Page 13 of The Expiration Date

“That’s not really the vibe I’m going for. I’d rather not look like a cartoon character. Sorry.”

She huffs a little, “Fine.” She puts the Jessica Rabbit dress back on the rack. I shake my head. I know for a fact that Rachel could totally pull that dress off. Not that she needs help with the whole “guys drooling over her” department. She is so beautiful that sometimes it’s intimidating to go anywhere with her. Especially since I look like a troll most days.

Then I spot it. The perfect dress. “Rach.”

She looks over and shrieks, “This is totally it! Sexy but sweet. Just like you, Hales. Aidan won’t know what hit him.”

7

Ifiddle with the blue box in my hands. I told Rachel not to have Haley wear any jewelry because I have a surprise for her. After passing by Tiffany’s earlier, I got the idea to surprise Haley with earrings to wear to the premiere. I knew exactly which ones to get her because they just reminded me of Haley. I wanted something that was simple and elegant. After talking at length with the sales associate about Haley’s personality, she pointed me towards a pair of platinum, drop earrings with small, round diamonds.

This is the perfect opportunity for Haley to wear them. It’s honestly the least I can do to make up for my behavior these past six months. I know that it hasn’t been easy for her, dealing with me and the messes I’ve made, and there are no words to describe the amount of gratitude I feel for Haley right now in my life. I am lucky to have an assistant like her.

I place the box in my jacket pocket and glance down at my watch: 7:00 on the dot. I try to keep my head down in the hotel lobby so that no one recognizes me. Maybe they won’t even recognize me now, because lately I’ve been rocking a full beard and longer hair than usual. In the past three hours since I dropped Haley off at her hotel, I contacted my favorite barber to help clean me up a bit. He didn’t shave off my entire beard, but I don’t look like Tom Hanks from Cast Away anymore. (Yeah, it was getting that bad.) Now I look like my same old self; the only difference is that my heart isn’t the same old heart. Tiny pieces have broken off and I’ve become a little more jaded.

The elevator dings and the doors open. I adjust my suit so the sleeve covers my watch. Rachel emerges from the elevator, hauling a large tote bag over her shoulder. I teasingly look at my watch.

“Wow, it took you the whole three hours to help Haley get ready?”

“Ha ha very funny, Stone. I definitely didn’t need most of my supplies. Haley’s gorgeous all on her own. I just highlighted her beauty.”

“You didn’t make her look like a Stepford wife, did you?” Even though I know Haley wanted Rachel to do her makeup for this event, I still want her to look like Haley. Personally, I don’t think she needs any makeup, but I didn’t want to push back.

“Um, you have seen my work on set, right? Do any of you all look like Stepford wives? Including yourself?” Rachel crosses her arms and sticks out her hip to one side.

I smile. “You’re right.” I place my hands in my pockets. “So, is Haley on her way down, or…?”

“Yes, she should be. Here, speaking of highlighting beauty, I need to put a little powder on your face.”

Rachel reaches into her tote and pulls out some sort of powder and large brush. Geez, this is the part of my job that I hate. The makeup. Not that I am too much of a man to wear makeup, I know that it’s part of my job and it helps me look good on screen. But the time it takes to do makeup baffles me. To her credit, Rachel is the very best in the business.

“There. Now you are camera-ready and you look almost as beautiful as our girl.” She pats me on the chest and wiggles her eyebrows. “Well, I am off to meet up with some old friends for drinks. If for some reason you want to show Haley a good time tonight, that wouldn’t totally be a bad idea, if you catch my drift, Stone. Have fun.”

With that, Rachel strides out of the hotel. Her comment makes my face get hot. If I recall from that little napkin burning a hole in my wallet, showing Haley a good time is strictly off-limits.

The elevator dings again and my heart starts to palpitate at an ungodly speed.

Haley steps out and walks towards me. She is wearing a flowy, off-the-shoulder lavender gown. Sparkles appear on the fabric with every step that Haley takes. The neckline dangerously shows off her cleavage, and her shoulders are bare. The bodice wraps tightly around her ridiculously small waist and then fabric cascades down and out.

At that moment, I want to throw out all of those damn cardigans and oversized t-shirts she wears to work on a daily basis. Nothing will ever compare. She was made to dress up like this.

After taking in her perfect figure, I notice her hair, which is down, curled and cascading down one of her shoulders. She is stunning. Not that she isn’t beautiful with that messy bun of hers, but seeing her like this adds a new layer to Haley that frankly leaves me speechless.

And then my gaze rises to her face. Her perfect, absolutely breathtaking face.

Rachel was not wrong. She only highlighted the best features on Haley… which are all of her features, apparently. Haley’s lips are the prettiest shade of pink I’ve ever seen. I’ve never noticed how full her lips are, until now. The top of her eyelids are side swept with black eyeliner that curves up on the outer corners of her eyes. The jetblack offsets her brown eyes so they appear lighter than ever before, like a dark honey color. She has a very old Hollywood look to her. Classically beautiful.

And my favorite part: she is still Haley. She doesn’t look like anyone else but herself.

Mental note: text Rachel to thank her. Haley is an absolute knockout. She is more gorgeous than any other woman I’ve ever been with.

She finally reaches me and one of her eyebrows furrows a bit. “What’s wrong?” she asks, looking down at her gown and fidgeting with her hair.

I finally snap out of the temporary trance her presence put me under. I clear my throat. “Uh, nothing’s wrong. You just look…”

“I know, I probably look ridiculous in this gown and if you have changed your mind, that’s okay, I completely understand…”

I better intervene before she runs away like goddamn Cinderella. “Hales, stop…”

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