The words come out of my mouth before I even know I’m speaking. “Jenn, you got here fast.”
She looks up to me, brows furrowed. “Not really. I left about forty minutes after we talked.”
Hmm.
My mind is empty. I can feel thoughts trying to break through, but they can’t quite break the wall that has been solidified every day since my mom got sick. With each painful experience, it’s thickened. And now, nothing really breaks through.
I should be more concerned that I sat there for way too long staring at the damn floor. But the only thing my mind seems to be able to focus on is how she is going to do my hair for this date. It’s important. One must look their best when cameras are around. And when I go out, they are always around.
Stepping into the Balmain pleated leather bustier dress, I feel like a queen. Perfect thick pleats flow from my waist. If I had a pistol strapped to my thigh, I could take on this world. And if I so chose, I could take it down.
I sit completely silent as Jennifer does my hair and makeup. She sleeks my hair back into a high ponytail and loosely curls the long strands. I offer her a genuine smile when she finishes. My emotion is already drained for the night and the worst of it hasn’t begun.
I slip on my go-to black Jenlove Christian Louboutin heels and take one last peek in the mirror.
Jennifer did a damn good job. And to match my badass dress, Jenn gave me a black smoky eye with an overdrawn black liner, complete with a deep red lip.
Walking out of the bathroom, I am greeted with whistles and applause from Sophie and Rose.
“Holy shit!”
“It’s really not fair that God gave you everything.” Sophie says with a mocking tone.
I curtsy, stifling laughs that are trying to break free. “Thank you. Thank you.”
And, wow, Jenn did an amazing job on everyone. Rose’s jet-black hair is slightly wavy and parted down the middle. Her makeup is delicate, perfectly matching her. And a beautiful off-the-shoulder pastel-purple gown hugs her petite figure.
Sophie looks stunning. Her already-gorgeous, natural, long, tight curls flow over her shoulders. And her eyes are outlined in the most vibrant hue of blue. White silk flows over her body, accentuating every curve.
They are such a cute couple. I’ll never admit that to them, but they are.
Another thing I’ll never admit? That Sophie is my friend. Wait, no. My colleague? No. Well … yes, but not quite what I’m going for.
Sophie is … hmm … more than tolerable. That’s already further than ninety-nine percent of people get.
“Ready to go?” Keanu walks into the entryway with Max.
I grab my phone and scroll through the—oh, look, no new messages. Not that I was expecting some anyhow. Rolling my eyes at myself, I walk past my bag on the counter and meet Keanu at the front door that he is now opening.
Hot needles dance across my chest and arms as I step through the threshold of the door, my fingertips finding the fresh wounds on my palms.
The journey downstairs seems shorter than normal as I pick one … two … three of the half-moons open.
Maybe Austin will give me butterflies tonight. Maybe he’ll make me feel ways that only Callum ever has.
But when the elevator doors open and it reveals Austin, ten feet away with his back to us, my walls aren’t going down, butterflies aren’t fluttering in my stomach, and my skin isn’t on fire, waiting for his touch.
My shoulders tighten, my senses heighten, and I track every movement of his, like a predator stalking another predator.
He must sense my stare as he spins on his heels, tucking his hands behind his back. “Wow. You look incredible, Becca.”
Smiling like a nice good girl would, I reply, “Thank you. Not so bad yourself.”
His eyes bounce to Rose and Sophie.
I interject before he can say anything, “I hope you don’t mind if they join us. I had already made plans with them.”
His lip twitches. “Of course not. The more, the merrier.”
