Page 91 of Sins of a King
My eyes widened. “You showed it to Flynn?”
“Of course. He wants it framed immediately.”
“And where does he plan on putting this intimate piece?”
“Hell if I know. So you see, I can’t delete it.”
I got up from my seat on the couch, went to the refrigerator, and grabbed myself a beer. “Is that really how I look on stage?”
Lacey nodded. “It was weird—not the pose, I mean, just what I realized. The other girls are good. Don’t get me wrong. They’re good burlesque dancers, but you’re a natural.”
I took a sip of my beer, trying to wrap my mind around what it was that people saw when I was on stage. I performed because it was fun to pretend to be someone else. But I had no idea that was how I looked.
“I’m thinking this was a bad idea,” Lacey said, gathering up her camera and purse. “It might have been better to leave you in the dark. Now you’ll go on stage totally aware. There’s something about watching you on stage. It’s effortless. I hope I didn’t ruin that for you.”
“Doesn’t feel that way,” I insisted, completely humbled by Lacey’s words. Though I enjoyed the praise, something about it made me uncomfortable, and I was conflicted about it.
“And now you’re frowning.” Lacey sighed. “It’s okay to be sexy. It’s okay to have others see you that way.”
“I just always thought it would be my mind that would get me noticed. Not my looks.”
“What does it matter if people think you’re beautiful?”
“I’m okay with people thinking I’m beautiful, I just don’t want that to be the only thing they see.”
“First and foremost, looks matter. At the end of the day, if that’s all you have then it’s not worth a lot. Flynn wanted you because you were beautiful. He loves you because you’re smart.”
“I don’t think it’s as simple as that,” I protested.
“Of course it’s not that simple.”
“And love? No. Like, sure, but love? I don’t think so.”
Lacey looked at me and shook her head, a wry smile on her lips. “Why are you scared of love?”
“I’m not.”
“You are. You think not admitting it means you don’t feel it. But you do. And so does Flynn.”
“And he’s told you this?”
“No.”
“Then—”
“I know him. But there are some things Flynn doesn’t even talk tomeabout.”
Surprise lit my face. “I thought Flynn told you and Brad everything.”
She put her hand on mine. “You shouldn’t feel bad, Barrett. Flynn is…closed off. Not as much since he met you, though.”
“Is it because he lost his parents as a teen?”
“Partly, I’m sure. But Flynn is Flynn.”
“You keep saying that. What does that even mean?”
“When you think of him, what words do you use to describe him?”
