Paint Job (4 page)
Authors: Gail Bridges
Now I’m crying in earnest. I might just expire right here in
front of them.
“Hey! Don’t forget,” Leena goes on, “You’ve earned the right
to choose one person to recommend for the Deluxe Package. Isn’t that great?”
“Yeah,” says Randall, “just get them in the door. We’ll take
it from there. You’ll get an extra hour with us if you do.”
“See you next year,” says Leena, and then they’re gone.
I sit alone on the mat, crying. My body hurts all over.
Finally, I rouse myself and shower. Afterward I look in the mirror—my first
look at myself since yesterday evening when my paint job was still blue—and
even though I’m the most wretched person on Earth, I know I’m beholding a
masterpiece. I stare. I turn around and around. I look at every square inch of
my body—I don’t recognize myself at all. I lift my breasts to look under them.
I turn my neck and spread my butt cheeks to try to see Leena’s signature, but I
can’t. I can’t get enough of myself. I pose for the mirror, thrusting a hip,
standing so my tits jut out, turning slightly to see if I can make out the
nipples. I can almost hear the admiring, covetous voices of my beach friends,
and it’s a fact—my Paintini is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. And it
makes
me
more beautiful because I’m wearing it.
And Randall—my lover, my tormenter—is right. Every time I
look in the mirror, my heart will break all over again and I will think of him
and my sweet Leena and my loins will ache.
Damn
them.
I don’t know what I want more—the paint job or the sex.
I already want to fuck them, and it’s only been ten minutes.
It’ll be a long, long year. I must start saving money. Maybe
I’ll take fewer classes. Maybe I’ll get a second job. Move to a smaller
apartment. Maybe I’ll ask Mom and Dad for money.
I
have
to come back.
I have to.
Gail Bridges is happiest when she’s working on a new story,
typing away with a purring cat on her lap. She’s even been known to forget to
eat when she’s writing a great scene—which never, ever happens in real life.
When she’s not writing, Gail can be found in her
metalworking studio, creating jewelry she sells at Fine Art Fairs. If she’s not
making earrings or necklaces, she’s probably playing her classical guitar. Gail
lives with her husband and six very demanding cats.
Gail welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Paint Job
ISBN 9781419942822
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Paint Job Copyright © 2012 Gail Bridges
Edited by Rebecca Hill
Cover design by Syneca
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication December 2012
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