Page 35 of Ruined Promises

“You look absolutely gorg,” Hadley says while examining her handiwork. I enlisted the help of the girls to get ready for the Maritime Media holiday party. And when I say I enlisted their help, I mean they told me that this was happening, but who was I to say no? When your roommate is a hairstylist who also does makeup for weddings, why not?

Things had been weird for the last few weeks between Ben and me, and I wish I could understand why. If it’s not discussing work, Ben avoids me. I guess I read all of the signs wrong. Nothing like almost having everything you want only to have it ripped out from underneath you. I think I should be used to that by now, though.

I turn and barely recognize the woman looking back at me. My brown hair is down, draped in perfectly loose curls that frame my face, with a smoky eye perfectly outlining my emerald orbs and a red lipstick that matches the bright shade of my satin off-the-shoulder dress.

“Yes, someone might need to pick up Ben’s jaw off the floor once he sees you.” Brynn smiles, searching my jewelry box for the perfect earrings.

I snicker. I don’t know why they’re trying to push Ben over the edge again—look how well it worked out the last time. Tonight isn’t about him; it’s about me. I didn’t let my failed relationship with Dom ruin my career; I can’t let some one-night stand do it either. Tonight I am going to enjoy the amazing life I have made for myself.

“How about these?” She holds up a pair of diamond studs my father gave me when I graduated college.

I smile, recalling the moment, but the happiness is shadowed by missing my father, who passed away shortly after giving them to me.

“Ah ah.” Hadley waves her index finger in my face. “None of that. I know you and can see that look in your eyes. There is no crying and ruining my masterpiece. Got it?”

I humph and push my shoulders back. I can do this.I’m Lexi Baker, and I’m a badass bitch.

Hadley claps her hands. “Okay, now go get dressed, and we will meet you out in the living room.”

I carefully slip into my dress and heels—my favorite part of the outfit—a glamorous black Christian Louboutin stiletto with an almost five-inch heel. My “So Kate” heels may be the most expensive shoe I own that I bought with last year’s Christmas bonus and have been waiting for the perfect excuse to wear them. The glossy black patent leather, along with the signature red sole, is utter perfection. I’m staring at myself in the mirror when the girls start yelling from the living room. “What’s taking so long?”

“I’m coming,” I shout back.

Eat your heart out, Ben Harrington.

With one last glance at myself in the mirror, moving back and forth, I grab my black Coach clutch and head out before the girls come barreling into my room, wondering what the holdup is.

The clicking of my heels along the hardwood floors of our apartment halts whatever conversation Brynn and Hadley were having.

I run my hand over the soft fabric of my dress. “What, do I look okay? Did I mess something up?”

The look both girls are giving me reminds me of the look Sebastian had inThe Little Mermaidwhen he first noticed Ariel on the beach with Eric and Scuttle had to lift his jaw off the rock.

I start to get self-conscious the longer they are silent. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, thankful Hadley applied a lip stain versus a regular lipstick that I’m sure would be all over my front teeth by now.

“You look fucking amazing.” Hadley beams like a proud mom witnessing her only child headed off to prom.

“Okay, before you go, a quick photo,” Brynn calls out, grabbing her phone from the coffee table.

After a quick photoshoot, my phone pings, alerting me that my car is downstairs waiting.

Brynn is busy typing away on her phone with a smile spread across her face. “Cal says you look beautiful, and be sure to wrap it up with whatever lucky bastard takes you home.”

Hadley bellows out a loud laugh while my cheeks heat in embarrassment, and I shake my head.

Brynn is giggling along with Hadley and holds up her phone. “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just reading you what he wrote.”

“Well, tonight is about having fun, not about finding someone to go home with or making Ben jealous.”

A smug look appears on both of my best friends’ faces, and Hadley purses her lips together. “Yeah sure, whatever you say.”

I roll my eyes. Even if they don’t believe me, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

I grab my black coat out of the closet. Once the tie is fastened around my waist, I pull my hair out of the back of the coat and drape it across my right shoulder.

“Have fun,” they both shout.

“Don’t wait up,” I call over my shoulder as I walk out of the apartment.

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