The skin around her eye was still considerably raised if you knew what to look for. What must’ve been layers upon layers of makeup covered up the discoloration. It was strange seeing her like this, since she never wore any as far as I’d noticed. Now this... this was very noticeable indeed. Almost crusted, most certainly like a second skin, the foundation or whatever it was they’d used contrasted with Haylee’s natural skin tone even with the added shading; they must’ve used quite a bit of it, considering how long they’d been stuck in the bathroom together.
“I like you better without,” I said honestly. “It looks... fake.”
Glen scoffed. “Fake? You think you can do better?”
I raised my hands defensively. “Haylee doesn’t need makeup.”
“Except, today she does. Trust me.” Glen began pulling her toward the bedroom again. “You need to get into your waitressing uniform, or she’ll wonder why you’re wearing makeup. You heard Luke, it looks fake, but it hides the bruise. We will have to say you just got back from Turtle Bay when we found the letter.”
I watched them disappear behind another door with an uneasy pile growing in my stomach. They were going through a lot of trouble to cover up something that hadn’t been Haylee’s fault to begin with. I didn’t understand the need to lie to her mother. I just... didn’t understand. There must’ve been a better way to handle whatever worries she had. Then again, my family was very straightforward when it came to communication. We shared everything, and Haylee hadn’t even told hers my name.
I rubbed a hand over my face. Was I prepared to lie for this girl? I didn’t really get a choice in the matter. I didn’t like this one bit, but again, I had no say in it.
I pulled Haylee in my arms the moment she came out of the bedroom, and some of my restlessness settled when she hugged me back.
“I have a request.” My voice came out gravelly, and I cleared my throat.
Haylee stiffened in my embrace. “What is it?”
“Never lie to me,” I begged. I rubbed my hands up and down her back, trying to loosen the tightness in her muscles. Then pulled away enough to look into her eyes. “No matter what it is, you can always tell me the truth. No covering up things, just talk to me.”
“I don’t—It’s not like—ugh.” She sagged against me, closing her eyes.
My stomach prickled uncomfortably, but there was nothing to scratch that itch with.
“Red Cheeks, I admit I don’t get why you’re doing this, and I’m not going to say anything if you don’t want me to, but please just never lie tome.”
There was no flush on her cheeks, or if there was it was efficiently covered up. A flash of something registered on her face, and her lower lip trembled slightly before she gave a slight nod. I didn’t feel much better, but there was no time to talk about it as a knock sounded on the front door.
Glen nudged us out the short hallway we stood in, mouthinggo go goand waving her hand frantically. I sighed, moving around their minefield of a living room to sit on the couch with Haylee. She shook her head and pointed at the armchair. A charade it was, then. Fuck, that hurt for some reason, but I’d promised to play along.
I heard the door open and pleasantries being exchanged before a click-clack of heels followed Glen’s shuffling slippers to the living room. Lisa Walker’s sharp gaze pierced through me the moment her eyes landed on me, and her eyebrows furrowed.
I didn’t expect to be meeting this way either, boss. Trust me.
I took a deep breath and leaned deeper into the armchair. No escaping whatever judgement came now. I wasn’t going to leave Haylee alone with the woman. My Red Cheeks had basically curled into a protective ball around the pillow she was gripping to her chest. Her eyes downcast and lips set in a firm line. Fuck, I wanted to comfort her in some way, but she’d forced me into this separate seating. Moving now might ease my gut, but I doubted Haylee saw it the same way. Shit, I really didn’t like this.
I’d been on Mrs. Walker’s disapproving side a few times when arriving late, but it had never truly affected me. We both knew my work ethics made up for any lost time, and nobody else could take over the programming of their new system without messing up my code and losing even more time. This look was different, more personal, and the longer her scowl remained on me, the more I wanted to squirm in my seat.
I forced my muscles to remain still as I greeted her with nothing more than a nod, releasing a clipped breath when her eyes turned to Haylee next.
“So you are not the one in trouble this time,” Mrs. Walker’s clipped tone rang out. “What are the chances your best friend takes the prize?”
Glen cast a worried look Haylee’s way before she sat down on the couch, where I should’ve been positioned. “I didn’t steal anything.”
“Innocent before proven guilty, isn’t it?” Mrs. Walker said. “When, in fact, in my field of work, it’s the other way around. Guilty, always guilty unless proven innocent. Let’s see the letter then.”
The crumpled piece of paper changed hands, and Mrs. Walker’s eyes scanned it while standing over us like an executioner. It shouldn’t have felt this grave since she was here to help, after all. Besides, there wasn’t any available seating for her to lower to our level. Yet the girls cuddling on the couch together, basically chewing their fingernails bloody and my own building nerves made the situation more tense than it should’ve been. Until Lisa laughed and shook her head.
“Amateurs,” she chuckled. “This will be easy.”
“Really?” Glen gasped.
“I’ll take care of it.” Mrs. Walker folded up the letter and tucked it in a jacket pocket, her eyes flicking back to her daughter.
She stiffened. I tensed. It was fun all around.
“Is there anything you want to tell me, Haylee?” she demanded.
