Page 19 of Lunar Diamonds
I stared at my reflection, proud of myself lately. All my life I’d suffered from terrible body dysmorphia, which led to bulimia at sixteen. My eating disorder was under control now, but was always lurking beneath the surface, a constant dot of cruel light in the dark.
But I kept going, refusing to give that light any inches. With positivity as my sword, I knew I’d find my dreams waiting for me at the end of the rainbow.
“Keep your sparkle up,” I told my reflection.
Done with the self-chat, I spritzed on some cologne and, after one last inspection, I booked a taxi, more than ready for a night of fun.
Chapter 5
RILEY
The purple-and-orange neon lights of Glitter Fox were always a beacon of joy. An animated sign above the door of a fox in a purple ballgown winked in a loop at the entrance.
I gave her a wave as always, smiling at the two Hecate Crystals behind her.
Witchcops patrolled nearby, their white unforms a massive reassurance to the city. It was good to hear laughter in the air.
I greeted the two cheerful yet foreboding bouncers on the door, Frankie giving me the once over, chewing on his gum. The muscly human never hid the fact that he wanted to date me, asking me out for drinks a few times. Flattered? Yeah. Interested? No. A lovely guy, but not the one for me. Anyway, he also had eyes for several other guys who frequented this bar. We’d even slept with the same fae a week apart.
“Have a good one,” Frankie said.
“You too.”
Danny wasn’t wrong about the competition trending on social media. My goodness, I’d never seen the place this packed. People really wanted those bubbles and voucher.
Pop music played at a level to enable conversation—the true blasting would come after karaoke. People chatted, danced, drank, and temporarily forgot their troubles.
Glitter Fox’s interior resembled a glittery compass with copious amounts of fairy lights and disco balls, with the ballgown fox appearing again and again throughout the club.
The north point housed the bar, which I made a beeline for. The south was the main entrance and a few booths, the west the dancefloor, the east the stage for the karaoke—complete with rainbow sequin backdrop.
What should I sing tonight? Lee and I were great at Spice Girls numbers. Should we rely on an old faithful, or switch things up with something new?
I made it through the throngs of people after bumping into a few acquaintances for air kisses and hellos.
“You’re here!” Lee called, dressed in head-to-toe gold, wearing a matching tinsel wig. He poured a whiskey, serving a guy a few bodies down from me.
“I’m here.” I offered him my biggest smile.
The bar gleamed with trinkets from Danny and Lee’s annual summer holidays. A random collection of things from snow globes to eggcups, all expertly placed amid the bottles and glasses and bar things. So sweet, so chaotic.
By Hecate, I loved it.
After serving the customer, Lee let his staff take over. He sorted me a double spiced rum and coke, then leaned across the bar with sympathetic eyes.
“How are you, luv? Danny told me all about the library. Shocking.” He sipped his strawberry daiquiri, gold painted nails glittering under the bar lights.
“I’m fine. A bit rattled, but fine.”
“This world we live in, eh?” He shook his head. “We won’t go there. Tonight is a glorious evening.” He cocked an eyebrow,glancing in the direction of the stage where Danny checked on the karaoke equipment dressed like a sailor with a purple feather boa wrapped around him.
I felt underdressed.
“Are you okay?” I asked, taking a blissful sip of my drink.
Ah, the power of spiced rum to blow the cobwebs away.
“He really bollocked me earlier.” Lee flicked tinsel out of his face. “But I had it coming.”
