Page 22 of Something Cheeky

“You really think our Cinderella will change Broadway?” Zoe had never in a million years thought their late-night ramblings would be turned into a musical. Yet here they were discussing costumes and musical numbers.

“I know it will if you’re by my side,” he said with so much confidence, it gave her chills.

After a long shower with plenty of body wash, Zoe could no longer smell the root beer on her body. She wanted to watch Derek’s video right away, but the soda had glued itself to her body. Instead of her usual evening routine of face creams and body butter, she grabbed her tablet.

“Mr. Bobbins, sorry I was out so late on a Sunday night,” she apologized to her orange tabby.

The cat stood on the wide arm of her oversize fuchsia love seat and yowled. She patted her head as she debated grabbing her small tote of art supplies. Once she settled down in the plush cushions, it took too much willpower to get out of it. She’d learned the tough way that it was better to pull out everything she thought she’d want for the evening. Once Mr. Bobbins sat on her lap, she was stuck.

Not that she minded. The love seat was her favorite spot in the living room she shared with her roommate, Trixie Nguyen. It was the first piece of furniture she’d splurged on after moving out of her brother’s place. After years of squeezing her hips into chairs,she’d wanted one big enough to curl up in to read or binge the latest fashion design competition.

“Wine. Yes, I need a glass,” Zoe said to her cat.

She’d adopted Mr. Bobbins from a shelter after Trixie and her boyfriend got serious. Her roommate often spent the night at Andre’s house, which made their cozy apartment feel too empty. The cat was finicky as cats tend to be, but he always knew when she needed a cuddle.

She pulled out a half-empty bottle of sauvignon blanc from the fridge. After setting it and a stemless wine glass on the coffee table next to her, she grabbed her sketchbook and bag of art supplies. Just in case she felt inspired after watching Derek’s video.

“Well, Mr. Bobbins, I’ve stalled long enough.” Zoe settled into her chair and tucked her legs under herself. The cat curled itself on her thighs and immediately fell asleep.

Her finger hovered over the email icon. What if the showcase was nothing like what they’d fantasized about back in college? Like how she could never capture the costume designs that she’d imagined in her mind. Maybe it was better to allow their version to be ethereal.

But Derek was so convinced they were on the same wavelength about the show—even after all this time apart.

“Don’t be a wuss, Zoe,” she said out loud. The cat stirred and mewed in his sleep. “Even Mr. Bobbins thinks I should get over myself and watch it.”

The video automatically played after she downloaded the attachment. Derek and an Asian woman—she must be his cowriter—were on a small stage. She could make out shadows of people sitting in the fourth or fifth row. He introduced himself and Th?o, who was a composer.

Zoe sat up straighter. She’d never known of a Vietnamese composer. Of course they existed. Why wouldn’t they?

Derek’s brief summary of the story wastheirversion. Then he nodded at Th?o, who played a few chords on the keyboard in front of her. He sang T?m’s part and soon Th?o joined him as Câm. The duet was haunting and beautiful. It was full of the love the stepsisters had for each other.

Even Mr. Bobbins approved by purring loudly.

Zoe’s entire body was humming. Her chest was so full of excitement, she thought it might explode. The musical was everything she’d hoped for and more. She’d be an idiot to turn down the chance to design costumes for it.

But that would mean returning to a world that would always ask her to compromise her values. Every assignment she’d received from her professor had chipped away at her values little by little without her realizing it. Let’s make this character more Asian, he’d said as he critiqued her drawings. He’d tell her to make the eyes smaller or comment on how she needed to make her figure drawings taller and skinnier.

By the time she had realized how little her designs reflected who she was, she didn’t know how to fix it. Except walk away. She’d walked away from the theater program and eventually walked away from Derek.

When it came to lingerie and fashion, she trusted her instincts without hesitation. Her stomach twisted and her wine tasted sour. She didn’t have the experience for this job. She had worked at summer theaters as an assistant but never had the chance to design a professional production on her own. She had no idea how much the industry had changed in the last six years.

Derek was hiring her because they were friends. Not because of her skill. There was no doubt this show would receive national media attention. If she failed this again, she’d take him down with her. Then both of their dreams would be shattered.

Zoe wouldn’t do that to him. Theater was his life. At least she had Something Cheeky to give her purpose.

So why did it feel like she was giving up on herself all over again?

“Mr. Bobbins, want to watch the showcase again?” She scratched his chin, but the tabby only snored in response.

Chapter 11

“Zoe, you look like shit. I hope you didn’t drive here.”

Reina Guidroz’s sweet Southern accent did little to dull her bluntness. Her sass paired with her drive was how she’d built DC’s best male burlesque club. Add that cheekiness to her auburn hair and creamy freckled skin and she was one of the DMV’s most eligible bachelorettes.

Zoe didn’t flinch at her friend’s truthful observation. Reina had nothing on her mother’s and aunt’s brutal honesty about her body.

“I was responsible and took the train in from the Falls Church station,” she mumbled. After staying up all night watching Derek’s showcase on repeat, the only one who’d gotten any rest was Mr. Bobbins. She would never allow something like exhaustion to keep her from one of their Boss Babes’ Monday brunches.

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