BeautyandtheButch by Paisley Smith

said.
    “It’s for the show, Mom.”
    Maurice handed Lindsey a couple of mics. “Let me get you
guys wired for sound first and then we’ll start the shoot.”
    “Oh, this is exciting,” Millie said as Lindsey handed her
the mic.
    “Run this up under your sweater and clip it on the lapel.
I’ll hook it up on the back,” Lindsey said and Ella stepped in to help while
Joe cleared his throat and practiced his politician’s voice.
    Heat crept into the back of Lindsey’s neck and she wondered
if Ella had said anything to her parents that would give them cause to
speculate. Not that it mattered, Lindsey reminded herself. But Ella seemed
adamant about remaining in the closet.
    Disappointment snaked through Lindsey and she willed the
unwelcome emotion away.
    “Next,” she said and smiled at Joe.
    With a wry grin, he took it from her. “I’m an old pro at
this. I can do it.” He clipped the box on the back of his khakis and then
wrangled the wire up underneath his blue button-down.
    “I’m ready,” Maurice said.
    “Let me check Ella’s mic,” Lindsey said. She stepped behind
Ella, so close the scent of the beauty queen’s sultry perfume wafted around
her. A warm blush infused Lindsey’s cheeks as the backs of her knuckles brushed
Ella’s skin. Even standing here in front of her parents, Ella possessed an
allure Lindsey was powerless to resist.
    Ella climbed back into the van and her parents strolled back
into the house so they could reenact the arrival.
    Lindsey had filmed several such family visits on the various
reality shows she’d shot, but this one seemed terse. Ella wore the same
smiling, icy facade with her parents she donned in front of the pageant judges.
    In her interview, Millie chattered on about her hopes Ella
would marry a man with a good income so she’d be free to stay home with her
children—provided the Good Lord saw fit to bless her with any. Joe took it upon
himself to further his political platform while pretending to be the supportive
father.
    Lindsey could see Ella living such a life, but in the
visions, the practiced smile diminished into a look of despair. The light
drifted out of her sparkling eyes and she led a life of secret desires and
heartache. Lindsey’s own heart twisted.
    After they finished the shoot, Lindsey excused herself to
get the release forms she’d forgotten in all the excitement.
    “I’ll walk with you,” Ella said and followed her outside.
    The tension between them was palpable. Lindsey’s body hummed
to touch Ella’s. A brush of hands. A lingering glance. Anything.
    “See what I mean?” Ella asked and flashed a conspiratorial
smile.
    Lindsey saw all too well. In fact the few hours she’d spent
in the company of the Northingtons dragged her kicking and screaming back to
her teenage years when she’d had to keep her relationship with Reagan under
wraps. While a part of her enjoyed the thrill of a clandestine kiss, Lindsey
didn’t want that sort of life on a full-time basis.
    As soon as they skirted the van, Ella seized Lindsey,
dragged her close and claimed her lips.
    Stunned, Lindsey resisted at first and then she melted and
returned the flirtatious kiss.
    Ella drew away and thumbed back a strand of Lindsey’s hair.
“Oh my God, I’ve been dying to kiss you all day.”
    Lindsey wanted to join her lover’s excitement, but something
prevented her. A sad smile played on her lips. “Yeah, me too,” she said.
    Ella didn’t seem to notice. Besides, now wasn’t the time for
an in-depth conversation about coming out. Lindsey touched her tongue to her
own lips, tasting Ella’s peach-flavored lip gloss.
    “Take these back inside,” Lindsey said, handing Ella the
release forms. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Ella glanced around, gave Lindsey one more peck on the lips
and then darted off with the forms.
    Lindsey sagged against the van’s back bumper and sighed.
She’d known from the beginning there’d never be anything real between them.
    So why