a second before continuing on to my smooth legs that peeked out of the slit. I pulled my eyes away so I could take in the full picture again. And I could see it, my inside matching my outside. What I’d been looking for since I woke up this morning. I looked exactly as I was supposed to, andI was beautiful.
I took a deep breath to stave off the happy tears because I did not want to ruin my makeup before turning around and hugging Mama D. Hard. My skin didn’t itch anymore, and it was only now that I could breathe easier that I realized how much harder it had been before.
“Thank you so much,” I whispered. I knew it wasn’t enough for what she’d done for me, but it was the only thing I had to offer.
Before she could reply, the doorbell rang, and she pulled away with a smile. “That would be your boyfriend. Let me go get the door.”
Oh my god, Brady was here? What would he think of me? I took a deep breath and followed her, my heart thundering in my chest wildly as I readied myself for Brady’s reaction.
18
Brady
Igrinnedassoonas Mama D opened the door. I was kinda worried about Charlie, but I was glad they had sought out Mama D instead of staying at home. I’d hoped I’d be there for them on their femme days, at least for the first time, but Mama D had probably been able to help them much better than I ever could have.
“Is Charlie here?” I asked, and she gave me a bright smile.
“Oh, is she ever! Come on in.”
I noted the pronoun as I stepped in, and a frisson of excitement rushed through me. I was so looking forward to the makeover Mama D had given Charlie. She’d texted me what was up an hour ago, telling me to come over as soon as I was done. I was hoping whatever Mama D had done had helped Charlie, and she was feeling more like herself.
I followed Mama D into the living room and looked around, frowning when I didn’t spot Charlie. Where was she? “Charlie?” I called out, looking at Mama D with a raised brow. She gave me a shrug, and I was just about to turn and go looking when someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned around, and my mouth fell open when I saw her. Charlie looked so different from what she’d looked like last night, and yet she was just as gorgeous as ever. Her hair and minimal makeup and the lack of facial hair had transformed her face from ruggedly handsome to enchantingly beautiful. She wore the dress I’d picked for her when we’d gone shopping that very first time, and she looked absolutely stunning.
It was then that I realized that I’d been staring at her for quite some time, and I’d obviously made her uncomfortable because she wasn’t looking at me. Shit. Why did I keep doing that?
“Charlie?” I said softly, waiting for her to look at me. When she did, I moved closer to her until we were toe to toe and gazed up at her. With a light touch, I traced her braid, trailing my fingers down her cheeks. Her eyes widened slightly, those baby blues bright as they met mine. I met her eyes, and I hoped she could see all the emotions I was feeling, the joy, the adoration, the love I felt for her. “Can I kiss you?”
Impossibly, her eyes widened further, and her mouth fell open slightly in a silent gasp as she nodded, and I leaned upwards, claiming those plush, pink lips and plunging my tongue into her mouth. I tasted the familiar sweetness of her as my tongue explored her mouth, gripping her waist with my left hand while my right ran over her back. I lost myself in her like I always did, holding on to her as the heat between us built up to a crescendo. I wasn’t sure if she was okay with more, and just as the thought popped into my head, I remembered where I was and pulled away, panting as I tried to get some oxygen into my lungs. Charlie wasn’t faring much better, and the sight of her kiss-swollen lips made me bite back a groan. We needed to get out of here. And soon.
I looked around and glared at Mama D as I spotted her sitting on the couch and grinning at us like the Cheshire Cat she was. Charlie followed my gaze, and her face flushed a deep red as she realized we were being watched.
“I swear I was going to leave, but you two are just too damn adorable,” Mama D said, and I rolled my eyes at her. Mama D might have been the best mother anyone could ask for, but she was also the worst when it came to things like this. I couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if she actually had a kid of her own.
I shook my head at her meddling ways and was just about to say something decidedly snarky when Charlie’s stomach growled. Loudly. The flush that had almost disappeared rushed up her cheeks with a vengeance, and she gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I forgot to eat breakfast.”
“How about we go and have brunch somewhere? My treat?” Charlie’s brow furrowed as she bit her lip and looked down. It took me a moment to realize she wasn’t comfortable with the idea, and I almost could’ve kicked myself. She was exploring her femme side for the first time. What was I thinking asking her to go out?
“Or better yet, how about we go back to yours and cook something together?” I offered, and her face lit up with a smile. I sighed in relief as I extended my hand to hers. Waving a goodbye to Mama D, I led my beautiful girlfriend out of her house, promising myself to make sure she had the best day ever.
