The Fiancée Farce

by Alexandria Bellefleur

She was a total fucking goner. Whatever magic Tansy was made of, Gemma wanted to drown in it, revel in the honeyed heat burning her up from the inside out. It was better than the finest bourbon she’d ever had the pleasure of sipping.

There was a difference between tempting and tempted.

I’m starting to think I need to wrap you up in bubble wrap before the big day, you disaster magnet.”

Conversely, in some cultures, presenting someone with a tansy is an unofficial declaration of war.” A declaration, a threat, a warning. Victor could do with that fact whatever he wanted, interpret Gemma’s words however he saw most fit.

Tansy was kind and clever and ambitious without being ruthless. Not to mention so gorgeous she made Gemma forget sense, common and otherwise. She made Gemma a little stupid, to be true, exposing vulnerabilities Gemma knew she had and those she hadn’t a fucking clue about.

Tansy (11:25 p.m.): Oh, please. You’re enough of a handful all by yourself. Gemma (11:26 p.m.): That, Tansy, is why you have two hands.

p.m.): Ha, U-Haul. Look at us. Doing sapphic stereotypes proud, moving in together after less than

All because of this woman with wild hair, a penchant for charmingly hideous grandma cardigans, and a dogged determination to take care of who and what she loved. She deserved to be cared for, to be loved, just as fiercely.

Gemma had always been of the mind that she didn’t need a relationship, and didn’t particularly want one, either. Everyone she’d ever dated, everyone she’d ever loved—family included—had never loved her; they’d loved some idea of her. Everyone always had expectations of her, setting a bar so high she could never dream of clearing it. So she’d stopped trying, stopped setting herself up for failure.

As for feeling like you’ve failed, well, failure is an inescapable part of life. But failing doesn’t make you a failure. And I’m sorry your father made you feel like the two were synonymous. You are more than your achievements, Gemma. You are brilliant, and ambitious, and you are good, do you hear me? And what you do or do not achieve in this life has no bearing on your value.”