Page 172 of A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime

Tears prick the corner of my eyes, listening to my mother’s support. If I could, I’d run into that room and hug her. Thank her for believing in me when my father still refuses to.

Instead, I return to my room and stare out the window, watching the rain fall. It splatters against the glass with the wind, the clouds a dark threatening gray, and I hold my old teddy bear to my chest as I sit curled up on my bed.

There’s a soft knock on my door and then my mother appears, a kind smile on her face. “May I come in?”

I nod, not saying anything.

She glides in, holding something behind her back. “A package came for you.”

I frown. “Really?”

“Yes.” She holds it out in front of me and I frown at the small white box, wondering who it came from. She waves it at me. “Take it.”

I do as she says, opening the box carefully by pulling off the lid.

“It was delivered by courier,” Mom says as she watches me. “From someone local, I assume.”

I push back the layers of white tissue to reveal a small black box. Picking it up, I read the label.

“It’s Chanel,” Mom says. “Looks like lipstick.”

I immediately know who it’s from.

The lipstick is Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour. I open the small box and pull out the tube, taking the cap off and rolling it up to see it’s an intense, crimson red.

“Looks like 99 Pirate.” I glance up at my mother in confusion. “It’s their iconic red. I own it.”

I’m not surprised. My mother likes wearing bright red lipstick, and she can do it well.

“Who would send you that?” she asks.

I send her a look but don’t speak. And I can tell she knows.

“He has good taste,” she says with a faint smile. “He should, considering how much he’s worth.”

I smile. I can’t help it.

“I won’t tell your father. It’ll be our little secret,” she says as she heads for my door. “I’ve also been trying to convince him to give you your phone back. He can’t treat you like a little girl forever.”

She’s about to exit my bedroom when I call out to her.

“Mom?” She turns to look at me, her delicate brows drawn together. “Thank you.”

Her smile is slow. “You’re welcome, darling. I think the color could look good on you. Give it a try.”

“I will.”

Once she closes the door, I cap the lipstick and search the box, finding a small envelope buried at the bottom. I pull the card out with shaking fingers, recognizing the bold handwriting immediately.

You can kiss me with this color the next time we’re together. It’ll show up on my skin better.

X,

Crew

I close my eyes,my lips curling into a smile. Oh my God.

Oh my God.

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