lady stardust

“Thank you,” is what she blurts, and Eddie pulls back. “Why?” He asks, and it’s so genuine that Steve can’t help but laugh. “You… You helped me so- so much. I wouldn’t- I’d have never- look at me,” She says, barely believing herself. “I just can’t… I can’t believe I’ve ended up with someone as- as wonderful as you are,” She says, after a beat. “You’re perfect- I- I love you.”

(steve is the mom friend. he's not sure how much of it's a joke, anymore. he stares at himself in the mirror and thinks of his mother, of who he wants to be- and maybe the two overlap more than he'd like to admit. a continuation of "L is for linoleum," but you don't have to have read that to understand this)