Page 1 of Reignite Me

ONE

THEA

The February breeze sends chills over my body as I make the short walk from the store to my car, the plastic bags on my arms rustling in the wind. I fumble through several receipts in my purse, trying to find my keys. Securing them in my hand, I withdraw them from my purse, scattering miscellaneous papers into the wind.

Are you kidding me? Just my fucking luck.Hopefully, those weren’t too important. Even if they were, there’s no point in chasing after them. Making it to the car, I press the button on the remote to pop the trunk, drop the groceries in, and then slam the lid closed.

I walk to the driver’s side of the car while tiny snowflakes fall from the sky, quickening my pace. The desire to curl up and read is strong, but today is not that day. Today, I have to finish my list of chores.

Someone needs to hit me for always waiting until Saturday to do my chores. I’m trying to recall what’s next on my list as I sit in my snow-covered VW Bug, when my phone rings. Sticking my hand back in my purse, I pull out my phone. Nina’s name flashes on the Caller ID screen. “Hi, Nina,” I say once I answer the call. I’ve known Nina since college. We don’t talk much, but when she calls, she needs a favor.

“My darling Thea, how soon can you meet me?” The way Nina speaks sounds like a plea.

“Depends on why you need me.” Nina is one of the most prestigious photographers in the Seattle area, and when she asks you to be at her studio, you better clear your schedule. I don’t go there often, but when she pictures something, she acts on it.

“Well, because it’s Saturday. Another episode ofMeet Your Match Saturdayis in order. And I believe you’ll like the candidate I have chosen.”

I let out a heavy sigh while leaning forward to smack my head on the steering wheel. Great.Meet Your Match Saturdayis her version of playing Cupid. I have seen some of these scenarios fail. She has never considered me to be part of this segment. Which means she sees potential for me and this contender.

“When do you need me there?” I ask.

Her shrill screech has me pulling the phone away from my ear, and then she says, “He’ll be here around five thirty, but I’ll need you here for hair and makeup in a half hour.”

There is no way for me to reply before she ends the phone. A third of the afternoon has passed. The woman must be completely insane if she thinks it will take over two hours to get me ready, but I suppose I should see what she has in store.

My apartment is a short drive away, so I turn on the car and toss my phone back into my purse before driving off. There’s no way I can leave my groceries in the trunk of my car while I do the photoshoot.

Once back at my apartment, I unload my groceries from my car to the apartment and unload them. After I finish, I glance at the clock, seeing I have to be at the studio in fifteen minutes, and it usually takes twenty to thirty to get there. Oops. Looks like Nina will chew my ass out. It won't be the first time.

Once back in the car, I head towards the outskirts of town, down to the abandoned warehouse she bought to renovate into her studio. There was little traffic today, so I was only ten minutes late, rather than twenty. Hell yeah. Record time for me.

As I step out of my car, I hear her assistant yell at me from across the gravel parking lot. I don’t pay much attention to her though, seeing as she’s only here for college credit and nothing else. Rolling my eyes, I walk past her, ignoring her comments about how Nina’s pissed.

“Thea! Where the hell have you been?” Nina yells from the dressing rooms, her voice echoing in the enormous building. She has her place decorated to her liking, but it’s only in the main room of the building that she’s decorated.

In the right corner she’s made to look as though you’re in the master suite of a five-star hotel, and then the next corner is set up like the master bathroom. With a soaker tub and running water, it makes for some sexy and bubbly photos. They arranged the left corner like a living room. I swear you would think someone lived here with the way she has it laid out.

“Nina, you called me while I was at the grocery store. I’m here now. Plus, didn’t you say he won’t be here until five thirty? It’s only four. You can still get me ready before he comes.”

She doesn’t pay any mind to what I’ve said. Instead, she pulls me by the arm then shoves me into the make-up chair. Her make-up artist comes over and gets to work. Figuring I shouldn’t talk anymore, I shut my mouth and let the artist do her job.

An hour passes, and my hair and makeup are finished, meaning we have a half hour until this random guy shows up for our shoot. I’m going to admit, I’m only slightly nervous. I’ve seen these shoots go two different ways. Part of me hopes it goes the first option. In the past, watching those moments unfold has given me chills, in hopes of one day experiencing it myself. And here I am.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I hardly recognize myself with how my face is caked in makeup, but it’s part of the process, so I say nothing. Gold eyeshadow dusts my lids, while my eyeliner has the perfect wing, one that I could never perfect on my own. The tones cause the gold hues in my hazel eyes to shimmer. Fake eyelashes are glued to my real ones, making them look fuller than ever. They coated my lips with a bright-red lipstick, one color I wouldn’t choose, but now seeing myself with it, it’s growing on me.

My black hair hangs loose around my shoulder in big curls. As I turn my head to inspect it, the light catches it in such a way that the black hue looks almost like a dark blue.

“Wow, Natasha did an amazing job! Now it’s wardrobe time. You know the drill by now—lingerie underneath a sleek dress or silk robe,” Nina demands.

Slipping off the makeup chair, I walk over to the clothing rack, where Nina has hung a multitude of options for me to choose from. One by one, I pick through the choices before me, most of them too plain for me. I want something that’ll display who I am insideandoutside the bedroom. The set on the very end catches my attention. Perfect.

Pulling it off the rack, I flash it towards Nina, who smirks and gives me a small nod of approval. Slipping into the bathroom, I change into the set; it isn’t anything too crazy, just a red slip. Nina has different choices, but this is spot-on. It shows off my body, but also leaves room for imagination. Just the way I like it. Being close to a stranger, I figure more coverage is safer.

“Thea! Get your ass out here!” Nina yells from outside the door. One more glance at myself in the mirror before sighing. Here goes nothing. Pulling the door open, I find both Nina and Natasha standing together waiting for the big reveal. Their jaws hit the floor as they give me a once-over, causing a warmth to creep over my cheeks.

“How does this look?” I shyly ask. Damn, since when am I ever shy? I should be bouncing off the walls with nervousness. But I feel like hiding in the bathroom rather than doing the shoot.

“Fuck, girl! You look incredible. He just might fuck you the moment he sees you,” Nina comments.

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