Page 75 of Girls Will Be Girls
I scoot down the stairs once I hear him slide the back door shut, and I head to the bathroom. I put on some primer, and then I brush my hair out of the bun I put it in to give it some curl. I grab my makeup bag and walk back out to the living room. I almost head back upstairs to do my makeup, but I kind of like the idea of staying down here with him.
As I’m finding and placing the makeup I need on the coffee table, Lou slides the door again and comes back in.
“Sorry. Work.” He says without looking over at me.
“All good,” I say, leaning over and looking for my bronzer brush in my bag.
He’s silent for a beat too long, making me look up at him, and he’s staring straight at me.
“What?” I look down at the dress, smoothing it with my palms. “Is it okay?” I ask. “I haven’t got shoes or accessories yet, and I haven’t done my makeup or anything. So it’ll look nicer.” I say.
“You look gorgeous.” He says.
“Yeah?” I ask, still unsure.
“How you have an ounce of doubt right now is beyond me.” He says. “You look perfect.”
“Well, thanks.” I feel my cheeks redden, so I distract myself by grabbing my foundation and sitting on the armchair.
He sits down on the couch, leaning forward on his knees, eyes watching me with a little smirk touching his lips. I lift my square handheld mirror in front of me and keep blotting foundation on my forehead, then down onto my chin, trying my best not to look over at him. But every time my eyes decide to have a mind of their own, I catch him watching me.
I finally drop my hands into my lap and give him my full attention. “What?”
He leans back laughing. “What? Nothing.”
“Quit watching me. It’s creepy.” I say.
“Sorry.” He raises his hands in surrender, still laughing.
I eye him suspiciously, that grin of his never falling.
“So,” I say. “Is Otto gonna be there?”
He nods. “I would assume so.”
“Should we have some sort of story ready?” I ask.
“For what?”
“In case theengagementcomes up.”
“You don’t need to lie about anything. Well, anything else.” He chuckles.
“But what if someone asks us something in front of Otto? Like, how we met?” I say.
He shrugs. “We tell them the truth.”
“Okay.” I draw out. “We can’t have just met, though. So the truth, but what, a year or two ago?”
He bobs his head side to side in thought. “Six months is fine.”
“Wow, we move fast.” I joke.
I wonder if Lou’s the kind of person who would propose quickly in real life. If he’d want a long engagement. Would he want a big wedding, or would he elope like I want to? Does he even want to get married in the first place?
I know I don’t want the big thing. As much as I love weddings, having one for myself just doesn’t feel right. I like the idea of it just being me and my fiancè. Running off because we’re so in love.
Just us, no one else.
