Be Careful What You Wish For (A Cupcake Goddess Novelette) by Shéa MacLeod Page A

wasn’t macho or manly or whatever, but he couldn’t help it.
    It had been bad enough having the women in the lingerie store in Seattle staring at him like he was some kind of pervert. And now the stockings didn’t fit properly. The size chart must have been wonky. Or maybe his calves were too muscular from working out, but whatever it was, he’d put runs in two pairs of stockings and he was on his last tether.
    “Shit, why couldn’t I have been born a woman? They have it so much easier.” He snatched up a bright pink lipstick only to throw it back down on his vanity. The shade was hideous, but he had no idea what to do about it. A sob escaped his lips as he reached for some tissue to wipe off the mess.
    The banging on the door interrupted his pity party. Ryan didn’t have a lot of friends. Certainly none that would come knocking at this hour of the night. With a frown he hurried to answer the door, only to find himself confronted by the strangest sight.
    The top of the woman’s curly blonde head barely reached his sternum and she was nearly as wide as she was tall. Her pink cheeks matched her pink fuzzy robe, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t makeup. She looked furious. And was that a blob of icing on her cheek?
    “So, you want to be a woman do you?”
    “Um … ” Ryan wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. It was just about the last thing he’d expected to come from the stranger’s mouth.
    “Listen, Bob … ” she started.
    “Ryan.”
    “What?” She blinked big blue eyes in confusion.
    “My name isn’t Bob. It’s Ryan.”
    She shook her head, sending blond ringlets bouncing around her head. “Whatever. Listen, I am sick of your whining.”
    “Excuse me?” Ryan was starting to feel like he’d just fallen down a rabbit hole.
    “You think it’s so easy being a woman? You think being a woman is all fancy silk panties and hot pink lipstick? You think your bras would fit better and your stockings wouldn’t run if you were a woman? Well, let me tell you, buddy, it ain’t that easy.” She crossed her arms over her chest, sending a shower of what looked like cake crumbs to the floor.
    How did this strange woman know his fondest wish was to experience, just once, being a real woman? Not just dressing in women’s clothing, but actually having all the girl parts and the feelings that went with the panties and heels he so dearly loved. And best of all, he would be able to walk down the street in a pretty dress without everyone staring at him like he was a freak.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t understand … ”
    “No, you don’t.” The expression on her angelic face could only be described as wicked. “But you will.” And with a wave of her hand she spun around and shuffled back into her own apartment, slamming the door hard enough to rattle windows.
    Ryan ran a shaky hand through his hair. He felt like he’d just been swept up into a whirlwind and spit out the other side. In fact, he was pretty sure he needed a change of panties.
    “Lord, this town is full of crazy,” he muttered. Maybe it was time for a change. Another town, maybe. On the other side of the country, preferably.
    ***
    Light streamed in through the slats in the blinds, nudging Ryan awake. He groaned and tried to burrow under the quilt, but it was too late. There was no getting back to sleep.
    He hauled himself out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. He rolled up his nightie and … nothing. There was nothing there.
    “Oh, my god. “ Ryan groped his crotch. Nope, his usual equipment definitely wasn’t there. “What the f … ”
    Wide awake, he ran for the full length mirror in the bedroom. And there, much to his horrified eyes, was a perfect set of … lady parts.
    “Oh, sweet Jesus.” Ryan clapped a hand over his mouth. His voice had gone up at least two octaves. His cheeks were smooth without a sign of morning beard. His chest, however, was decidedly not smooth. He peered down the neck of his nightie. “D cups!”
    He