Standing in his apartment, Terry fastened his bra and stepped back to admire himself in the mirror. The bra was no longer part of his costume, it was just...underwear. He’d been taking hormones for about six months, and the changes to his body were striking. His once-slender frame had become curvaceous, his hips had flared, his breasts had grown to a healthy B-cup, and even his face had softened. When Terry was in “boymode” these days, he was still addressed as “she” and “miss.” It was as if he’d stepped into an alternate reality. “All right,” Terry muttered to his reflection. “I still can’t believe I’m doing this, but... here we go. One hour until showtime.” Tonight was his first night back at the club following his... transformation, for lack of a better word. Madame Clairmont had kept her word, and when she’d seen him a few weeks earlier she’d squealed with delight. “Oh, Terry, you’re stunning!” she’d gushed. “The customers will eat you up with a spoon!” He hadn’t been sure about that, but as he stepped out onto the stage he was greeted with a thunderous round of applause and wolf whistles, which swiftly changed to catcalls and hoots as he began to dance. An undeniable thrill of excitement coursed through him as he felt the crowd’s gazes on his body, undressing him. Sure, he wasn’t letting loose with a killer guitar solo, but this was its own kind of power.
He strutted his stuff, grinning as the music flowed through him. His hips swayed to the beat, his hands sliding sensuously and playful over his body. Terry focused on the audience, ignoring the still-unfamiliar sensation of his chest bouncing with every movement. They were howling with pleasure, and their cheers grew louder as he removed more items of clothing and flung them into the darkness beyond the stage.
He had them eating out of the palm of his hand, and he loved it.
Then, he saw her.
In the back, half hidden in the shadows, was a figure he recognized all too well. His heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. It was Anya, his ex-girlfriend. She was as beautiful as ever, with blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders and her bright green eyes wide with shock.
Terry faltered, his confidence suddenly deserting him. He stumbled in his heels and would’ve fallen if not for the pole he was clutching. When he looked up, Anya was gone, her unfinished drink still on the table.
Terry managed to finish his set, and although he thought he sleep-walked through the rest of his performance, the audience didn’t appear to notice. When he eventually exited the stage, they were still shouting and hollering for him. From her office, Madame C blew him a kiss, and he feigned a smile.
As he made his way to the changing room, his heart was pounding. Anya was connected to all his friends on Instagram. She’d spread the word of Terry’s changes far and wide. God, had she taken any pictures?
“Is this why you broke up with me?” Anya’s voice interrupted his dark thoughts, and he turned to see her standing in the doorway.
“Anya! I can explain—”
“Can I come in?”
Terry hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, sure.” Then, remembering how he was dressed (or undressed, more accurately), he grabbed a robe and wrapped it around himself.
Anya sat on one of the leather seats and stared. “Well?”
“N-No, this isn’t why we split up. I wasn’t... I mean...” He sighed, running his fingers through his silky hair. “This is only a job. Please don’t tell anyone.”
Anya shook her head, looking hurt. “You think I’d do something like that to you?”
Terry let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “No, I—”
“I was your girlfriend, Terry. I loved you. I’d never do anything to hurt you. I just wish you’d been honest with me. I didn’t want to admit it at the time, but you broke my heart when you left. I realize how difficult and traumatic it is to come out, but if you’d told me you were a girl, I... I would have accepted you. I would’ve loved you no matter what.”
“Anya...” Tears welled up in his eyes, and he averted his gaze. His emotions were closer to the surface than ever before. “I’m not who you think I am. Even now.”
Anya laughed. “None of us are who we think we are, Terry. We’re always changing, growing, becoming. We reveal ourselves bit by bit, both to ourselves and to each other. For example, I always knew you were a fantastic musician, but now I know you’re also one hell of a sexy dancer, too. So, who knows? Maybe you’ll surprise me again. And maybe you’ll let me surprise you, too.”
When he returned her gaze, the love he’d once had for her welled up and threatened to overwhelm him. “D-Do you want to maybe grab a coffee or something sometime?”
“I’d like that.” Anya stood up and kissed his cheek. “I really would.”
Terry watched her go. She turned back once and smiled at him, and his heart soared. Was she only being polite about the coffee date? And if not, would he dress as a girl or a boy?
He had a sneaking suspicion his life was about to get even more complicated. But, for the first time in months—if not years—he was looking forward to the future.