Build a Man by Talli Roland Page B

“They stay around for a month
or so, see that I’m not the type to go out partying or dine in posh
restaurants, get bored of me, and go off again.”
    Hmm. “And you
think redesigning yourself will help?”
    “Well, yeah. I
need to attract the right women. Right now, I only get those who
are interested in this.” Jeremy gestures around at the house. “If I
look good, too, I’ll get women who are interested in me .” He
thumps his chest. “Then I’ll have the complete package.”
    “But Jeremy,
you got Julia without cosmetic surgery.” I want to hit myself when
the words slip out. What am I doing? I shouldn’t be planting doubts
in his mind.
    Jeremy shakes
his head. “I didn’t look like I do now, Serenity. I was in great
shape from all the work I was doing.”
    “Right, right.
I see what you mean.” I nod, and a silence falls between us. I
don’t know what more to ask, and I feel kind of weird probing him
about Julia, even if I do have therapeutic license to be nosy. I’ll
leave it for now and circle back later.
    “Well!” I stand
and grab a shopping bag. “New look, new life. Let’s see how you can
shape your future with clothes. Even if you haven’t begun your
physical transformation yet, there’s nothing stopping you from
dressing for the man you want to be.” I almost roll my eyes at
myself, but Jeremy’s just nodding along as if I’m making sense.
God, I must be better at this therapy thing than I thought.
    I pull out the
hideous salmon dress shirt, along with a pair of skinny-fit navy
trousers. “Here, try these.”
    Jeremy looks at
me as if I’ve lost my mind. “That top is pink . And you do
realise skinny fit is for skinny people, right?”
    “No, this style
can be worn by anyone, anywhere. All you need is the confidence to
pull it off. And salmon is bang on trend right now,” I add,
throwing in Gok Wan’s favourite catchphrase.
    Jeremy still
looks dubious.
    “An important
part of wardrobe therapy is being open to trying new things,” I
say. Plus, I really need a picture for Leza. This outfit will be
the Trendy Man look.
    “Okay, okay, if
you say so.” Jeremy starts sliding off his T-shirt, and I catch a
glimpse of smooth skin – not nearly as flabby as I’d thought –
before he remembers I’m here and lets the shirt drop again.
    I lower my eyes
and turn toward the door. “I’ll wait out there,” I mumble,
conscious of the heat in my cheeks.
    A few minutes
later, Jeremy calls me back in.
    “I look bloody
ridiculous.” He grins, pivoting in the trousers and shirt.
    Biting my lip
to keep from smiling, I take in the tight trousers (which, in a
word, are just wrong ) and the salmon – okay, pink – shirt
that makes his olive complexion appear downright sickly.
    “How do you
feel?” I ask, struggling to maintain my impartial advisory
role.
    “I feel
ridiculous, too. Honestly, this is not how I want to be perceived.”
He starts to unbutton the shirt.
    “Wait! I need
to get a photo. To . . . you know, to help you remember this
moment, this feeling , for future reference.” I grab my
mobile, make sure his head is out of the frame, then snap a
shot.
    “Okay, onto the
next one. Why don’t you try the tux?” I open the Cancer Research
bag, wrinkling my nose at the faint mothball odour rising from the
fabric.
    “You brought me
a tux to try?” Jeremy asks incredulously.
    “This is a
regular part of our therapy, you know,” I blag. “We’ve got it in
several sizes back at the clinic. I’ll just step outside again
while you get it on, okay?”
    I slip into the
hallway, eyeing a few open doors down the corridor. My eyes pop as
I poke my head into one. It’s my dream bathroom come to life, all
gleaming white, with a large claw-footed bath and a separate
Rainshower installed in the corner. The floor tiles are warm under
my feet and even the toilet looks inviting. A giant mirrored
medicine cabinet shines above a polished white ceramic sink. Hmm.
As an undercover reporter,