AllFreeNovel
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I go back to the images but this time, instead of looking at the women, I focus on the man. My man. I haven’t found one unflattering image yet. I hesitate before ripping the Band-Aid off. “And what about a girlfriend?”
“Not since college, according to one DC celebrity site. They think he was with some East coast debutante type at Yale, but that ended when he graduated. Since then…” Lu stops herself.
“Since then what?”
“You’re looking at it, sis.” Mia answers me, pointing at my screen.
“Sooo, models, models and more models?” I wince.
“Basically. Sometimes a socialite or a news anchor type, White House aides and legal assistants, but yeah. Mostly models and influencers.”
“It’s official. I hate them all. Everything with a penis. Eff this whole narrative.” My sister crosses her arms. “I’m going to haveaaaaallthe sex with all the boys and ruin myself for good.”
I glare at her in warning. “With what boys at your all-girls school? When you go to college and Papá has two guards walking you to class?”
“Someway, somehow, I’m gonna do it. Then I’ll be worthless." She stands dramatically, throwing her arms wide and looking to the ceiling. “Soiled and free to actually live my own life.”
“Mia, give it a rest, will you? As you very well know, your virginity isn’t your whole worth,” I plead with her.
Luna chimes in on my computer, “What itisis power, these neanderthals lose their minds for it.”
“Not helping!” I scold. “It’s a gift. That’s all. I’m choosing to give it to my husband. And if you,” I shove my sister’s side again, “do somehow sneak to a party and choose to give your virginity to some zit-faced jock at a frat party, Papá willstillexpect you to marry whoever he arranges for you.”
“Facts.” Luna agrees.
Mia growls in frustration before sitting down at my desk chair. “Look, Ellie. Look what he’s been out doing. He’s out there, just living his playboy life. We’re not allowed to drink, dance, have a TikTok or watch freaking Game of Thrones because we’ll be deflowered, meanwhile the men are out picking flowers left and right, and getting hailed for it. Applauded, wanted for it even. And you’ve been sitting at home, reading, baking your experimental pastries and knitting and dutifully preserving yourgift.”
“I don’t knit.” I say calmly, even though I’m getting angry inside. She’s not wrong about most of that. There’s just so much more she doesn’t know. I haven’t told her, and I don’t plan to.
Luna stifles a laugh and Mia stares at me with her jaw hanging down to the Persian rug on my floor. “That’s your response!? You don’t knit! I… I can’t with this. I’m going to go find someone sane to talk to - which will be difficult considering the only people I can really talk to are family members!” She yells and then crosses the hall and slams her door for effect.
“She’ll come around,” Luna’s voice fills the moment of tense silence.
“I’m not so sure,” I close my eyes and inhale, trying to shake the lingering memories from my psyche.
“Ellie, you’re about to get married and move away, you can’t take care of her and your brothers anymore. You need to focus on you now. This is it,sorella. You’re getting married! When are they announcing the engagement?”
“You’re right.” I smile because she called me sister, but my smile grows when I think about what she’s just said. Everything I’ve worked for and waited for since I was fifteen is finally happening. “We have to date publicly first. He has to keep up appearances.”
“Oh, yes, that makes sense. When is your first date then?”
“Uh, I don’t know actually. I think we have to, I guess, pretend to meet first?”
“Oooo role playing. Hot. Love that for you.”
I grimace at thought. “I’m not a good actress, nor am I hot, and you know it.”
“Babe, you haven’t allowed yourself to be hot.”
“What?”
Luna straightens up and leans back to flip her curtain of sleek hair over a shoulder. “Hot is a state of mind. The last few years you’ve kinda gone from conservative to full-on nun.” I try not to react to that. I thought I had hidden any change in myself so well. “This is your future husband we’re talking about. I know you’re going for classy, but you can’t spell class without ass.”
“That makes zero sense!”
“I know but it made you laugh.”
“Lu, I’m not going to change who I am for this guy. I’m not going to wear the stuff these girls wear.”
