Page 67 of Forbidden Lyrics

And a makeover? Led by Fen’s friend? Should I be worried?

There are so many unknowns and so many changes happening so dang quickly that I’m starting to feel dizzy. But if I don’t go, if I don’t follow through and have fun, will I regret it?

I think I will.

I squeeze the steering wheel a little tighter as a single thought rolls through my mind.

This is going to be interesting.

Chapter Eighteen

Dove

Knock. Knock.

I rush to the door and answer it with shaking hands. Maddie’s holed up in her room, still not speaking to me, though I have no idea why, but I’m grateful for the privacy.

We’ll see how long it lasts.

“Hi,” I greet the stranger, folding my arms to keep from awkwardly waving at her. With chocolate brown eyes, straight black hair parted down the middle, and almond-shaped eyes rimmed in black liner, Fen’s friend is gorgeous.

Her smile is genuine as she assesses me openly. “Fen’s right. You’re gonna knock his brother on his ass.”

My eyes almost bug out of my head as I glance behind my shoulder, breathing a sigh of relief to find Madelyn still holed up in her room. Biting my lip, I step into the hall and close the door behind me.

“So, my sister doesn’t exactly know about Fen or his brother or anything else for that matter. Is there any way we can keep it quiet?”

“Sure thing. I’ll just say I’m going to beauty school, and you’re nice enough to be my guinea pig.”

“Wow.” I pause. “That’s actually perfect.”

She taps her perfectly manicured finger against her temple. “I’m a thinker. Come on.”

With a giant bag hanging off her shoulder and another one folded over her forearm, she follows me into my tiny apartment and down the short hall to my bathroom before setting up shop.

“Did you shower, wash your hair, and shave like he told you to?” she orders, not wasting any time as she loops the black dress bag’s hanger over the shower curtain rod.

I nod and rock back on my heels, trying not to hyperventilate. “Yup. I followed all the instructions in Fender’s text to a T.”

Except for the part about birth control and lady bits because…boundaries.

“Perfect.” She holds up her finger, silently telling me to wait here before disappearing down the hall and returning with a chair from the kitchen. “Take a seat.”

The array of hair and makeup products scattered on top of the counter is mind-blowing as she reaches for one after the other, explaining what each of them does and why they’re necessary.

Like a dry sponge, I soak up every little tidbit, grateful for her patience and kindness while blown away at how little I really know about self-care.

“Your hair is gorgeous,” she tells me, brushing it away from my freshly scrubbed and moisturized face. “I think waves would be fun. Maybe a boho braid on one side?”

I shrug one shoulder and meet her gaze in the mirror. “Whatever you think will make me blend in.”

“Blend in? Girl, you were made to stand out! Do you have any idea how many girls would kill for natural highlights like this?” She lifts a few strands of my hair, letting the fluorescent light in the bathroom bounce off my white-blonde locks to prove her point. “And the color? It’s gorgeous.”

Fighting off my blush, I mutter, “You’re being too kind.”

“Uh, trust me when I say I’m not. But what do you say if we add a little rocker to it?” She winks, fanning my curiosity and hesitancy at the same time. This girl is way too mischievous for my own good.

“As in?” I prod.

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