Page 8 of Sweet Poison

“Okay, maybe it’s a bit too long, but I didn’t want to shave,” I began to explain, but the mood in the room soured even more.

Kelly put her hands on her hips. “Now you're going to have to, aren’t you? And just in case, please shave everywhere so you don't give yourself an excuse to say no when you actually run into someone cute.”

To be honest I started having second thoughts. Especially, when I thought of squeezing myself into Kelly’s giant red condom of a dress. Even worse was the idea of trying to walk in those ridiculously high heels. It seemed like too much trouble for a one-night stand. I’d rather have curled up in my bedroom window seat with a good book and a box of chocolates.

I gave Kelly a disgruntled look and considered putting my foot down, but the earnest plea in Pearl's eyes made me draw in my claws. They were only trying to help. With a long-suffering sigh, I hurried into the bathroom to get ready all over again while both girls merrily sipped on wine.

About fifteen minutes later, fully shaven, glazed like a turkey, and tightly gripped inside Kelly’s scrap of red lycra, I stood before them for assessment. To my relief, I passed the vibe check with flying colors.

“Oh Wow!” both girls burst out in unison.

“You look really, really amazing,” Pearl gushed.

“Yup, good enough to eat,” Kelly agreed.

I was quite salty about the way they had taken over my appearance and still very tempted to kick them out, but when I walked over to the mirror and saw my reflection my eyebrows shot up.

“Exactly,” Pearl said. “That's what you've been hiding under those baggy men’s shirts and dusty jeans.”

I had to admit I looked … pretty unrecognizable.

“My dad would have a heart attack if he saw me like this,” I whispered in an awed voice.

“Don’t worry, he won’t see you. We’ll have you back in your bed before he comes back at sunrise. Now, put on the shoes,” Kelly ordered.

I regarded the dangerous things warily, the same way they were staring back at me. I didn’t want to argue, but I didn’t want to be ungrateful either, so I took a deep breath and succumbed. I was the same size as Pearl. It's one of the things we’d decided as kids was the sign we were supposed to be best friends forever.

I slipped the weapons on, and they fit well enough until I stood up and tried to walk. It was hell. I tottered unsteadily around the room, almost breaking my neck twice while both my supposed friends laughed until their sides hurt.

It was all incredibly amusing until Natalie's call came asking us if we were ready. It lit a fire under Kelly’s backside. She jumped up.

“Okay, hair."

I looked at her with dismay. “No! I like it like this.”

"Absolutely not, you're not leaving it in a ponytail. That’s just lazy, Montana."

“It's neat and out of the way," I argued, knowing I was going to lose this round too.

"We didn’t come all the way here to go for ‘neat and out of the way’. We want ‘striking’ and ‘in the way’. We're letting it all down in sumptuous, glorious curls."

I groaned. "Curls? No time for that, surely." But she was already pushing me back into the room and sitting me in front of my vanity.

“Curls will take me five minutes. Pearl, get on with her makeup. Load on the mascara and give the girl smoky eyes … and deep red lips.”

“Got it,” Pearl said, and ignoring all further protests, she got to work.

Ten minutes later, which I should say, was a remarkable speed, I looked like a completely different person. They seemed to have done so little and so quickly, but I looked so different.

“You're freaking gorgeous!” Kelly said, looking quite surprised.

I stared at myself speechlessly. When they noticed my dazed expression, both girls burst out laughing. “Now do you see what we mean about you making the best of yourself?” Kelly asked.

I was too dazed to reply so I nodded.

“Okay, now for the final touch,” Pearl said and hurried out to the living room. She returned a minute later and thrust a purse so small it was practically useless into my hands.

“Stand,” Kelly commanded.

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