You're a diamond, dear

“It’s very artist chic.”

“Oh he’s so adorable though! Shoes and the like can be replaced. We are going to have so much fun walking our babies together.”

“Well of course I’d love to. I want to hear all about your trip!”

“How did you manage to lose it? It’s not exactly a small bag. It’s got to be somewhere. ” Megan said, hand that wasn’t tightly gripping her phone going to her forehead in absolute exasperation. “No. I’m not interested in compensation. I’m interested in my belongings.” Her attempt to keep her tone calm was clearly beginning to fail her. “No, I won’t -” She started, stopping once she heard the abrupt ‘click’, followed by the sound of a dead line. With a frustrated growl, she tossed the phone. She hadn’t noticed there was somewhere near, until the small device clattered to a stop near their feet. Eyes growing wide in embarrassment, she sighed. “I’m sorry. My flight only just landed a few hours ago and they’ve lost my bags and… well, it’s no excuse. Are you alright?”

Mostly Lacey was just surprised when the phone came skidding to a halt in front of her but that surprise did include her dropping her coffee. The splash hit her legs and she let out a shriek. “I’m fine. It’s fine,” Lacey assured her swiftly as she shuffled through her bag for a napkin to use on her scalding skin. Finally finding one she held out the purse to the other girl. “Please hold this for a moment,” she requested through gritted teeth before she crouched down the pat gently at the angry red skin. “It’s really fine. I would have been angry too. It’s not your fault.”

“Okay grumpy gills,” Lacey mocked as she saw the familiar face. Alex was a local and someone she definitely appreciated. They were straightforward and that was a quality Lacey loved. “You know my skin is far too perfect to be marred. How come I can’t just stop by to see you?”

Having tried massages for stress before Lacey knew that she would find some relief from this, even if she was meeting an all new massage therapist. As she rounded the corner and came to face the girl Lacey was surprised to find that she looked very young and attractive. “I’m Lacey,” she started unsure of what to say. “Except you probably already know that since I made an appointment and all.”

“Well, in that case I take a ton of pride in being dashing. If I get that label in the end.” Shane replied with a smile still on his lips. “I promise I’m a good time. You won’t regret waiting an hour.” He said with a chuckle, his eyebrows wiggling playfully. “There’s something about painting, even if it’s not to be a piece of art, but just painting, that’s so freeing. You just get it all out. It’s like therapy for me. Of course, one second.” He said before disappearing into a door at the back of the bar. He came back, setting the book in front of her. “It’s mostly nature and some people, animals. You know, whatever happened to be around at the time. Nothing too fancy.”

“I think you’re well on your way to earning it,” Lacey agreed as her eyes flicked downwards for a fraction of a second and she looked back up at him through her lashes. “I have no trouble believing you on that,” she tacked on as she bit down on her lip just slightly. “You know I think that’s what it’s like for me actually. It just feels like everything else disappears,” Lacey murmured before nodding as he walked off and then came back with a book. For a moment she hesitated as if she felt unsure of whether or not he really wanted her to look but then he explained what was in there and she opened it. “Go do some work already! I have things to look at!”

“Crap, I’m sorry, today just hasn’t been a very good day. I guess.” 

“It happens. I can’t blame you for the way you deal with it.”

“Oh, you──”he rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you find anyone to pop your golden cherry yet? Youknow what happens if you keep talking to me, people will assume things aboutyour reputation.”

“Don’t worry they already assume things thanks to my father. I love getting to prove them wrong.”