Page 55 of The Facade

“I was trying to be a gentleman,” I finally said when I found my voice. “I, um, didn’t realize you were hoping for the fullMack Aardenexperience.”

“The fullMack Aardenexperience?” she asked, and for a moment, it looked like she was trying to picture what it would have been like. Then she gave her head a slight shake and said, “I, uh, just for the record, I wasn’t trying to say that I wished you’d grabbed my butt last night.” She cleared her throat. “That would be so weird.”

“Totally weird.” I laughed awkwardly, wondering how in the world we’d gotten here.

But as I watched the pink bloom across her cheeks, all I could think of was how much I wanted to experience a make-out session like that with her. To really, really get lost in the moment with Cambrielle and not have it be practice for anyone else.

I just needed to decide if I wanted it badly enough—enough to possibly upset her older brother who had suggested I ride in a different vehicle last night, or if I dared interfere with whatever plans she had for her and Ben tonight. Because I knew if I didn’t act fast and her plans worked the way she hoped, I might just lose my chance with a girl who might be perfect for me.

16

Cambrielle

After walkingMack to the front door, I grabbed a bite to eat and headed upstairs to shower. My mom had arranged for one of our friends, Deirdre, to come do my hair and makeup for the Halloween dance tonight, so I needed to get all clean and into my costume before she got here.

As I washed off the sweat from my dance workout, I couldn’t help but think back to my conversation with Mack. I smiled to myself. Only in a conversation with Mack Aarden could I go from me telling him about my eating disorder to finding out that Mack preferred girls with a little junk in the trunk in the same minute.

It was so weird.

And yet, so natural at the same time.

Natural because it was Mack, and we could talk about all sorts of things with each other and not think the other person was a weirdo.

At least, I hoped he didn’t think I was a weirdo now for accidentally hinting that I’d wanted the full make-out experience with him last night.

I still couldn’t believe I’d said that. Like, who says things like that to their friend?

I mean, yes, we’d kissed last night, and the kiss had been kind of amazing—a kiss that I might have stayed up really late thinking about and reliving. The type of kiss I’d probably compare all other kisses to from now on.

But it was a new day, and after only a slip up or two this morning where I’d caught myself fantasizing about pulling Mack aside during the dance and kissing him while I wore my Kelana costume, my head had come back down from the clouds. I knew that just because we had the kind of chemistry I’d always imagined we’d have, it didn’t mean we were ever going to find a reason to kiss again.

That kiss had a purpose: to prepare me for my second kiss with Ben tonight—a kiss that would hopefully be much better than our first. And as long as everything went according to plan, the only person I would be kissing for the foreseeable future would be Ben.

At least that was what I was telling myself, because suddenly having feelings for Mack again after one unbelievable kiss would be crazy, right? Especially since I should know better than to harbor feelings for someone who had only ever seen me as a friend.

But future kisses aside, it had been nice feeling safe enough to open up to Mack about my past. I hadn’t necessarily been keeping it a big secret on purpose for the past year and a half—it just wasn’t something that popped up in random conversation. But it was somewhat freeing to let him know about that part of me that I’d never shared with anyone besides my family before. And nice that he hadn’t seemed to judge me for it, either. He’d just taken it in stride and was even sweet about it.

After my shower, I changed into the dress I’d be wearing tonight—a pale-pink strapless dress with a full skirt that made me think of all the beautiful dresses from the fairytales I’d watched growing up. My mom and I even had the seamstress sew little butterflies and flowers onto the bodice and skirt, which made the whole dress look magical in my opinion.

Once dressed, I pulled the pink contacts I’d chosen out of the top drawer in my vanity and put them in.

I didn’t normally wear contacts, so it took a while to get them in and my eyes watered a little at first, but then I got used to them and couldn’t help but smile at my reflection. Because even without the purple wig and makeup and the glittery mask that I planned to complete the look with, I felt beautiful.

I just hoped Mack—I mean, Ben—liked the faerie-queen look as well.

Deirdre made quick work with my makeup and set a long, light-purple wig over my hair, making me feel like I could walk into the Seelie Court and charm any of the Dark Fae who tried to threaten my people. And once she added the finishing touches— pointed ear tips, a whimsical flower crown, and the masquerade mask—I barely recognized myself.

“Think anyone will know it’s me?” I asked Deirdre as we both gazed at my reflection.

Her lips spread into a wide grin. “If your momma hadn’t arranged for all of this, I don’t think even she would recognize you tonight,” Deirdre said in her Southern accent.

I smiled back because I looked even better than I had imagined when I first came up with the idea for the costume.

And if my own mother wouldn’t be able to pick me out in the crowd tonight, I hoped that meant that neither would Ben.

Until I wanted him to know it was me, that is.

17

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