Color Me Pretty: A Father's Best Friend Romance

It didn’t help matters either when I felt Theo’s anger like radiation being absorbed into my skin. It wasn’t like I thought his agitation was unprecedented, I just didn’t want him thinking ill of Ren because of one night. There wasn’t even proof that I’d been drugged because nobody had taken me to the hospital, not that I would have wanted them to. The only alcohol I’d drank was from the game I’d played, and anybody could have drunk it, and one and a half beers that Ren himself had given me after I sobered a little. Had I set it down? It was possible, which meant I was at fault too.

“Because what?” I pressed lightly, curious as to what she’d say. It wasn’t like my condition was a secret. It certainly circulated around the people who Sophie hung out with. They wanted the details, the reasons I’d starved myself to the point my body was shutting down. Some of them were bold enough to ask why any young girl would want to look so frail and broken. That one still got to me. I wished she’d replied, “Maybe some of them want to reflect what they feel like on the inside” but I knew Sophie had kept quiet and pretended like I wasn’t sick and struggling. Did she even know that was how I’d felt inside? I doubted it.

While I also wasn’t nearly as physically strong, it was my mental and emotional health I’d be more concerned about with standing in front of the mirrors while stretched over the barre, being trained rigorously and told what to eat and what not to again. My diet was restrictive, the training during practice and off the floor intense, and the critique on the dancers’ bodies demeaning. I couldn’t put myself through that and believe I’d make it out without failing again. Only the next time might be harder to come out of.

I used to love dancing because it felt like flying and freedom and peace. I loved it even more because my mother’s face lit up every time she saw me glide across the floor. I’d been called graceful once upon a time. That was, until everything the trainers said got to my head, until the press told me I’d been too bulky to make it big.

The way I’d watch myself in the mirrors, the frailty of my skin, the amount of times I stumbled during practice because I hadn’t eaten enough for the amount I was burning, especially during recital season, was like a warning sign flashing. Nobody saw it. I ignored it. I was killing myself for everybody else’s approval. Sophie said I was fine, that all the girls had to change their lifestyles in order to be the top of the top and I doubted any of her friends believed her. Did they call her out? No. That wasn’t the way things were and we both knew it.

All that mattered now was that the love I’d grown for the sport my mother and I shared had dwindled as time went on and disappeared altogether when we laid her to rest. My passion had been buried in the coffin alongside her, never to be seen again. I’d forced myself to continue until I was nineteen, told myself she would have wanted me to, guilted myself into thinking it was the best option. It was Theo who told me I could find passion in other things, things that were safer and less triggering when I’d finally agreed to get help. Because of Theo, I’d found art.

I’d been saved.

Sophie’s voice pulled me from the potentially dangerous train of thought. “You know I love you, Adele. It’s just sad to see such talent wasted. But your health means more.”

My health means more because it causes less gossip for you to hide from.

My aunt loved to spread gossip but loathed being the center of it. Once my eating disorder came to light, she was swarmed by people who wanted to hear everything. Paired with the flare of my father’s incarceration? She didn’t know what to do besides lie to everybody, chastise me, and save face for her friends as if the Saint James’ were just that. Saintly.

Maybe people sympathized with me, but I was sure many more had judged. Theo refused to fill me in on the city gossip, and I knew he was always in-the-know even if he didn’t want to be. Like Sophie, he heard who cheated, who broke up, and who was in love. He just didn’t care, especially if talk involved me or my family.

I believe the words he always used were, “Why would I give a rat’s ass what people do with their lives?”

He had a point.

“Your concern for my talent is noted,” I told her calmly, a smile tilting my lips as I was trained. However, the following words were not in the social etiquette handbook I’d gotten lectured on time and time again. “However, what I do with my life is of no concern to you. Just be happy I’m still breathing.”

“I am happy you’re still breathing. What kind of comment is that?”

“One that’s justified,” a husky and low voice butted in. I couldn’t help but smile at Theo’s appearance in the doorway.

Sophie turned to him, surprise clear on her face. “What on earth are you doing here? You haven’t come to brunch in months.”

“Della and I have plans.” His eyes turned to me with an eyebrow quirked. “Unless you forgot? I know how much these brunches mean to you, spending quality time with your aunt.”

It took everything in me not to waver a smile, which would have given away his sarcasm. He delivered it so smoothly, so carefully, most people wouldn’t know it at all. It was how he got away with so much in conversation. Unlike those people, I knew better.

“Our plans.” I shook my head, dropping my napkin on the table. “I can’t believe I forgot about them.” My eyes turned to my aunt, who was frowning. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I need to go.”

She stood when I did, her palms flattening her typical Sunday best. The attire was flashy and bold but fitting for her personality. “Don’t think I don’t know what you two are up to. I’m not stupid.”

For a split second, my mind took me back to the night Theo stumbled into my flat and pressed me against the wall. Heat gathered between my thighs just remembering how hard he was everywhere, especially where he’d ground against me with his hips like he was trying to prove how much he needed an escape.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I managed, feigning innocence.

Sophie’s eyes rolled as a small sigh escaped her lips. “I know I’m not your favorite, but you didn’t need to plan an escape route. You could have simply said you didn’t want to come.”

She knew I’d never do that though without a good reason.

Theo appeared beside me, a palm going to my lower back. It wasn’t unusual, but the flutters in my stomach were a new occurrence since the night my mind liked taking me back to. Maybe he didn’t realize it, but Theo found ways to touch me every time we saw each other now. Our hands would brush, our shoulders, some part of him always needed that contact and I never shied away from it because I’d all but beckoned him to make those moves. “We really do have plans, Sophie. She goes back to school tomorrow.”

My aunt’s eyes widened. “I forgot all about that. Are you sure—”

“I’m sure.” I didn’t mean to cut her off, but I didn’t want to discuss this further. Whatever her opinion was, it was probably going to upset me more than I already was.

“Fine. Just think about what I said, okay? I spoke to Judith and she’d love to have you back. They’d be fools not to know you were the reason people came to the recitals before.”

I could feel Theo tense next to me, but he remained silent until we said our goodbyes. I promised Sophie nothing, knowing I wouldn’t break a vow or lead her astray. My mind was set.