Page 8 of Inviting Trouble
Mad froze at the idea of all that girly fussing over her and the uncomfortable idea of wearing a dress.
“Let’s roll,” Charlotte said, heading out the door.
The women followed close behind.
“Just drinks,” Mad barked and went with them.
At the bar, Mad bought the first round and had a couple shots of tequila herself. Feeling considerably more relaxed, she allowed Charlotte, the most practical effortlessly gorgeous woman she’d ever met, to go with her to the ladies’ room and fix her face. She wouldn’t fuss too much like Hailey.
“Our coloring is different,” Charlotte said, digging through her huge faux leather purse. “But our eyes are similar.” Charlotte’s skin was a golden tan compared to Mad’s fair skin, but they both had brown eyes. “Let’s try my eyeliner. Look up.”
Mad did, flashing back to that first time she’d attempted makeup for Park and how utterly stupid it had turned out. “I don’t usually wear makeup.”
“No shit,” Charlotte said.
Mad laughed.
Charlotte pulled the liner pencil away. “Don’t move or I’ll poke your eye out.”
Mad got serious, hoping she didn’t look like an idiot when this was all done.
Charlotte finished up. “Nice.”
Mad turned to the mirror—the brown liner actually made her eyes look dark and sexy. “So you only put it underneath?”
“For your eye shape, yes.”
“Oh.” She felt stupid that she still didn’t know the first thing about makeup. She stared at herself some more, wondering if Park would even notice. If he’d still be cool and distant, still put her in the mouthy-little-twerp slot. She wasn’t the mouthy fifteen-year-old she’d been back then, now she was a mouthy twenty-six-year-old.Fuck my life.
Charlotte piped up. “You must be freaking out. You look like a deer caught in the headlights.”
“Thanks.”
Charlotte dug through her purse again. “Was he your first boyfriend? The one that got away? What was he to you?”
The fact that she wasn’t looking directly at Mad made it easier to confess. “He was everything. And then he left.”
Charlotte opened a deep red lipstick. “Yeah. They do that. Keep your lips together, relaxed.” She applied some color to Mad’s lips. “What do you think?”
Mad looked in the mirror. “Weird.”
Charlotte handed her a paper towel. “Blot it. Like this.” She demonstrated with her lips, not quite touching the towel.
Mad copied.
Charlotte tucked the lipstick away and gave Mad a quick once-over. “You look good, girl. You sure you want to go with the cargo shorts and boots?”
“I’m not wearing a dress.”
“You got skinny jeans?”
“Yeah.”
“Put them on. These shorts make you look huge and I know you’re totally fit.”
“Whatever,” Mad muttered, heading for the door.
Charlotte followed behind. “You’re welcome.”
