Page 13 of Doll Face

Barbie steps into the room, and I’m immediately even more in love with her than I thought possible. She’s wearing a pink, floor-length ball gown. The sweetheart cut shows off her cleavage beautifully, and the bottom—complete with bright pink tulle—flows effortlessly. She looks like one of those fancy Barbie dolls you get and want to keep in the box to savor their look. I could never get tired of looking at her, honestly. Her lips are painted a pink to match the dress, and her makeup is just subtle enough that you’d only notice it if you were really looking at her. She’s glancing around the room, probably for her table, when she finally spots me.

We lock eyes from across the room, and for a moment it’s like one of those rom-com moments where I forget anyone or anything else exists. Everything else is cancelled out as if I’m wearing those noise-cancelling headphones, but all my focus is on her. She’s the only thing that matters. It only lasts a few seconds but it’s long enough for a smile to form on my face. Just as quickly, her face falters, and I can tell she’s less than thrilled to see me.

Barbie makes her way over to me and pulls me away from the table. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you, too. You look lovely, by the way.” I smile, ignoring her question.

“Kenzie, I’m serious.” She stares me down.

“I might’ve gotten a call from your sister, and she might’ve told me to come and surprise you,” I say sheepishly.

“I swear Kelly has no clue how to stay out of my business,” she grumbles with an eye roll.

“I think she meant it to be a nice thing. She’s rooting for us.”

“It isn’t her place to meddle in my life like this.” Barbie groans.

“I think it’s sweet. She cares about you so much.” I smile.

Barbie stares at me like she isn’t sure about what to do with me.

“Look, if it’s really going to bother you, I can go. I don’t want to force you to be around me if you don’t want to.”

Barbie hesitates, then sits down at our table and looks up at me. “Just sit down.” She sighs.

“Okay.” I laugh.

She avoids eye contact with me throughout dinner but finally glances at me during dessert, and I take the chance to start a conversation with her.

“So, how was work?”

“Are you really asking me about work? Was how’s the weather too generic?” she teases.

“I was just curious how your day was.”

“It … it was complicated. Usually my sister is there to help but she’s on vacation with my parents, and I had a little issue but I had to figure it out without her,” she explains.

“Why aren’t you on vacation with them?” I ask, confused. She’s close with her family, so why isn’t she with them?

“I have too much work to do. The company can’t afford to have Kelly and I both go on vacation, especially at the same time.”

“Life’s too short to skip out on vacation, Doll Face.” I wink.

She smiles and then looks away like she’s affected by my wink. I like that I still have the chance to make her blush so easily.

“How was your day?” She’s clearly changing the subject, but I let her. I don’t want to push her too much too soon.

“It was okay. I had a shoot for a lingerie advertisement, and then Ken and I got Sushi. He’s a doll, you’d love him,” I say, realizing she’s never met Ken.

“Is he just a friend or …?” she asks, and I’m surprised she’s even interested in knowing that.

“He’s my very gay best friend. He’s about as straight as I am.” I laugh, knowing there isn’t an ounce of me that would want to touch or go near a penis.

“Ah.” She smiles and I can tell she’s relieved.

“Don’t worry, Barbie, I’ve only got eyes for one girl.” I wink. Barbie blushes a bright pink to match her dress, and I know in this moment, I need to get my girl back. She’s spent too much time not being mine, and I’m ready for her to be mine again.

After the charity ball, where we do very little dancing and mostly spending money donating to charity and bidding on things I don’t remotely need, we head home. I insist on taking Barbie home, and for once, she doesn’t refuse. We climb into the Uber, trying to gracefully slide in while wearing our fancy dresses, and we stop at her place first. I ask the man to wait, and I walk Barbie to the front door of her apartment complex.

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