Page 14 of Sass

He nodded. “I know.”

“Good. Now, come ’ere.” I opened my arms and Drew walked into them for a quick hug. When he stepped back, his cheeks were still flaming but his smile finally reached his eyes.

“Okay, so back to the catalogue.” I laid it open on the service desk. “Don’t be embarrassed. Some of this stuff is really good.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”

“No, I mean it. These, for example.” I indicated a page of really sharp button-downs and another of trendy sweaters and hoodies. “I’d wear something like that on a weekend.”

He stared at me with an eyebrow raised.

“Okay, well maybenotme,” I admitted. “But that’s because we all know I break out in hives if the label doesn’t include the word silk.”

Drew laughed and I counted that as a win.

“But that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with what’s in here. It’s more that I don’t see many dressy options. I get that this catalogue is geared for the basics, but wheredoyou go for that kind of thing? For work, or for when we need you at fashion week, or even just for some sexy underwear?”

Drew’s lips flattened and he sighed. “There’s more variety overseas but not a lot of local options. And to be honest, many of us can’t afford much beyond the basics. We don’t always have the easiest lives, you know?” He held my gaze, and I could’ve kicked myself.

“I’m being a douche, aren’t I?” I offered and he smiled.

“Maybe a bit unaware. The thought of being able to buy sexy packer briefs kind of falls second place to getting much of a choice in packer briefsat all, at least in New Zealand. I try and support companies like these when I can, those run by trans people. Or I make do with what I can get off the rack, or second-hand labels that I can pick up cheap. Then I alter them myself.”

I blinked. “You sew?” That was news to me.

He shrugged. “Makes life a hell of a lot easier.”

How had I not known this?We’d spent a lot of time together talking about style and creating looks, experimenting with colour and shape on his body. We’d even talked about some of this stuff, but I’d... forgotten? Dismissed it? Not paid enough attention? And it wasn’t good enough.

If I’d taken my head out of my arse for more than two seconds, it would’ve been obvious to my dull brain. It wasn’t like I didn’t know Drew had to work around binders and packers and stuff. Then again, the fact Ididn’tnotice spoke volumes for his obvious skill.

“I should’ve asked more about this, all those times we talked. I’m sorry,” I apologised.

“It’s fine.” His gaze slid away. “It’smyproblem, not yours. It’s up to me to take what you’ve taught and work it around what I can get or alter.”

“Well, you’ve done a damn good job of it.” I cast an eye over his skinny black-and-white-check jeans, black button-down with its cuffs turned up to reveal a heavy link silver bracelet, and the glimpse of a recent forearm tattoo courtesy of Leon. Drew had paired the ensemble with his third- or fourth-hand red-patina Corthay Casanova shoes, which raised the whole outfit several notches, and with a carefully nurtured veil of thin scruff, a white gauge in one ear, black eyeliner, and glossed lips, he looked fabulous.

A styled moody twink with a slightly dangerous edge. Fucking heaven on a plate, and I was proud as punch.

“Today is a perfect example,” I told him. “You look dazzling.”

He blushed but gave a small, pleased smile. “Thanks.”

I leaned an elbow on the desk. “So, explain for me the main issues you face buying off the rack? I need examples.”

Drew blew out a sigh. “Okay, well, remember that Chanel shirt I got on Trade Me last February?”

I did. “That was hot, and a fucking steal at the price.”

He grinned. “Right? But I had to borrow Rhys’s mum’s sewing machine to reshape the bottom hem and the sides. I generally have to buy a size up to not have anything too tight over my binder, but that usually means everything needs slimming at the hips. But I’m lucky that I’m relatively slender there because I can wear skinny trousers without looking too curvy. The guys with wider hips have trouble with fitted trousers emphasising the curves. But buying bigger to hide the curves can leave the crotch baggy. Another hack is knowing that straight cut trousers hide the difference between ankles and hips, which is a defining trait of a feminine body.”

I shook my head. I was beginning to understand the problem.

Drew continued. “The thing is, we’re all different. And not everyone chooses or wants surgery or even hormones, so it ends up a lifelong challenge for some to find clothes that fit well, let alone make us feel sexy.”

Outragesparked in my belly on Drew’s behalf. Not being able to buy something sexy, if you wanted, wasn’t okay foranyone. “Okay, what else?”

He thought a minute. “Patterned shirts or darker colours distract the eye from the chest. No clingy fabrics, and a hell no to elastic at the bottom of sweatshirts and jerseys.” He spread his hands. “There’s a ton of stuff.”

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