Page 25 of Something Cheeky

Zoe nodded.

“Do you want us to help you make a list of pros and cons of doing this musical?” Josie pulled out her notebook and favorite capless fountain pen.

“Look, if it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no,” said Keisha.

“Isn’t that Xavier’s motto?” Reina narrowed her eyes.

“Yes.” Keisha smirked, refusing to take Reina’s bait. “Sometimes he drops nuggets of wisdom.”

Reina snorted in disbelief. Xavier was Andre’s childhood best friend and sometimes helped out in the restaurant. He also had a little flame for Keisha. She was oblivious to his feelings or pretended to be.

“So”—Josie glared at Reina and Keisha to keep them focused—“why should you design costumes for this musical?”

“Here’s where the secrecy comes in. He and his friend Th?o are working on Vietnamese Cinderella as a rock musical.”

“No way! I lovedT?m Cámgrowing up.” Trixie’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Right? In college Derek and I joked about doing our own version of it. A fractured fairy tale sort of likeInto the Woodsbut super Viet. But it was a game we played to destress.”

“Doesn’t sound like a game anymore,” Reina scoffed.

“Zoe, you have to do it.” Trixie tugged at her sleeve. “Can you see all the little girls who are looking for a Vietnamese empress to look up to?”

“I’ve never designed professionally. Only in college.” Zoe buried her face into her mug. Her last design attempt had been a disaster due to what her professor claimed were creative differences. Right, as if standing up against yellow face was creative.

“You own the most successful custom lingerie boutique in the DMV. You are more than qualified,” said Keisha.

“Damn right. And didn’t you just do a commission forLysistratawith drag queens and kings?” Reina added.

“I only took the designer’s drawings and turned them into clothes.”

“Give yourself more credit than that. You can design the costumes and have your team sew them,” said Trixie.

“This gig has gotta be enough to help fund your new formal wear collection,” Josie pointed out. “You should add it to your contract that your crew do most of the construction. Nothing wrong with double dipping.”

Zoe’s heart swelled. Her Babes believed in her unconditionally, but seeing Trixie’s reaction to the idea of the musical—that gave her butterflies. The representation in this musical would change how Asian drama kids saw themselves. They couldn’t be what they could not see.

Until yesterday, she’d been perfectly happy with her life. Her shop was thriving and allowed her to grow creatively. Her Boss Babes were the best friends she could ever have. Contrary to stereotypes, her parents supported her creative work wholeheartedly.

Why did she have to run into Derek? Seeing him—hearing him talk about the musical—opened up the dream she’d long buried. It hurt to bury that dream, but what else could she have done? Herprofessor had asked her to be complicit in yellow face and she’d refused. That’d been the end of her career before it’d even started.

Now Derek was here in DC, asking her to do the complete opposite of her last design experience. This show celebrated its Asianness in a way she’d never expected to see onstage.

How could she pass on such an opportunity? Especially after reading the most empowering interpretation ofT?m Cámshe’d ever seen. And the songs. She’d watched that video at least twenty times and had already learned the choruses.

“What if I do this and the musical fails? I could ruin his career.” Zoe’s chest tightened just thinking about hurting his chances at Broadway.

“If it flops, it’s more than the costumes,” Reina pointed out. “When my guys choreograph new shows, there’s a gazillion factors on whether the audience likes it or not.”

“I’m putting too much pressure on myself,” Zoe admitted. “I wanted to be a costume designer so badly back then.”

“Here’s your chance,” Josie encouraged.

Zoe bit her lip and sighed. This was her chance to revisit her first true passion.

“Now about that hug that could be more than a hug,” said Reina. “Would you date him now? Without the pressure from your classmates?”

Zoe opened her mouth but had no idea if she would. She closed her mouth.

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