Page 1 of Wanted Mountain Man

Chapter 1

April

“That’s it darlin, straight down the camera”

Click. Click. Click.

It’s a small room filled with people. The photographer is so small and skinny, if I sat on him I would crush him. It’s loud, bright, and I feel like everybody is judging me.

“More pouting. Can you be more sexy?”

I’m trying todo sexyas best I can. I stuck out my butt even though it feels like a move best kept for the bathroom. I’m doing duck lips so hard I’m about to start quacking. Batting my eyelashes. Pointing one foot. Hand on hip. All while pretending I’m comfortable in the lace corset thing that has squished my boobs up to my throat and has created fat rolls at the top of my thighs.

I’m a curvy girl. The shoot asked for a plus-sized model. But I didn’t know it would be like this. My curls are hairsprayed and the make up is thick. And to the left of me is a line of other girls, waiting their turn.

The photographer stops clicking his camera and lets out a frustrated sigh. “It’s just not sexy. I want you to give me that look like you know you have the power to turn men on. Like in sex, when you feel beautiful and worshiped. Give me sexy. Give methe come to bed look like we’re just about to make love and you know it’s going to be fantastic.”

I really do try. I make my eyes go wide, try to smile and pout at the same time, I try everything I think might be sexy.

“No. No. No.” He puts his camera down. “You look constipated. Not sexy. I can not work with this.”

His words sting but I refuse to let this bastard see me cry. It’s not until I am out of there and in my car do I let the tears fall.

* * * * *

“It was awful, Trin. I wish you’d been there, you would have stood up to that photographer.”

Trinity is my best friend and she has been letting me stay with her since I got kicked out of my apartment. She plonks herself down next to me on the couch.

I let out a sad little sigh. “How am I meant to pretend to be sexy, when…well, you know…”

Trin is the only one I have confided my dreaded secret to. I’m a twenty-three year old virgin. It’s so embarrassing. It feels like all my friends had their first time in high school, or at least, shortly after high school. And I tried. But, the sad fact is that nobody wanted me. I was too fat for any of the boys to show any interest.

“But you’ve seen movies, April, can’t you just pretend?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know how it feels. The photographer went on about giving him that look when a guy likes you. How can I do that when I’ve never experienced that feeling.”

Trinity shrugs as she adjusts her purple shawl. She is the ultimate of cool. I sleep in her second room that she uses as awardrobe, so I go to sleep at night surrounded by all the cool, alternative fashion that she collects.

“So no modeling then. What’s next on the list?”

I shake my head with despair. “I tried being a barista and the machine kept exploding.” I start counting off jobs on my fingers. “Bartending, they said I was too big for the hussle behind the bar. Writing, well, we both know I’m not great with words.”

We both sit back and sigh.

“I have to lose my virginity.” I announce.

“I don’t think having sex will help you write better.”

“No. It’s this big thing though. This big, dark cloud that follows me around. I’ve got no confidence. I don’t know how to flirt with a guy or what to say. Any time I meet a nice guy I’m wondering if he can tell I’ve never had sex. It’s all I think about!”

“Hmmm.” Trinity appears to think about it. Then her eyes flashing, she turns to me. “Doesn’t your Aunt live up in the mountains somewhere? You should go there. Mountain Men are known to be good loversandthey like curvy girls.”

“Just do it with a stranger?” I ask, thinking about it.

“That’s the best way. You don’t have to worry about if it’s bad because you’ll never see the guy again.”

It would be good to get it over and done with. And it’s not like I have anything else to do at the moment. “Okay. I’ll do it!”

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