I reached for my phone, unlocked it, and opened my gallery, then handed it over just to watch as she scrolled through theimages. She looked at each picture like she was analyzing every inch of it, yet her expression remained neutral.
I couldn’t tell if she liked or hated them, but since I knew she didn’t like having her pictures taken, I was sure she wasn’t pleased with a single one of them.
As she reached one of the last pictures, a small frown creased her forehead, and at that moment, I braced myself for what she was about to say.
“Maybe it’s better if only you post the pictures of yourself. My account is irrelevant anyway. Austin doesn’t even follow me so…”
I cocked my head at her, yet I wasn’t surprised by her change of heart.
“I mean, you have a brand to maintain, and followers to keep engaged. Also, I wouldn’t want to mess with those women who want to… uh… do things with you,” she added, handing my phone back to me.
A brand to maintain? My social media was all in good fun. I didn’t care about anything I posted or how I looked in those pictures I uploaded. To be fair, I was pretty photogenic—I always looked good.
“Do you actually worry about how people perceive me, or is this about you not liking the pictures?” I asked, leaning against the counter as I locked eyes with her.
I was certain I knew the answer, but I needed her to confirm it.
Admission was the first step toward growth.
The last thing I cared about was how anyone perceived me. I was alive for myself, not for anyone else. If I chose to fuck up my life, so let me. And let’s be honest, Alana couldn’t have even put a dent in my reputation even if she tried.
As sad as it sounded, as long as I had enough money to support me and a pretty face, I could do whatever the fuck Iwanted. Whoever was after me now would still be after me when I’d finally publicly declare Alana as my girlfriend. It wouldn’t change a thing for me.
I kind of wish it did.
Alana shifted on her feet, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Look, you can see so much of my body in those pictures and?—”
I held up a hand to stop her, not wanting to hear the rest of her explanation. “Alana, you’re stunning. You have nothing to be ashamed of. And if someone can’t appreciate your beauty in those pictures, then they don’t deserve to look at you anyway.”
Honestly, I didn’t understand what she was so afraid of.
So she had curves, what was the big deal about it? Her body kept her alive, and that was all that mattered. She was beautiful. Anyone who didn’t see that was just plain stupid.
And, alright, there were awful people out there who thought if anyone weighed a bit more or didn’t have a flat stomach, they weren’t allowed to live. But they were wrong, and frankly, they were more than immature.
Alana blinked at me, and I could swear she was holding back tears. “But?—”
“No buts,” I interrupted, shaking my head as I took a step closer to her. “You have every reason to be confident in yourself, in your body, and your beauty.”
She sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
13
EDEN
St. Trewery Thunders
Kaan
Dude, why didn’t you tell me you had a thing for my sister’s best friend?! @EdenDK
Sharma
Yo, I just saw the pictures??? They’re so cute!
KJ
Balik’s sister?!