Page 19 of Dangerous Encore
"That's more like Vi." Piper leans against the wall. She shoots me a thumbs up. "Butmore."
"More what?"Kelseyasks.
"Just more,"Pipersays.
I nod. "Justmore."
* * *
For the entirehalf an hour it takes for Kelsey to fix my hair and finish my makeup, Piper, Mom, and I talk about teensoaps.
We don't talk about thewedding.
Or mydress.
Or myeyeliner.
We especially don't talk about my deep redlipstick.
When Kelsey is finished, she pulls back to admire her work. Her short platinum hair falls over her ear as she tilts her head to one side. "I hate to brag, but look at it." She smiles. "Kidding. This is a no ego zone. Tell me if you want anythingchanged."
I catch my reflection in the mirror. That feels more like me. Well, more like me at a grand event. My stomach settles. My shoulders fall frommyears.
Then I catch Mom's expression in themirror.
She'strying.
Shereallyis.
But it's all overherface.
"Your hair looks beautiful, sweetie." Mom presses her lips together as she admires my messy updo. "Did you want to see it with thedress?"
"You need help getting into it?"Piperasks.
"Yeah, thanks." I get up from my chair and follow Piper to the den where my dress ishanging.
I can hear Kelsey telling Mom to sit and asking how she wants her makeup and hair done. Maybe that will keep Mom from making that displeased facialexpression.
It's not like I can ask her to feeldifferently.
She's holding hertongue.
She'ssupportingme.
She can't help that she wants a more traditional ceremony. A more traditionaldaughtereven.
Fuck, I hateweddings.
I step out of my shoes and strip to myskivvies.
Piper is quiet as she helps me into my dress. She takes her time doing the lacing and cinching ittightly.
She turns me toward the main room. "Youready?"
"I'm not sure what I'm ready for anymore." Even so, I take a step forward. Without my shoes, my dress drags on the floor. I have to be careful not to step on thelining.
It takes a while to get to the main room. There's a long mirror against the opposite wall. Six tiny footsteps and I'm in frontofit.
