Page 38 of Flogging Faith
“We got official permission,” said Faith. “Bex was allowed to take some photos, but only on my phone, and with no indication of where we were. It’s just of my back, really—she cut the bulk of my bum out of the pictures—so would you guys like to see?”
“Would we?” asked Tay. “I mean, I certainly would!”
“It’s just your back?” asked Mandi. “Because I don’t know how comfortable I’d be seeing someone other than my Amelia naked from the front.”
“It’s all from the back,” Faith reassured her.
“Then it’s fine,” said Mandi. “And I’m glad because I want to see!”
Faith dug her phone out of her pocket and selected her favorite of the photos. The two of them poured over it, making it larger and exclaiming at the patterns.
“There’s such a great contrast with the lines of paint from the twigs, and the pretty heart and half-heart shapes from the leaves,” said Mandi. “And this photo looks seriously good—you look like you belong in an art gallery.”
“I do belong in an art gallery,” said Faith. “It’s just that I’ve never been the art myself before. I’m used to making the art.”
“I get that,” said Tay. “I’m great at cooking, but food play in a kink scene is a completely different vibe altogether.”
Faith and Mandi stared at them.
“What?” they asked defensively. “I’m not always in Little space, and I had a thriving sex life before I came to Rawhide.” They muttered something else about ice cream under their voice that Faith didn’t quite catch, but Chef Guilia made homemade ice cream, and she guessed the chef might explain somewhat why Tay had food play on the brain. “Anyway, back to you, and how ridiculously cute you and Bex are.”
Mandi reached over and held Faith’s hand. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“Yes. I just don’t know how she does it. She sees me, all of me.” She looked at Mandi. “When we first met, I was sad because I was lonely, and I felt completely unseen. You and Amelia saw me and took me out for food and somehow became my friends. Without you both, I’d never have gotten here. But that was the first time I ever felt like someone saw me. And now?” Her eyes filled with tears. “Now I have Bex.”
“Have you told her this?” asked Tay, unusually quiet. “Because sometimes, if you wait too long to tell someone how you feel about them, it can be too late.”
“I don’t think it’s ever too late,” said Mandi, but Tay shrugged her comment off.
“I still think you should say something.”
“I have, and she has too. It’s scary, feeling this intensely so quickly, but we’re going to date. She’s offered to drive me home today, instead of me having to take a cab and bus, and I’ve taken her up on that. It’ll be nice to hang out with her in a completely neutral setting—not a dungeon, or a bedroom, or on a picnic blanket by a lake.”
“Yeah,” said Mandi. “It’s how someone is in the everyday that I like the most.” She grinned at Tay. “Like how you’re always chaotic, but always kind. And how Amelia’s firmness is rooted in love. It’s made me come out of my shell more.”
“Yes,” agreed Tay. “You were absolutely terrified of your own shadow when you first arrived. And look at you now, making new friends, sassing me… Even Ralphie says that you look happier.”
“I am,” she said. “And I just know, Faith, that Bex is going to be the same for you. I just know it.”
CHAPTER 24
There was a whole cavalcade of people who came to see them both off. Bex felt slightly overwhelmed by it all. Even despite the fact that Bex and Faith had spent most of their time together, the people they’d come into contact with had all come out to say their goodbyes.
Mandi, Amelia and Tay stood with a woman in chef’s whites who Bex assumed was Chef Guilia. Tay had another picnic hamper for them—“To stop off on the drive home,” they said—and Chef Guilia handed over a small coolbox that Bex could plug into her car.
“Some ice cream,” she said. “Rainbow colored.”
Faith flushed at that as Tay waggled their eyebrows behind Chef Guilia’s back.
The older woman didn’t even turn around. “Tay, stop that.”
“Yes, Chef,” said Tay cheerfully, and then they added, “I only told her that Bex calls you rainbow girl, promise.”
From Faith’s sigh of relief, Bex had guessed that she’d told Tay and Mandi all about their art scene. She didn’t mind. She wanted the whole world to know what beautiful art her rainbow girl made.
Luna and Drake had come over as well, and even Derek Hawkins came out of his office to say goodbye. When Luna hugged Bex, she whispered in her ear. “Remember what I said, Tops deserve to feel looked after too. You deserve this happiness.”
Bex was too overcome to do anything but squeeze Luna tight, and smile at her when she let go.