Be Careful What You Wish For (A Cupcake Goddess Novelette) (3 page)

Rayanne was pretty sure the incomprehensible words coming out of the other woman’s mouth were not repeatable in polite company. Fortunately they also sounded like they were in Welsh.

“I’m sorry, Branwen, really. But this pain…” Rayanne doubled over, clutching at her stomach as another wave passed. “I really can’t bear it.”

A sly look passed over Branwen’s face as she settled back on the bench, the wind off the sea gently playing with her golden ringlets. “Oh, you can’t, can you?”

“Um, no?” Rayanne had a feeling she was treading on very thin ice.

Branwen’s eyes narrowed. “We women suffer from this…malady, for a full week every single month. One day and you can’t
bear
it?” The last was practically a hiss.

“Listen I’m sorry, I don’t know how you do this, but…”

“Begone!”

Branwen clapped her hands together and Rayanne found herself being flung backward through the air. As she tumbled to a stop in her living room, she finally realized the true power of the goddess. She was not just a cute, fluffy next-door-neighbor with a cupcake addiction. She was something to be feared.

Rayanne curled up into a fetal ball. How on earth could she survive a week of this?

***

Branwen crossed her legs and fished another cupcake out of the pastry box. She let out a sigh as she bit into the moist, yummy goodness. Chocolate and raspberry. Did it get any better?

The sun slid out from behind a cloud, turning the sea before her into a sparkling jewel. Ah, Tenby, how she’d missed it.

Here, where people remembered her, she regained some vestiges of her old power. The tales they told of her were ridiculous, of course. Branwen marry an Irish king? As if. Die of a broken heart? What kind of pansy-ass loser died of a broken heart?

She was the freaking goddess of love and beauty. At least they’d gotten that one right.

She glanced down at her body. Humans were such idiots. Back in her day she would still be the goddess of love and beauty. Her large, curvy body would have been sought after, adored. Now?

She shrugged. Each to their own. She just never understood the obsession of humans for whatever latest fad they considered attractive. Why couldn’t the mortals just enjoy what they’d been given?

With a shake of her head she took another bite of cupcake. Nope, she’d never understand.

Branwen eyed a couple sitting on a bench further down the hill below her. Young, passionate, in love. For now. Once upon a time she’d been powerful enough to make sure people didn’t just fall in love, but stayed in love. But when the humans stopped believing in her, she’d lost that power. Like most of the gods and goddesses these days, all she could do now was watch the world go by.

And grant a few wishes.

Granting wishes was easy. It was undoing them that was the problem. That took a very special sort of power. The kind of power that only came when someone really, truly believed. Not only in her, but in themselves.

And Rayanne did not believe. Not yet.

“Oh, but she will,” the goddess whispered. “Oh, yes, she will.”

***

Rayanne stared at her paycheck in horror. “There has to be some mistake.”

Lily peered over her shoulder. “Nope, no mistake.”

“But Ryan got paid nearly twice as much for the exact same job.”

Lily gave her a look of disbelief. “Ryan has a penis.”

Rayanne blinked. “Um, what?”

“You’re a woman,” Lily explained patiently. “You should be used to this by now. I don’t care what they say, that whole equality thing is bullshit. It’s a well proven fact that men get paid more for doing the same job. Even if they’re less qualified.”

“That’s outrageous!” Rayanne had never heard of such a thing before. Never even thought such a thing was possible. It was the twenty-first century for crying out loud.

“You’re telling me.” Lily sashayed back to her own desk and began collecting her things. “But what can we do about it? The only people to complain to are men who like being paid more. And legal action is a joke.” She tucked a long lock of dark hair behind her ear. “Seriously, you never noticed this before?”

“I’ve never been in a job where I had anything to compare it to.” Which was true. This was the first time she’d worked as a woman. And been paid as a woman. Frankly, it pissed her off. As if the PMS wasn’t enough of an insult, she was being underpaid, too.

“Well, come on. I know a great place we can drown our sorrows. And fix those cramps.”

Rayanne blushed. “You can tell?”

Lily rolled her eyes as she tugged on her cute, hot-pink trench coat with big silver buttons. “Sweetie, you’ve been clutching your stomach all day. I think it’s time for something a little stronger than Midol, don’t you?”

