The Last Little Blue Envelope Read Online Free

issue with the objectification of women in Cinderella , and the reliance on shoes as a means of identification. Surely you understand.”
    “You got fired?”
    “Fired is such an accurate word. Also, I didn’t like being the back half of a horse.”
    Ginny smiled and sat back into the couch. Rain was coming in through the half-opened window, but Keith didn’t notice or care. She reached into her bag and pulled out the present.
    “What’s this?” he asked. “Is it a lump of money? Did you bring me money? You want to back my show again, don’t you?”
    “Yes,” she said. “It’s a lump of money.”
    Keith held the gift for a moment and squeezed it lightly.
    “You’re embarrassing me.” He looked down at the package. “I didn’t know you were coming. I don’t have anything for you.”
    This was definitely a first—Keith, embarrassed . His cheeks even flushed a bit.
    “Open it!” she said.
    He tore through the paper, revealing the blue cover. He looked puzzled for a moment, then ripped off a few more strips until it was fully revealed. For a moment, he said nothing at all, just opened it and looked at the pages, the illustrations. When he finally looked at her, his eyes were wide and his expression raw and open.
    “I don’t know what to say, Gin. It’s . . . it’s lovely.”
    His embarrassment was catching. Ginny felt her face get hot, and she found that she was gripping bunches of her skirt in her fists.
    “I know it’s one of your favorites,” she said.
    “Well, who doesn’t like a romantic suicide pact?”
    “Only bad people,” Ginny said.
    “Exactly.” Keith looked up partway, avoiding her face, instead tracing the outline of her new haircut. “Your hair. You changed it. You look like a news presenter.”
    “Is that a good thing?”
    “Clearly you don’t know about my childhood obsession with the woman who did the weather. My heart still flutters when I hear the word ‘precipitation.’ I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without braids. I thought your hair just grew that way.”
    He turned back to the book and flipped the pages for a few moments. From the way his eyes were flicking across the pages, Ginny could see he wasn’t reading. He was thinking. The moments ticked on. Ginny managed to inch her way closer to him, until she was right at his shoulder. He didn’t turn to her directly, but he was moving toward her in barely perceptible increments. This was it. Her whole body was tingling. She could feel a kiss coming, the way you could feel a heavy rain approaching.
    The door opened downstairs, causing them both to start a bit. A female voice called up a muffled hello. Keith glanced toward the noise, set the book on the coffee table, and stood up. Ginny assumed this horrible interrupting person was here for an audition until a voice called from the downstairs hall.
    “It is foul out there! David had better thank me! I stayed late for him and got stuck in the rain!”
    “Fiona?” Ginny mouthed.
    “No.” Keith shook his head and crossed the room. “She’s gone. Been gone for ages. They split up right after you left. That’s why the grass out front started growing again.”
    “He’s got a new girlfriend?” she said quietly. “Thank god. You must be happy.”
    “Yeah. He does. It’s a relief. She’s a lot nicer. But then, your average angry snake is nicer than Fiona. I’m sure she’s happier wherever she is now, burning orphans or whatever she does with her time.”
    There was a quick footfall on the steps and then a girl appeared in the doorway. The new girl was extremely pretty. Like David, she had very dark black skin. She was a few inches shorter than Ginny, with skinny jeans, scuffed-up brown boots, and an enormous, slightly ragged gray sweater. She wore no makeup, but her cheeks glowed brightly from the cold and damp. Her hair was a free-flowing halo of spirals that rose up high, at least six inches or more, all around her head. Moisture from the rain was trapped