Page 45 of Spelling Disaster

“I cannot believe it,” Blaire says under her breath. “And if I hadn’t seen it for myself then I’d call you a liar but there he was, looking at you like he wanted to gobble you up.”

“Whole,” I agreed without hesitation. “You’re right.”

“Now what are we doing that’s so important I’m missing—shit, girl.” A grin broke out across her face. “Your makeover because you have plans tonight. I am so dense. His gorgeousness blinded me.” She taps the side of her head.

“His gorgeousness is a weapon,” I agree.

She pulls me out of the building toward our room and I pause, glancing around the open campus. Only normal shadows.

My hands tingle, a reminder of what I’ve seen.

But there’s nothing out here now.

It doesn’t stop me from watching everything the rest of the way toward our room. Blaire sits me down inherusual chair, running her hands through my short hair.

“You’ve got some natural good looks. I mean, this skin tone.” She blows a chef’s kiss. “It’s pure gold, Yazzy. You can do a lot with it if you believe in yourself.”

“You’re asking for a lot,” I tell her.

“I don’t think I am. You know, I think you should rock it even shorter.” Her fingertips trail from my ears down to the planes of my cheeks and my jaw. “You’ve got the angles for a chin length cut, and I know you don’t want to hear it, but the shorter hair is going to leave more of your face open. These eyes of yours…they’re big and expressive. You need to show them off.”

It had sounded like such a great idea when she mentioned the makeover in class. Now, facing the reality of changing my looks…

“I’ve always had long hair,” I reveal. “I feel naked without mine. Witches are supposed to have long glorious locks. That kind of thing.”

Blaire sucks on her teeth. “Not modern witches. It’s not going to take much but I’ve got a great canvas I’m working with. Do you trust me?”

No. I automatically want to tell her no. Rather than disagree, I swallow and nod. Once. “Do whatever you want to do. But please don’t cut it any shorter.”

I hope I won’t regret giving her the green light.

“Fine, I’ll clean it up.” She squeezes my shoulders reassuringly. “I’ve got you.”

Blaire gets to work, and the changes are small, at first. Or so she tells me. Things like cleaning up my eyebrows, slapping on a face mask while she gives me a trim. She keeps me away from the mirror until she’s done, slathering on a coat of copper eyeshadow and a darker shade along my crease.

“I’ve only revealed what’s already there, you know. Your natural beauty,” she tells me when she’s done. “No magic required.” She reaches for her small handheld mirror and holds it out for me. “Take a look.”

My stomach drops in the best way.

The woman looking back at me from the reflection is me, but so much more. It’s as though Blaire elevated my usual looks to the complete next level. Not only does the new haircut compliment my face, but my eyes are huge with the mascara and the eyeshadow she applied. My lips are slicked with a pretty floral color that brings out the blush of my cheeks, which she emphasized.

“I can’t believe it,” I murmur.

She gives me a small, tight hug. “Theo will not let you out of his sight once he sees you now. Not that looks are the most important thing in a relationship, but you’re drop dead, and you deserve to feel confident, which people naturally do when they look good. He’s going to be all over you,” she finishes.

All over me…

My mind flashes back to the dreams of last night and the things we did together. The hysterical giggles are back. “I’m not too sure I like the idea.” I bite down on my lower lip to keep them contained. “I, ah, feel foolish even saying this.”

“Go ahead, girl. This is a no judgment zone.”

“All I know about romance I learned from reading books about hot Scots in the highland. And Theo doesn’t wear a kilt,” I say. “Not outside of dreams.”

Plus, this is all pretend.

I just need to make sure I play a convincing part.

“What do you mean, you only know about romance from books?” Blaire says. “Are you seriously telling me you’ve never dated before?”

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