Dear ,

Joining in a new exercise class is always a bit harrowing, at least for a power-introvert like me. But a new class opened up at a place so close to my house, I couldn’t NOT try it out. Everyone was super welcoming so I made it a regular thing. Well, the other day someone complimented me on my calves…and everyone else chimed in, and of course it was embarrassing for someone with Victor Bayne-level social skills. 

(I’ll include a pic where you can see my calves…because I’m sure you’re all wondering now, lol. I ran into this guy after exercise class last Halloween)

These ladies weren’t the first ones to comment, either. My calves are just weirdly muscular, I presume it’s just something to do with my structure and gait. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to have a good feature, even a fairly oddball one! But it did get me thinking about my characters…and what they thought of their partner’s best feature.

CRASH (PSYCOP)
What’s Red’s best feature? I suppose I should be all high-minded and talk about how the body is just a shell, and our melding is a union of consciousness, and blahbiddy blah blah. But if you’d ever got a gander at his tight, muscular, perfectly rounded butt…you’d know any of that spirit-talk is nothing more than a bunch of transparent virtue-signaling. What? Okay, yeah. Fine. His unwavering ethical standards might be a bit of a turn-on, too. In their own special way.

DIXON (ABCS OF SPELLCRAFT)
Obviously, the first thing I noticed about Yuri was his height—kind of hard to miss when I was practically looking up his nose. But then there’s also his broad shoulders—so butch—and the way they strain the seams of his suit jacket. And, of course, the hazel eyes that aren’t quite any one color at all, like the paintings he makes where the colors mix and meld. The accent, though? [Fans self.] That deep, authoritative tone…those funny vowels…the occasional dropped article. Whew! Is it hot in here—or is it just Yuri?

VIC (PSYCOP)
Jacob’s best feature? Huh. I can’t be the only one that finds good looks intimidating, right? When someone looks like Jacob, it’s hard to not notice. And he knows it, too—which is good, I guess, it means he’s not an idiot. But here’s the thing. I’ve met plenty of hot guys. And I didn’t give a rat’s ass if they were into me or not. If anything, Jacob’s looks made me leery that he had some ulterior motive. I guess it was his staying power that finally wore me down. The fact that he was in it for the long haul, no matter what, always. And if the flip side of that is being married to a phenomenally stubborn man? So be it.

YURI (ABCS OF SPELLCRAFT)
My father always said a smile with no reason is a sign of a fool. Everyone is always smiling here. Baring their perfect white American teeth. Unnerving, to say the least. And yet, when Dixon smiles, he does not just do it with his face, but with his whole being. When this happens, not only do I feel he is smiling for a very good reason…I also believe that maybe things are not nearly as bleak as they seem.

JACOB (PSYCOP)
Accuse me of being a psych junkie all you want, but I was never just into Vic for the ghost. Of course, I’d heard of him. Everyone in the PsyCop program had. And naturally, I might’ve noticed him a time or two at one some police thing or another. But he wasn’t “on.” I wasn’t privy to that side of him until we actually worked together. I’d been intrigued going in, but seeing him truly in his element? The thought of it gives me goosebumps—even now. All that, plus those gorgeous blue eyes, well…how could I resist?

Do you have a feature people are always commenting on? Reply and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.