Chapter Text
All her muscles ached from the long hours spent working on her next novel. Her boss had been very clear: she needed to finish this chapter so Penelope’s drafts could finally be sent to the publisher. It was her dream, to become a writer. Throughout her life, she had struggled with social interactions, being shy and plagued by insecurities. Some of it stemmed from her mother, but many people had also made sure she knew her body wasn’t the kind that girls were “supposed” to have, or that boys wanted. Writing had become her escape, a way to show her wit, intelligence, and creativity. She had always been better with a pen or a keyboard.
Over the years, writing had given her confidence. It allowed her to say things she would never say in real life, where people didn’t know who was behind the words. She was free to be her true self, without the judgement of others. That boost of confidence was starting to impact her social life, and, more specifically, her love life.
As she stretched after hours of writing and glanced at her laptop, which now read 1 AM, she decided it was time to call it a night.
She walked over to her bed and picked up her phone, which had been lying on top of the blankets. There were several notifications. A few messages from the WhatsApp group with her sisters, who were excited about Philippa’s wedding in two days. Some messages from her mother, reminding her about tomorrow’s final bridesmaid dress fitting. A TikTok from her best friend and soulmate, Eloise. And three Snapchat notifications.
One was from her friend, Edwina, showing off her new nails after her afternoon appointment. Another was from Alfred, the man she had been dating for a few weeks. She opened his message and saw a picture of him wearing the suit he’d picked out for the wedding. Penelope and Alfred had been dating for about three weeks, and when her mother wouldn’t stop nagging her about finding a good match at Philippa’s wedding, Penelope had asked Alfred to be her plus-one.
In the suit, Alfred looked handsome. He was tall, fit, with blonde hair. He seemed to genuinely enjoy her personality, always finding her funny and clever, constantly praising her for her mind. And for some reason, though she didn’t fully understand why, he seemed to like her body too, never missing an opportunity to compliment her. She had felt his physical attraction during their kisses or when they cuddled while watching a movie. However, they hadn’t gone beyond that. She needed time to be sure he was truly into her and wouldn’t be turned off by what he’d see if they became more intimate. She knew she was shorter and curvier than most women, and she believed men preferred taller, slimmer figures. But recently, she had decided that this was her body, and she would learn to love it as it was. Her newfound confidence had helped her to embrace herself, body and mind.
She smiled at his picture and replied:
Penelope: What an amazing outfit for such a handsome man. I’m going to have to fight to keep your attention at the wedding !
The third message was from her other best friend, Colin, Eloise’s brother. He had sent a breathtaking photo of a sunset over the sea, with stunning orange and gold hues reflecting off the clear blue water. He was travelling in Cyprus. Colin was a photojournalist who travelled the world, writing about food, culture, landscapes, and traditions. Over the past few years, he had been abroad more often than in London. They stayed in touch through messages and phone calls, sending each other photos, and this time was no different. She looked at the picture, admiring its beauty. Colin was incredibly talented.
She hadn’t yet opened his message, which read:
Colin: I’ll never get used to the splendour of this world
She replied:
Penelope: What talent! Maybe you should consider becoming a photographer or a journalist… oh wait, a photojournalist! 😉 Hope you never tire of those views
She chuckled on her way to the bathroom. After a hot shower that soothed her aching muscles, she started her nighttime routine and reflected on her life. Everything seemed to be falling into place. She was about to land her dream job, had amazing friends, and a man who made her feel beautiful. And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to believe him when he said she was the most amazing woman he’d ever met, that he loved her body, and that she was beautiful.
On her way to bed, she stopped in front of the tall mirror in her bedroom. She looked at herself for a moment, her hair, her face, her body, and her pyjamas. Her hair, freshly washed, hung loose around her shoulders. Her face was makeup-free, and under the soft lighting, her eyes seemed to sparkle, while the warmth from the shower had left her cheeks slightly pink. She couldn’t help but think she looked beautiful.
Her gaze dropped to her body. She was wearing a tank top that was a bit too tight, making her breasts look great. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and the outline of her nipples was visible through the fabric. They were slightly erect, partly from the sensation of the fabric and partly from the lack of physical attention she’d had recently. Her shorts hugged her curves, accentuating her thighs and butt. The creamy skin of her legs contrasted with the deep blue of her shorts.
She felt sexy.
On a whim, she decided to take a picture and send it to Alfred. He had been a perfect gentleman so far, and sending him this picture felt like a natural next step in their relationship. She stood in front of the mirror, legs slightly apart, back arched to push her breasts together, and butt visible in the reflection. She bit her lower lip and looked straight into the camera.
More than satisfied with the result, she hoped the picture would have an impact on Alfred. She chose not to write a message, letting the photo speak for itself.
After one last glance at the picture, she hit “send” to her last contact on Snapchat.
She closed the app, too nervous to wait for Alfred’s reaction. But a few minutes later, she got a notification on her phone... from Colin Bridgerton.