Page 4 of Time After Time

“LASIK comes with risks,” Ransom murmurs as he and Calypso settle on a love seat.

“It’s proven science,” Calypso counters. “And it’s done wonders for me.”

What the hell kind of pretentious name is Calypso?

And what? Now Ransom also wants to talk about my face? I know for sure heusedto like my eyes, glasses or not.

“Your eyes are so expressive, Em. I love watching you come—love seeing your pleasure in them.”

“See, Ember?” Aunt Tanya points out. “And she’s a fashion editor forHarper’s Bazaar. She knows about these things.”

“Aunt Tanya, Ember hardly wears makeup, she isn’t going to get cosmetic surgery,” Freja snaps.

“But women of a certain age just need a little help from La Prairie and Chanel,” Aunt Tanya comments.

Kill me now! I’m 30, Aunt Tanya, not 500.

“I can teach you how to wear makeup,” Calypso offers smugly “Ransom loves my makeup no-makeup.”

I don’t dare to look at Ransom, in case he can see how hestillaffects me. How jealous I am of his soon-to-be fiancée, the fashionista who wants to teach me how to use a bronzer.

Universe,I know I’m a flawed human being, but this shit needs to stop. ASAP. No one deserves to feel this way.

“Darling, you look beautiful no matter what,” he rumbles affectionately,indulgently.

I hear Calypso giggle.

I take a deep breath.

Serenity now, Ember. Serenity, now.

Universe? If you’re listening. This is a freaking SOS.

I’m glad I didn’t look up to see what the couple was up to when I hear Freja snap, “God! Get a room, both of you!”

My heart stutters. Like really.

Any minute now, I’m going to have a cardiac event! Good thing we have a doctor in the house.

Universe? God? Anyone home?

“Wehavea room, right next to yours, in fact.” Ransom’s deep voice is full of amusement. They’re friends. We’reallfriends.

Well, not Ransom and me, not anymore, not since….

“Let me just have the final word. All of you, and especiallyyou two, Mama and Aunt Tanya, stop asking Ember to change. She is gorgeous as she is,” Freja announces. “Don’t you agree, Ransom?”

Yep, just push me down a black diamond slope and end my life now.

“Yes,” Ransom clips, his tone saying he doesn’t think anything of that sort.

“Make-up is a very personal choice,” Calypso adds with what she probably thinks is sympathy and understanding, but is really condescension. “And, you know, plenty of women dofinewithoutit.”

Lady, I’ll takefineover a caked-up face, thank you very much.

I lower my gaze and nod, keeping my face neutral.

Great, the introvert who likes to blend into the wallpaper is being discussed byeveryone.