Page 14 of Ink & Stardust

“I’ve heard of them. But why would I ever want to get one? It sounds absolutely dreadful.”

“Nothing turns a man on more than when the lady downstairs isn’t wearing any fur, if you catch my drift.”

“Oh my God.” I shake my head at Char. “I’m not sleeping with Owen. I literally just met him!”

“Maybe not yet.” Maisie knocks her hip into mine. “But don’t you want to be ready when the time comes? I mean, surely you’re going to sleep with someone... eventually.”

“Besides”—Char jumps in—“I’m due for one, so you’d really be helping me out. I hate going alone.”

“Maisie can go with you.”

“But I want you to go, too.”

“Then I’ll go. But I’m not getting waxed... down there.” I gesture to my nether region.

“Why not?” Char pouts.

“Because I don’t see the point. I keep it well enough maintained.”

“Just try it once. You might actually like the way it looks and feels.”

“Besides”—Maisie drops an arm around my shoulder—“weren’t you the one who just said the other day that you want to start stepping out of your comfort zone?”

“I was talking about cutting my hair, not waxing my hoo-ha!”

“What better way to leave your comfort zone than to dive headfirst into the unknown? Come on, Lyric. For us?” Maisie pouts out her lower lip dramatically and Char joins in, both of them being overly pathetic in their attempts to convince me.

“Fine.” I finally cave. I mean, it’s just pubic hair... Right?

“Really!” Char jumps to her feet, clapping in excitement.

“That’s our girl.” Maisie gives me a squeeze before dropping her arm.

“So much for not giving in to peer pressure,” I grumble.

“I’ll make the appointments right away.” Char chooses to ignore me, grabbing her phone.

“You two are way too excited,” I tell them flatly.

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Maisie drops her head back on a laugh.

“Oh, and you know what we should do after?” Char looks between the two of us. “We should go shopping. You may not be willing to wear anything of mine, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find you something sexy that you feel comfortable in.”

I think on that for a long moment. I’ve been meaning to get some new clothes, considering everything I brought with me are things I wore in high school. If I truly want to shed that girl—the girl that the two people closest to her so easily betrayed—I have to start somewhere.

“Let’s do it,” I finally say.

“Waxing and a new sexy little outfit?” Maisie once again checks my temperature by pressing the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you sure you’re not sick?”

“Keep that up and I’ll call the whole thing off,” I playfully warn.

“I’m not saying another word.” She runs her hand along her lips like she’s zipping them shut.

Something tells me these two are going to be the death of me. But I guess if I’m gonna die, I might as well have some fun on the way out.

“You look incredible. Have I told you that already?” Charlotte squeezes my hand just as the Uber driver pulls over next to the curb.

“About a million times.” I squirm uncomfortably, not sure how I let them talk me into this dress. It’s bad enough I had to endure the pain of my first Brazilian wax, but then I turn around and let them convince me that a halter dress was a good idea.

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