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“Don’t make me out to be controlling. I told you, I just don’t want you getting carried away with something you aren’t going to see through.”
“So what if I don’t see it through? If I don’t try, how will I know?”
Jude put on his sensible face. “Having money doesn’t mean we can waste it on any passing fad.”
“Right. How much did you spend on my birthday party, Jude? One night of entertainment. How much?”
“I did that for you!”
“I know, but what about me doing something for myself? Why is that so awful to you?”
He sighed and shook his head. “We’ll talk about this later.”
We won’t talk about this later. You’ll pretend we didn’t have this conversation like you pretended we didn’t have the last conversation. He hadn’t brought it up, and I hated this side of him; the side that suddenly ignored the things I wanted. I’d never seen this side of him before. I wanted it to pack its shit and move along.
Jude leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. I never usually passed on the chance to kiss my yummy hubby, but he didn’t look so yummy all of a sudden. I mean, physically he was, obviously. But he wasn’t acting enough like himself for me to want to connect. I needed him to hear me, and he kept trying to pass my opinions about my own life off like they didn’t matter.
I spent a full hour comparing what each make-up course offered, prices, and the time they’d take to complete. What surprised me the most was how short the classes were. Some promised training in one day. The one I liked best lasted for six days, would teach me everything I needed to know, and give me a Make-Up Artist Certificate. That sounded pretty cool to me. My name. On a certificate. It was kinda expensive so my next step was to check out reviews of the class I’d chosen. Not only on the official website, elsewhere too. I read, amazed. Not a bad word was said, and some of the former students had even gone on to work on movie sets.
I hadn’t decided what kind of work I’d like to do. I didn’t particularly want to deal with movie or TV stars. I liked normal people. Every day people. People who hadn’t yet seen themselves at their absolute best. I imagined myself working with brides, making them look perfect for their big day. So maybe a salon?
I couldn’t go back to Jude with my research until I’d made a definite decision, so I figured my day’s work would be to think about my options.
My cell phone vibrated on the desk in front of me. Jesse. I picked it up with a smile, wondering what he needed me to bring him. His calls for emergency sports magazines, and occasionally chocolate, were familiar by now.
“Hey, Jesse. What’s up?”
“Bree, are you busy?”
His voice didn’t sound right. Not light and happy with a hint of frustration at dealing with his mother. He sounded worried, and my stomach clenched.
“Not with anything I can’t put off. What do you need?”
“You. I need… you. Something’s wrong with Kayla.”
Crap! She went to that party on Saturday night. Dammit, I should have… But… the party was two days ago.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She told Mom she wasn’t feeling good so she hasn’t gone to school today, but she doesn’t look sick, she looks scared. I asked her what’s wrong and she started crying and ran to her room. Mom’s at work today and Kayla won’t talk to me. I know how much she likes you. I hoped-”
“I’ll be right there.”
I ended the call, stuffed my phone in my pocket, and slipped into my shoes. Whatever was bothering Kayla didn’t sound like something I could ignore. I pulled my hair back into a messy ponytail, set the alarm then set off for Jesse’s.
“Wow, you got here fast,” Jesse said as he opened the door. He appeared to be getting faster on his crutches already, though he must have been tired of wearing baggy shorts every day because he couldn’t fit anything else over his cast. Lucky for him, the look suited him. Actually, I’d never seen him in a bad outfit. If he wasn’t a soccer player he’d have made an excellent male model. Those green eyes…
Quit it, Bree. Kayla needs you. Stop lusting after her brother and go to her!
I shrugged. “Girl code. When one of us is in trouble we drop everything. Is she still in her room?”
“Yeah. I tried to talk to her a few minutes ago and she told me to go away. But… not that politely.”
“Okay. Want me to try now, or give her a little more time?”
“Go now. Not knowing is driving me crazy.”
“Okay.” I started to walk towards the stairs then stopped and turned back to Jesse. “She might ask me not to tell you whatever it is. Unless it’s something that puts her in danger, you understand I have to do as she asks?”
