Page 20 of Boys Like You

He claps his hands and jumps up off the couch. “Let’s get this party started.”

The guys come back into the room. Rory and Levi have the collapsible table and start setting it out, while the others bring out the food. I can see fruit, small sandwiches and cupcakes.

Carson calls me over to sit in the hair-cutting chair. My straight blonde hair hangs down my back, almost touching my butt. “How much do you want to chop off?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe to where my bra strap is.” He touches a point on my back, raising his brows as he waits for my confirmation. When I give him the nod, he gets to chopping. The guys are all seated on the couch with their feet in foot spas. I admire them for giving Mr Cole the love they do; a bunch of teenage boys getting pampered isn’t something you see every day, yet they’re all here with not one complaint.

“This is heaven, Carson,” Rocky says, looking at him with a smile.

“Now, spin around and have a look in the mirror and tell me what you think,” Carson says. I spin around to face the mirror.

“I love it.” It isn’t so straight and perfect now that he’s added some texture.

“I was thinking we do like a caramel brown with some blonde highlights.”

“I trust your judgement. Anything other than this Barbie blonde would feel more like me.”

He gets to work adding colour and foils to my hair; he wants to keep some of my blonde. The guys all dry off their feet and stick these weird bootie things on; apparently, they draw out toxins. Even so, they look ridiculous.

When I’m all foiled and dyed up, Carson brings over something that smells terrible, along with cotton balls and aluminium foil. He soaks the cotton balls and places them on my fingers and wraps foil around them. For fifteen minutes we wait with bated breath as he tends to each nail. When the time is up, he unwraps the first tinfoil package, and using this magic tool, he pulls the acrylic nail clean off. Once each finger is done, he makes me go wash my hands so he can see the damage. Turns out, I actually have decent nails underneath. I don’t understand why I would have fake ones on in the first place.

“Go pick a colour,” he says, and even though he was talking to me, all five guys move over to the small table and start passing around different colours, even arguing over what would look best. I walk straight over and ignore them all. I see Maximus holding a dark purple with glitter. I hold out my hand and he passes it to me, the other four still bickering. I hand the purple nail polish to Carson, and he gestures for me to sit on the couch, giving me a small white wash cloth to put under my hand.

“Boys,” he cheerfully calls out. Maximus had already sat down, but the rest turn and look at us.

“No fair, you should do this blue. It would look great on you,” Rocky whines. The others go to argue but I look over at them.

“Well, you shouldn’t have been fighting. I went with the colour Maximus chose because he wasn’t part of all that, whatever it was.” Carson tries to hide a laugh, and Maximus pokes his tongue at the others.

“That isn’t fair, you know he doesn’t talk. If you two weren’t in the room, he would have listed at least ten reasons why that colour would suit you and have an argument to back it up.”

“Levi, I didn’t take you for a whiny little bitch.” Again the words are out of my mouth before I get to think it through.

“And I didn’t think you were just a bitch. We learn something new the more we hang out with each other.” His smile is a dead giveaway that he’s being playful.

Once my nails are painted, I’m told to go into the kitchen and put my nails in front of the small fans set up on the kitchen bench. Rory follows me, jumping up onto the counter. His legs almost touch the ground when they hang over the edge.

“Maximus told me you need a phone. I messaged Mumma B and let her know I would have one for you tomorrow.” It’s strange, when I look into Rory’s eyes, I feel like we have known each other forever. That feeling comforts me, even if it’s all pretend.

“You really don’t have to go to any trouble. I won’t be going anywhere by myself. Beth can always call one of you.” Standing this close to him, I notice his hazel eyes have some green specs in them.

“I upgraded my plan, so I have my old one just sitting at home so it’s no bother. Plus, how will I text you if I want to talk?” He smirks.

“You would want to text me?” I ask. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me, but I have to wonder why they’re willing to go to so much trouble for a girl they barely know. They feel sorry for me, I’m sure of it. But what happens when I know who I am again? Will they all go back to their old lives? As much as I’d like to know who I am, there’s a part of me that hopes my memory doesn’t come back. I’m not sure I can go back to being a blonde with fake nails.

“That’s what friends do, JD, they text and call each other. And I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends.” Even his smile makes me feel safe.

“You do?” He nods, and I can’t help but notice how handsome he is. A strand of hair has fallen from the ponytail holding the hair from his face. It allows me a glimpse at his sharp jawline and the slight dimple in his chin.

“I was wondering if you wanted to come watch me ride my dirt bike? I have a track at home the guys helped me build so I can practice.” He seems nervous asking to spend time with me.

“Of course, I would love to.” His face lights up.

“Sweet,” he says, jumping down from the bench. “Your nails will be dry now, just don’t bump them for the next half hour and they will be fine.” He winks and walks away. My heart is beating way too fast, first with Rocky making my knees weak and now a wink from Rory. I need to get myself together, perhaps start carrying a hand-held fan to cool myself off whenever they’re around. Hot guys make a girl’s body do some crazy shit.

Back in the lounge room, Carson is watching the guys set up a game console while he waits.

“Sorry, I wanted the setting to be relaxed but they outnumbered me. Are you okay to come upstairs so I can wash your hair out? Or we can make one of the guys come with you if you’d rather.” I’m grateful that he understands.

---