The Perfect Doll, Becca Marien [book club suggestions txt] 📗

didn’t have any problem with that because I wasn’t much of a drinker. We walked around arm and arm for a while. After dinner was served Anna Lee was able to sneak to her room, and I headed home. It was ten o’clock and Dad still had not come home. What is he doing?

I headed to my room and took off my dress, and makeup. I slipped of my heels, pulled my hair into a bun, and pulled on a large t-shirt. I pulled back my soft covers and got into bed. My bed had three foam covers on top of the tempurpedic mattress. I set my alarm and sunk into the sheets.

SEVEN

 

The next morning I woke up before my alarm had the chance to sound. I debated on taking a nap, but I was already up. I pulled on a light cotton dress, some flip flops and headed down stairs in search of food. I didn’t know if Dad was gone, or if he had gotten lost somewhere in the house. There was a bowl of yogurt with mixed fruit in the fridge.

There was a sticky not on the bowl. I ripped it off and read it. Dad had come home last night but I was already sleeping. He made me breakfast before he left to work. I had just set my bowl in the dish washer when Amara texted me with today’s layout.

I drove over to get gas, and a diet soda and got back in my car. I dumped the soda into my water bottle and headed over to the shoot. Everyone was pleased that I had gotten there on time, with breakfast in my system. During shoot days, you sort of just eat on the go. There is always a table with healthy snacks, and bottled water, ready for the taking.

 I was pretty bummed out that I didn’t have any shoots with Anna Lee. The next shoot was at a hotel. They stuck me in the hot tub with three other girls, added bubbles and told us to have fun. The girls looked at one another. I picked up a hand full of bubbles, and blew on them. They flew over the girls, and they gasped, laughing.

Bubble fight engaged. In the next shoot, I was one of the fist people done with hair and makeup. I sat in my director style chair reading a book, and eating a bowl of grapes that I had balanced on my knee. All around me I could hear teams running around and hurrying to finish their model’s look.

“Shiloh Eperson?”

I glanced up, and saw the most perfect looking guy ever. He was dressed in soft grey swimming trunks, and black frayed flip flops. Every line of muscle was chiseled to perfection. But I was used to seeing beautiful people. I was one of them.

I Snapped my book closed by the spine, and tilted my head, “Yes?”

“My Name is Kainin Casey.” I shook the hand he offered. “Before a couples shoot I like to introduce myself to my partner and maybe go over a few poses that work for the both of us.”

I uncrossed my legs, and he took a step back as if he was used to the space long legs needed to move, and then stood up.
“No one told me it was a couples shoot.”
“Last minuet changes. Shall we go over the poses?”
“I’ve never done a couples shoot.”
“Well now that we’re being honest with each other, I never introduce myself, and go over poses. I knew you were new.”
“How?”
“You look uncorrupted.”
“Uncorrupted.” I repeated voice flat.
He nodded serious, “Did you want to go-“

“Places my children!” The man in charge waved us over to a much more normal fake beach.

     We looked like little robots as we filled over to the stage, and over the cold sand. We stood in a line facing the Director. Overhead a bright light popped on and I tried not to shy away. No one else did, and If I did, you’d be able to pick me from the bunch Eyes closed. The light dimmed going slightly yellow. Fan turned on, hair blew back, and like a well-oiled machine we all began to move into position.

My first couple shoot went well. I liked doing them more than solo shoots. It also heled that I had Kainin. When Ever I began to tense up He would poke me, or tickle my side.  After the shoot He gave me a hug and walked over to his station.

His team attached him, with makeup wipes, and someone tossed him a shirt. I headed over to my station and got dressed. As Frankee carefully took off my makeup I looked over at Amara and Freaya. They were looking at a few pages of glossy paper, nodding a little at each one.

“What are they looking at?” I asked Frankee.

“Shots of today’s shoot.” He said easily.

“Amara can I see?” I called.
She slapped the shots against her chest, and Freaya did some weird side shuffle, until she was out of sight.
“Why can’t I see them?”
Amara walked over, “There not exact shots of todays shoot. Just pictures of you and Kainin.” She handed me the pictures. “You two pose together really well. Freaya and I were thinking of doing other sets with you two.”
“What type of other sets?”

“Types of set’s that your Father wouldn’t approve of.” I raised my eyebrows. “Calvin Klein types of sets.”
“Oh.” I nodded, flipping through the pictures. “I’ll be eighteen on the fourth.”
“Your birthday is on the fourth of July?” Amara seemed a little shocked.
I nodded, still looking at the pictures, “When I was little we’d have huge block parties and a corny cake with my face on it.”
Behind me Frankee chuckled.
“That sounds lovely.” Amara smiled.
“Places is closing down soon.” Freaya handed me my shorts and tank top.

She dropped my flip flops on the floor and I pulled on my clothes. I said good bye to the team and headed home. I took a quick shower and got into bed. Kainin and I really did shoot well together. I don’t really like the thought of doing underwear shots with a hot guy when no guy has ever seen me in them.

 But, Kainin was a professional, and I knew that he would help me. I flicked on my side table, and grabbed my phone. I looked at my hand and typed in the smudged number Kainin had written. I sent him a text with my name so he would save my number, and turned off my lamp.

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Publication Date: 01-10-2018

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