Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Have fun! Don’t fall in love!”
I flipped him off and got out of the car. I’d just knocked on the door, when it was pulled open. Dane stood there looking cute as hell in sweats, socks, and a T-shirt. It was the relaxed kind of look when you were around people you felt comfortable with, and I suddenly wished I were dressed the same way.
“Are you going to let me in?”
“Are you moving here?”
“That’s what Seth said! I want this to be fun, and I know you don’t really know what fun is, so I thought I should be prepared.”
Dane shook his head, but a small smile teased his lips. He liked it when I gave him shit, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
He stood back and signaled me. “Come in.”
“Desse! Desse! Desse!” Hailey came running and wrapped her arms around my legs.
I bent down to hug her. “Hey, little one. What’s up? Ooh! We should think of a secret handshake. That’ll be on the list for tonight.”
When I stood again, Dane was watching me with that confused look he sometimes got, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Hi, Jesse. It’s good to see you again.” Bree came out of the hallway and gave me a smile. She had her hair tied up with some curls in it and was wearing a cute pink blouse and black pants.
“Hey. Thanks for letting me come hang out.”
“Are you kidding? Hailey and Dane were practically begging me, not that they needed to.” She winked. Without looking, I knew Dane would be scowling.
“Eh, they like me. You look great,” I told her, and she groaned.
“Thanks. I’m trying to do my makeup. I don’t get to dress up much anymore, and I feel like I have two left hands.”
“I can help if you want,” I told her. “I mean, not that you need it. Like I said, you look great, but—”
“Really?” She beamed. “That would be fantastic.”
“I love makeovers. I brought my stuff, since I figured I’d do Hailey’s later, and then we could gang up on Dane and make him let us do his. So I’ll just fix you up first.”
Dane’s eyes went wide. “Um…”
“Shh. No arguing, Dane. This is a fun night. Remember we leave the fun to me.”
I opened my bag and pulled out my makeup kit, then handed the duffel to Dane. “Here you go. We’ll be in the bathroom if you need us. Come on, Hailey. I need an assistant.”
“Yay!” Hailey squealed, and Dane just stood there, looking a little dumbstruck, his head cocked. I looked down at his stupid socked feet, which were much cuter than socked feet should be.
“We’ll be back.” I made a kissy face at him and disappeared with Bree and Hailey.
Bree sat on the toilet lid, and I lifted Hailey to the counter, then busted open my kit and studied the colors. “You have great skin, ya know?” I told her. “You don’t need foundation or anything. Maybe a little concealer, but we have close to the same skin tone, so I can make mine work.”
“Really?” Bree asked.
“Seriously.”
“I feel like I look old and tired all the time.”
“No. Not at all. You’re gorgeous. Isn’t she, Hailey?”
“Mommy is beautiful!”
As I browsed my makeup, I tucked the cotton-candy lip gloss away because that was just mine, then grabbed a palette with some of my favorite shades of pink.
“I’m going to blend these shades.” I pointed to a couple of my favorites, and Bree nodded, closing her eyes. I got to work.
“Is this what you want to do?” Bree asked.
“Nah. I love it, but more for myself, ya know? I mean, I like makeovers with friends and stuff, but it’s…well, a sort of art and hobby for me. It makes me feel strong.” I looked at Hailey. “But you don’t have to wear makeup to be strong or beautiful. Always remember that.”
“Otay,” she replied, digging through my stuff. Oh, it was cute how she’d said okay.
“I want to be a therapist,” I told Bree as I stroked the brush across her lid. “I’m going to school but part-time. With work and stuff, it takes forever.”
“I wish I’d gone to school. We got married young. Not that I regret that in any way.”
“Of course not. And you can still go. Even if it’s one class at a time, it’s something.”
My eyes caught a shape in the mirror, and I looked up to see Dane in the doorway. He had his arms crossed, leaning against the doorjamb, just…watching us…watching me. I had no idea how long he’d been there. I winked at him, then went back to paying attention to Bree.
“What would you go for? If you went back?” I asked, and the two of us chatted while I finished her makeup.
When I was done, I stood back and admired my work. “What do you guys think?” I asked Dane and Hailey.