Chapter 17
Elle
Alvarez’s drink W.H.L. hadn’t worked at all.
I knew exactly what happened last night. The feel of Alvarez’s lips dominated my thoughts and disturbed all the goals I’d set before me this summer. I barely slept. Hex thought he woke me up with his artist mania, but I’d been lying in bed with my hands on my thighs and thoughts dancing in my mind of maybe touching myself to the memory of Alvarez’s body pressed against mine in the hallway. I couldn’t stop thinking about him once I dressed and went down to breakfast. His witty explanations of Cuban men played in my head like a romantic comedy set in an exotic place. Hope flowed within me that I would spot him on my stroll to Hex’s studio. Disappointment arrived next, when I didn’t see him.
How ridiculous that I’m anticipating seeing a man I’ve only known for two days.
The time with Alvarez played in my mind over and over as I took off my clothes, put on my slippers and robe, and left the dressing area to climb Hex’s stage for a modeling session.
“Cuban men are born with two hearts, one for them, the other to give to their special lady.”
Alvarez crowded my head.
“Do you need any coffee?” Hex asked.
“I’m fine.” I counted eight chairs on the stage. “Will you have other models here today?”
“Yes.” Hex scurried around his studio. His black and white hair flopped around as he moved through the space like a madman. Since knocking on my door this morning, he’d been going on non-stop about his first painting in the series and how it would be the one to start it all. I nodded at appropriate times. In the few moments I feigned listening, Alvarez popped into my head.
What am I going to do about him? Why can’t I be strong enough to be on my own? At the first sight of an attractive man who’s nice to me, I’m already swooning like a romantic idiot.
“. . . and the color should be enough to see you all but in the most delicate manner.” Hex hurried to the light switches and toyed with them. The left side of the room went dark, then the right. Next he turned them all on, and continued to flip them back and forth, trying to figure the mood he wanted for the painting.
After five minutes of blinking lights, I had enough and raised my hands in the air. “Hex! Just relax.”
“I only have the temporary models for barely an hour. The fact that I even have them is a shock to me. I’d put in a request months ago.”
“I thought you said you didn’t even know what the subject of your collection was going to be until we sat in the limo and you yelled out sacrifice.”
“No. I always knew what it would be. I just never had a word for it. All I had was the feeling, and then you gave me the word. By the way, have you figured out what you’re going to sacrifice?”
Sex, maybe. Then I’ll have a stronger reason to block Alvarez’s offering to be amigos.
“No, Hex. I haven’t really thought of anything.”
“What do you want in life?”
“To be happy.”
Hex laughed. “Maybe you should shoot for something smaller.”
I thought about that for a minute. The past ten years with Michael raced through my head. “I want to be different than the woman I’ve been before. I want to be strong, confident, and sure of what I want out of life--and if not sure, prepared to figure it out.”
Hex clapped his hands. “Damn, the gods have really been working their magic today. This session may be just what you need.”
“Okay.” I twisted my lips in confusion, but didn’t ask anything else.
“I don’t know how to help you be all those things you just said, but these models may know. However, I have a simple fix for being different.”
“What?”
“Cut your hair. Die it. Change your style of clothes. Listen to music you’ve never considered. Eat things you never in your life would’ve sampled years ago. Just act different. Just stop being you.”
“That simple?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
The door opened. Eight women took their time entering the studio. Whispers carried in the space as they talked amongst themselves and drank in the amazing art Hex had lying around. The first thing I noticed was that they had no hair. No matter their race, height, or width, smooth, shiny heads met my eyes.
Why don’t they have any hair?
“Thank you so much, ladies, for accepting my invitation.” Hex pointed to a table of refreshments. “If you find yourself hungry or thirsty, there are food and drinks over here. There’s a dressing room on the far right. I made sure my maid put out several robes and slippers for you all to wear. Are there any questions?”