With a nod, Rayanne pulled on her own peacock-blue trench coat which looked amazing over her plum-colored wrap dress. One thing that didn’t disappoint about being a woman was the wardrobe. Well, except maybe the jeans. They’d been awfully snug when she tried them on last night. It had made Rayanne feel like a fat cow, so she flung them to the back of her closet. Definitely not a sentiment she’d ever had about jeans before.

Rayanne followed Lily out of the office, mesmerized by the gentle sway of the other woman’s hips. Damn. Why hadn’t Ryan ever had the balls to say anything? To ask Lily out, or at least flirt with her a bit?

Because Ryan was a damn fool, that’s why. He’d been too afraid he’d be rejected for what he was. Who he was.

Rayanne had no such fears. Unfortunately, she also had the wrong sort of plumping. It was clear Lily liked men. Which in her present incarnation was too bad for Rayanne.

The Fir Tree Tavern was hopping by the time they got there. The jukebox was blaring
Maroon 5
as the bartender served huge glasses of cold beer to locals and tourists alike. Rayanne would have preferred somewhere a little quieter where she and Lily could… Could what? Talk? Flirt?

Get real, girl
, she told herself.
She’s not into you.

At least, not as Rayanne.

Lily turned and caught Rayanne staring at her. A funny looked crossed her face. “You okay, girl?”

“Yeah, sure.” Rayanne gave herself a good mental shake. “Just looking forward to that cure for cramps you promised me.”

Lily flashed a grin and turned to the handsome bartender with muscular pecs just straining to escape his too tight t-shirt. Rayanne hated him instantly.

“Two Long Island Ice Teas, Carlos ,” Lily shouted over the music. “And make ‘em strong.”

Rayanne breathed a sigh of relief as Carlos handed them two of the biggest drinks she’d ever seen. “I’m going to be so wasted.”

“What?” Lily hollered back over the deafening noise. The music had switched to something with a much heavier beat. Rayanne was half afraid her eardrums would burst.

“Nevermind.” Rayanne shook her head and took a sip of the potent drink. The alcohol burned all the way down.

“Here’s to being women,” Lily yelled, raising her glass.

Rayanne gave her a weak smile. “Yeah!”

***

“We need to talk.”

Rayanne peered at Lily through one slitted eye before deciding the glare from the fluorescent lights overhead was too much and closed it. She propped her chin on her hand and beckoned Lily to have a seat on the edge of the desk. “Whatever you want. Just talk quietly.”

“How many Long Islands did you drink last night?”

“Enough.” Enough to make her forget she had cramps. Enough to make her forget Branwen and her stupid gift. Enough to make her forget Ryan and his hang-ups. After that, things were a little blurry.

She did remember grabbing Lily and pulling her onto the dance floor. She only hoped she hadn’t made a complete fool of herself. Though if memory served her right, Lily hadn’t exactly been upset by the hands-on approach.

“Listen, Rayanne,” Lily said almost hesitantly. “I like you, right? I mean as a friend. You’re my closest friend here at the office. Heck, you’re one of my closest friends, period.” She gave a fake laugh at her bad pun.

“But?”

“But, well, I don’t like you like…
that
.”

Rayanne opened her eyes and gave Lily a baffled stare. “Like what?”

“Come on, Rayanne, you were totally flirting with me last night. I know you were drunk, but it was kind of…awkward.”

Rayanne started to speak, but Lily held up her hand. “I know, I know. I was flirting, too. Hey, I know that you like women. I don’t have a problem with that. I want us to be friends, but I don’t want you thinking we can be more than that. I’m straight.”

Rayanne’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I know that, Lily. And I’m sorry. I just had a bit too much to drink and got carried away.”

“It’s not totally your fault,” Lily admitted, her face flushing adorably. The pink of her cheeks matching the pink of her soft, angora sweater. “I admit, I’ve been…drawn to you in a way I have never been drawn to a woman. Any woman.” She shook her head as if confused. “At first I started to question myself, but now I realize what it was.”

Rayanne’s heart was pounding so hard she was half afraid Lily would hear it. “What was it?”

“You remind me of Ryan.” Lily sighed. “And I’ve been half in love with Ryan for…oh, ages.”

It was not what Rayanne had expected to hear. “Even though he’s a cross-dresser?”

Lily laughed. “Like that matters. So, he likes to wear women’s panties and lipstick sometimes. Get dressed up and go out on the town. There are worse things, believe me.” Her tone told Rayanne she’d lived through some of those worse things.

