“I guess.” She ignored the pins and needles in her skin—this wouldn’t be good if she put her heart on the line but was just a means to an end for him.
Jennifer saying it was like a dart hitting the bullseye and pierced through her morning bubble.
Of course Matt just wanted a temporary girlfriend.
The stylist knocked on the door and peeked in. Ashley put the chair back as Jennifer spoke like she was ordering off a menu, “Let’s get started. You’ll need a lot of skin repair. You’re prematurely aging, Ashley. The hairdresser already knows we want you blonde.”
“I don’t know.” Ashley couldn’t imagine it.
If she honestly went blonde, how fake would it be? Her skin wasn’t fair.She had a light olive tone that was slightly tanned from living in Miami and spending time outside.
Jennifer’s skin was dewy and perfect and she fit in everywhere and she’d look good in any color, unlike Ashley. Her cousin studied her and said, “You’ll be beautiful.”
Clearly she hadn’t heard their mothers talk for years about how Ashley was the ugly cousin, and she’d given up allaspirations of turning into a swan.
While she didn’t dwell on it, she’d never be drop-dead gorgeous like Jennifer. She’d never tried. She hugged her waist and said, “Matt wants an ordinary woman at his side.”
Jennifer scoffed. “And you want him in your bed, never letting you go. So let’s get you in a chair.”
“Okay,” Ashley relented.
A makeover to wow Matthew might beone way to pierce through his plans. Maybe he’d see she was better than just a temporary girlfriend—it was one avenue she was willing to try.
More stylists entered the room, bringing in chairs like they were supposed to be moveable.
Every salon Ashley had been in before, the chairs were all stationary.
The staff set her up so there were two people and two stations in the privateroom.
A male stylist motioned for her to sit. She did, with trepidation.
They covered her in a black salon robe that was nicer than the usual bib at her salon and she followed her stylists out of that room to the side where the sinks were.
They washed her hair and she relaxed her shoulders.
Even if she hated the end result, she could buy a bottle of something dark tofix it while her natural hair grew back out.
This wasn’t the end of the world or anything. She took her seat again.
Jennifer’s eyes were closed in peace as she trusted her stylist entirely. Ashley coughed to get Jennifer’s attention and asked, “Can I ask a different question?”
Jennifer glanced over at her and winked. “Sure, what?”
Was it strange that her cousin wonawards for things she did naturally? Ashley paused but then let out her breath. “What do you know about staging movie sets?”
Jennifer smiled. “Shall I ask if you can have that job too on our movie?”
Too soon was her immediate thought. Would Matt think she was reaching if she took yet another job? Her face heated.
She’d come to California to figure out what she wanted out oflife. Ashley sucked in her lips but refused to bite them. “I’m just curious what the job entails. I have my degree in interior design.”
Jennifer shrugged and settled back in her seat so her stylist could continue as she said, “Eva’s married to Brandon Campbell, the producer. He’s the best one to describe the exact specifics of the job. He’d be the one to hire, if you’re looking.”
Ashley was in LA for Jennifer and Matt. But maybe she could actually do… something she liked that didn’t include other people’s disasters. She let her stylist work as he ran his hands through her hair. “I might not want it, but a conversation on what the job does… now that would be great.”
“Done. I’ll ensure you meet on the set.” Jennifer’s easy way with her made her seem like they’d alwaysbeen friends.
Maybe having a baby had changed her and she was… nice.
