Page 37 of The Anaconda Downstairs

“Pen,” Kelsey gently broke in, “it’s okay to have feelings for him. But you need to be true to yourself about it. Don’t hide behind these lessons if what you really want is something more.”

I sat there, stunned. Kelsey was right. I had been using these lessons as a shield, afraid to admit how I really felt about Everett. He was the only man I’d ever truly felt comfortable around. Even when he was a breath away from kissing me, I hadn’t freaked out like I did when I even talked to another guy.

But what if it really was just lessons for him?

I’d been rebuffed, jilted, and disdained by every guy I’d ever had even an inkling of feelings for. What made me think this time would be any different?

“I... I don’t know,” I admitted softly.

Kelsey squeezed my hand. “That’s okay too. Just promise me you’ll think about it, alright?”

I nodded, my mind whirling. As the stylist resumed work on my hair, I caught my reflection in the mirror. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t immediately focus on my chubby cheeks, my double chin, the roundness of my face. Instead, I saw a woman on the verge of something big.

Something scary but potentially wonderful.

Maybe this makeover really was going to be about more than just my appearance after all.

After the spa, we went to a boutique in the bougie Peach Creek area of Denver calledMuffin.I already knew the owner, an amazing plus size fashionista designer named Rose Vond. She’d provided clothes for Kelsey before. But her career had really taken off in the past year after she’d designed a dress for some kind of royalty in Europe. Now she had shops in London, Chicago, L.A., and, lucky for us, Denver.

“Kelsey, Penelope, so amazing to see you two again. And please, introduce me to your friends.” Rose indicated to Trixie and Jules.

I introduced them and Rose gave them both big hugs. “I’ll be honest and tell you that I already knew who you both were. I have a bit of a spy network when it comes to influential women like you two. I can hardly wait to see you in some of my designs.”

Rose took Jules by the arm and led her toward a wall of clothes that had a young adult look about them, like she’d been specifically designing for a teen girl. But she paused a moment and turned back to look at us. “Ladies, I already have a few dresses picked out for each of you waiting in the dressing rooms. Just look for the one with your name on it. Kels, I added a few extras for you to pick from for the Grampys.”

I blinked a few times, and then Kelsey leaned in and whispered to me, “How does she do that? It’s like she knew we were coming, but we didn’t even know we were going to be here today.”

Trixie looked just as flabbergasted as the rest of us. “She did say she had spies. But they must be like... magical fae or something because all the clothes in this place are absolutely ethereal.

She pointed toward a wall of those fancy dressing rooms where they have padded benches and your name written on the door. Our names were all printed in a gorgeous calligraphy.

“Maybe she’s some kind of clairvoyant,” Kelsey said and headed toward her dressing room. She opened the door and there were some of the most beautiful dresses I’d ever seen in my life hanging inside. I could hardly wait to see what would be in mine.

I trotted over and yanked the door open. I just stood there, hearing Trixie ooh and aww and Kelsey squeal as they discovered what Rose had chosen for them. But inside my dressing room was just one item.

The most beautiful green satin dress I’d ever seen in my life. It was cocktail length and simple yet elegant enough to wear just about anywhere. To the Grampys or a speed dating evening.

There was a little note on the bench next to the dress that read “Trust me.”

Oh, I did. I shut the door, dropped my drab clothes to the floor and discovered a gorgeous set of bra and panties in the same jewel tone as the dress laid out for me too. I slipped into everything and closed my eyes envisioning what I hoped it would all look like.

It was never as good in the actual mirror, and would probably need alterations and some dreaded shapewear, but I could deal with all of that later.

I turned and lookedinto the full-length mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. My wild red curls had been tamed into soft waves that framed my face. The makeup artist had told me she was just doing some light, natural looking makeup, but my eyes looked bigger, my cheeks soft and flush, and my lips were definitely fuller.

I looked... beautiful.

It wasn’t just the hair and makeup. There was something different in my eyes, a spark that hadn’t been there before.

The dress hugged my curves in all the right places and shapewear could be damned. I hated the stuff and Rose had designed a dress that didn’t even need any. For once, I didn’t feel the need to suck in my stomach or try to hide my arms. This dress celebrated my body instead of trying to conceal it.

I took a deep breath, Kelsey’s words echoing in my mind.Body positivity isn’t about feeling confident every day. It’s about loving yourself enough to be your most authentic self, even when the world doesn’t like it.

I looked at myself again, really looked. I saw the little scar on my chin from when I fell off my bike as a kid. The freckles scattered across my nose, cheeks, and shoulders.

And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t disappointed in what I saw. My body wasn’t flawed and didn’t need to be hidden or fixed. Every scar, every freckle, and even every bulge and roll were part of my story, part of what made me uniquely me.

“Okay, Penelope,” I said to my reflection, “time to believe.”

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