Rayanne nodded. “From now on I promise to respect you and our friendship. Just like you respect and accept me.” And what a doubled edged comment that was!

Lily’s smile was a ray of sunshine. “Good!” She hopped off her perch and gave Rayanne a quick hug. “I mean who else am I going to sing ‘We Are Family’ with on karaoke nights?”

Rayanne felt a little teary as she watched Lily saunter back to her own desk. Heck, she felt more than teary, damn hormones.

But if she were honest with herself it was more than hormones. She was in love with Lily and as Rayanne, they could never, would never, be together. Because Lily couldn’t help who she was or who she was attracted to any more than Ryan could.

Except that Ryan was Rayanne. And Rayanne did have a choice. If she could get a cupcake obsessed goddess to listen to her.

She jumped up from her desk and rushed to the women’s room. Locking the door behind her she clenched her fists and called out softly, “Branwen, I get it.”

***

“Get what?”

Branwen was still sitting on the same bench overlooking the Bristol Channel munching on a cupcake. Lemon this time.

The goddess smirked at Rayanne as she crossed one bare foot over the other. From the looks of things, she’d had a pedicure. They’d gone from chipped fuchsia to purple with sparkles. “What is it that you ‘get’?”

“I understand your gift now.” Rayanne tried to keep herself calm, her breathing even. She had to convince Branwen that she understood. She had to make Branwen believe her. Everything depended on it.

The goddess quirked an eyebrow as she licked the yellow frosting off her fingers one at a time. Very, very slowly. “My gift?” She asked with feigned innocence.

“Call it a lesson.”

Branwen leaned back with a smug smile and crossed her arms over her rather impressive chest. Surprisingly, for once she seemed oblivious to the cupcake box, still half full, sitting beside her.

“And what lesson did you learn, pray tell?”

“To be careful what you wish for. That the grass isn’t always greener. Be thankful for who you are and what you’ve been given. And…” Rayanne swallowed, “that being a woman isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Branwen’s smile widened. “Trite, but true.”

Rayanne swallowed. “And now that I’ve learned those lessons, will you please turn me back?”

“You want to give up? Go back to being a man?” Branwen’s expression turned deadly serious. She completely ignored her cupcake and focused her entire attention on Rayanne.

Rayanne couldn’t tell if the goddess was surprised, pleased, or pissed off, but she sensed that her future depended on her answer. All she could do was tell the truth. “I admit the pain I’m feeling is enough to turn anyone faint hearted. But the truth is…” She hesitated. Baring her soul had never been her style. It was too easy to get your heart broken. But she didn’t have a choice. “The truth is that while I love being able to wear women’s clothes or go shopping for lingerie without people staring at me like I’m some kind of freak, I like who I am. And I miss being…myself,” she paused. “And there’s something else.”

A slow smile spread across the goddess’s face. “Yes?”

“I’m in love with Lily.”

“Who are
you
?”

“Ryan. I’m Ryan Roberts. I’m a man who likes dressing like a woman, but who also likes being a man. And I’m in love with Lily Prentiss. And I think…I hope…Lily is in love with me — Ryan - too.” Lily hadn’t exactly said she was in love with Ryan, but Rayanne had her suspicions.

The goddess pulled another cupcake out of the box. Red velvet. For the longest time Branwen munched on her cupcake as she started out to sea. She flicked a few red crumbs from her skirt before glancing back at Rayanne. “Love, is it?”

“Yes. Love. So?” Rayanne winced at the belligerence in her tone. It would not pay to piss off the goddess now.

“So it is done.” And the goddess snapped her fingers before taking a huge bite of another cupcake.

***

Sunlight slid around the cracks in the blinds, stirring Rayanne to wakefulness. She gave a lazy, cat-like stretch and then grabbed her stomach. Except the expected stab of pain never came. It was finally gone. She felt…

Her hand drifted lower, lower. And found something distinctly
not
female.

Rayanne was Ryan again. He jumped out of bed and ran for the mirror. Sure enough, he was one-hundred-percent male.

Yanking open the closet doors, Ryan began tossing Rayanne’s clothes into a bag for charity. They’d never fit him now and, strangely, he was okay with that. He did, however, own a very fetching Vera Wang which would fit just fine. He planned to wear it out on his first date with Lily. Ryan Roberts was coming out of the pink satin closet and he was doing it in style, Lily by his side.