Eden stared at herself in the mirror. With her silver eyes and pink cheeks, she looked like a Barbie—one of the old sexist ones they stopped selling because she was supposed to be a neurosurgeon or some shit. She picked up her veil, pinning it to the back of her head.

Cheryl clapped her hands. “You’re so pretty!”

Eden tried to smile. Usually, she went for an edgier look. She had the sneaking suspicion she wanted to look nice for a certain gigantic redhead.

“I have to get going,” she told Cheryl. “I’ll talk to Willow tonight and see where it goes. Are you coming?”

She shook her head. “I’m too tired, Georgie. And I have work to do.”

“Like have sex with this old guy?”

“Mario’s fifty-two.”

“So... old?”

Cheryl rolled her eyes.

“How’s the sex?” Eden offered as penance.

“Oh, about a seven out of ten, but there’s room for improvement.” Cheryl paused. “He wants to do anal.”

“Of course, he does.”

“I’m gonna do that thing where I put my hand really tight around it, then go on top in the pussy and see if he notices.”

Eden laughed. “Well, good luck. Talk soon.”

Cheryl pointed a red fingertip at her. “Take photos of you and Sloan Williams and put them on the internet. Or else.”

Eden waved then hung up. She applied a thick layer of frosted lipstick in silence. Without Cheryl’s voice or any music playing, her apartment felt incredibly empty. Sometimes she thought about getting a cat or a dog or some roommates, but in the end, she was happier on her own. Pets and roommates were for the grown-ups of this world. Even Cheryl didn’t expect her to take care of anyone except herself. And on that note, Eden went to the fridge and grabbed another energy drink before she ironed her wedding dress.

6

Eden was tipsy when she came offstage, stumbling in her champagne-coloured heels. She’d danced her heart out tonight, swigging apricot liquor from the bottle. Her head was buzzing from the music, the sugar, the lights, and the alcohol. She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to catch her breath.

“That was fantastic,” Kieran said as they helped her down the backstage stairs. “You were on fire.”

Behind them, the crowd cheered her name. “Descent! Descent! Descent!”

But that wasn’t her name any more than her dress was a real wedding dress. It was just words. Ideas. God, she was out of it…

Kieran slung an arm around her shoulders. “How do you feel?”

“Great. It was a good gig.”

“It was a phenomenal gig. Go get cleaned up. There’s a bunch of people who want to meet you.”

Eden almost tripped again. “Uh, who?”

“People. See you back out here in five.”

She made herself smile. “Okay. Do you have your vape on you?”