Page 23 of The Brave and the Reckless

“You filmed a makeup tutorial just for me?”

“Yes, well, partially.” She tilted her head from side to side, blue tresses swinging over her shoulders. “I thought it would be good for you to have, but I also just posted it online in case anyone wants to do their own Annie Lou makeup. Obviously, the pink lipstick I use in the video won’t look the same on you, because you’re a deep winter and I’m a light spring, but just stick to this shade and you’re good.” She waved the little tube of Russian Red in my face until I plucked it from her hands.

“I have no idea what you just said but will not stray from this lipstick,” I promised.

“Perfect, just give me a shout when you run low.” She swiveled around to grab her makeup bag. The momentum in her turn knocked against the table and my thermos cup wobbled off the edge. Both of us dove forward to catch it, fingertips knocking together and completely missing the cup. “Oh shit. Sorry. Darn it.”

The cup clattered to the floor, last remains of iced coffee splashing from the lid on to my skirt.

“It’s okay. I’ve got it,” I said as I dipped down to pick it up, saving us from knocking our heads together too.

“I’m so sorry,” Vivi squeaked, hands still flailing through the air. “Oh god, your costume.”

“It’s fine,” I assured her. “You can barely see it. I’ll pose strategically.”

“I’m so, so sorry. I can run and get you one of your other costumes.”

“It’s a teeny-tiny speck, don’t worry. Really.”

Vivi was still biting her lip and staring at the stain, so I pulled out my phone to get her mind off the little faux-pas and told her to cue up the tutorial.

I gasped at the video on my screen. “Vivi, this has like thirty thousand views.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” She shrugged and filled a Ziploc bag with Annie Lou makeup items.

“Are you internet-famous or something?”

“No,” she laughed, “I’m probably one of the few people here who isn’t.”

Before she could elaborate, the door to the fitting room flew open. It smashed into the wall, startling the guy strapping on the undertaker costume.

“Coffee delivery,” Adriana trilled in a perfect high note.

She spotted us at the vanity table and beelined over, handing out cups from paper trays as she went. She had braided little golden beads into her blonde curls that clicked against each other and against her dozen necklaces as she went. “Don’t you look pretty, Annie Lou?”

“Thanks,” I laughed but shut up when I caught Vivi’s pursed lips. She muttered something about not liking coffee and scurried off. Adriana shrugged off the cold shoulder and placed the trays on my vanity table. I raised my brows at the various cups. “What’s all this?”

“Told you I’m buying everyone’s affection back with drinks. Figured they didn’t have to contain alcohol for itto work.” She grinned and handed me an iced coffee. “And you get one as a reward because you already like me.”

I narrowed my eyes at the milky concoction, because my coffee order nowadays usually contained a lot more whipped cream and razzle-dazzle. “Thanks, but I…”

“There’s like twenty pumps of caramel syrup in that.” She rolled her eyes at my stunned expression. “Please, you shop for groceries like a teenager who’s home alone for the weekend.”

“Thank you.” I took a sip and glanced down at the phone in my lap, Vivi’s video playing in silent mode. “Okay, before I embarrass myself in front of everyone. Vivi just said something.”

“What did she say? Do you need me to fight her? She’s Renee’s daughter, you know, so fighting her could lose me the only other friend I have.”

“No,” I laughed, “appreciate it though.”

I told her about the tutorial and Vivi’s insinuation afterwards.

“I sent you the video, didn’t I?”

“You sent me some old news report,” I said, recalling the video about the theme park’s history.

“And the algorithm didn’t send you down a whole spiral of fan videos?”

“I watched a few, but…”

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