Page 64 of Welcome to Forever
Chapter 16
Kat sat on her bed and stared at her reflection across the room. Why in the world had she agreed to go to the Marine Corps ball with Micah? She felt like shoving the silky black dress back in the closet and feigning sickness. She’d be surrounded by Marines. Memories of the events she’d attended with John would be everywhere.
“You okay?” Julie stood in the doorway, watching her.
Kat attempted a smile, but it fell flat. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve never been any good at getting dolled up.”
Julie took a step inside. “Well, the first step is hair and makeup.Thenyou put the dress on.” She lifted the dress from Kat’s lap and hung it on the back of the closet door.
Kat turned at Val’s voice in the doorway.
“Ladies.” Her friend’s smile was devilish as usual. “Shall we get started?”
Kat’s hands folded on her chest. “I didn’t know you were coming. I thought you had something else to do.”
“Well, now I don’t.” Val plopped a large duffel bag on the bed.
“What’s that?” Kat’s eyes widened as Val pulled the zipper, revealing a host of beauty products. “Am I so ugly that I need that many cosmetics?” She looked up at her best friend, whose smile deepened, poking soft dimples in her cheeks.
“No. You’re beautiful. But tonight is special. It’s just like Cinderella going to the ball or something.”
Julie nodded in agreement. “Definitely. And you of all people deserve a Cinderella moment.”
Kat smiled sincerely this time. “You girls are wonderful. You know that?”
Val and Julie looked at each other. Since Kat hadn’t known that Val was coming, Julie and Val must’ve conspired together to make this happen. They’d hated each other since high school, but now, maybe they could become friends. Especially since her sister was staying.
“Okay.” Kat looked between them. “Anyone bring the Xanax?”
Val lifted a bottle of starter wine. “This’ll have to do. Only half a glass before you go because you’re wearing heels, and you’re clumsy in heels.” She angled Kat toward the mirror and started to work, brushing Kat’s thick, blond hair off her face and pinning it to her head so that she could curl one piece at a time. In their reflection, Kat looked up to meet Val’s eyes. “You’re a good best friend,” she said quietly. “I wish we’d been better friends growing up.”
“You’re the best best friend.” Val’s brush snagged on a knot of Kat’s hair.
“Ouch!”
“Oops. Sorry.” Val met her gaze in the mirror. “And me, too. Think of all the trouble we could’ve caused back in the day.”
Kat shook her head. “I never got in trouble.”
“All the more reason we should’ve been friends. You could’ve kept me in line, and I could’ve gotten you to walk on the wild side a little. A perfect match.”
Right. Just like Ben had declared she and Micah were.A perfect match.
“What’s next?” Kat asked after Val had fixed her hair and Julie had worked magic with makeup.
“The things that go under the dress,” Val said, already walking toward Kat’s dresser. She got lucky on the top drawer and held up a pair of granny panties. “Is this all you have?” she asked.
“Really?” Julie said, lifting up another pair. “This looks like something Mom would wear.”
Kat snatched the undergarments and tossed them back in the drawer. “I have sexy underwear, too.” It’s just the sexy underwear were reserved for when she’d been with John. She couldn’t wear them with another man. It wouldn’t be right. It’d—
Julie held up a hand. “Stop right there. Your brain is working too hard. I’ll be right back.”
Julie left and returned a minute later, holding up a tiny, black thong with the tags still on it. “I bought these for myself the other day. They’re brand-new and they’re all yours. I certainly won’t be wearing them.”
Val smiled approvingly. “Those are exactly what that black dress needs underneath.”
“The dress is staying on tonight,” Kat said, only partially convincing. She took the thong anyway. Because her clothes never seemed to stay on when she found herself alone with Micah. He seemed to have that effect on her. And after the ball tonight, she would definitely need a distraction of the sexual kind. “Fine. I’ll wear these,” she said.
