AllFreeNovel
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It should surprise me that there are a bunch of vodka and tequila bottles in the top drawer. But after meeting Kat, I’m more surprised there aren’t a few dime bags of weed and some pharmaceuticals in here too.
I clear out the bottles, stacking them on her side of the room, after pushing away her clothes with the toe of my ballet pump.
“Aw, Evie, don’t be like that,” Kat says right behind me, making me flinch.
Shit, my nerves are absolutely shot. So much for therapy.
Kat slithers past me to grab one of the bottles. “Here. What’s mine is yours!”
I open my mouth to argue, and rear back when Kat tries to stick the bottle of tequila between my lips. “What the hell?”
She takes a quick swig, then cocks a neatly plucked eyebrow at me. “Welcome to college?”
We stare at each other for a second. For some reason, when she bursts out laughing, I join her. It’s probably exhaustion. Maybe a touch of hysteria.
It’s been a challenging couple of weeks.
Rough as fucking sandpaper.
If it wasn’t for my father forcing us to pack up and leave, I’m not sure what mental state I’d be in right now. I was headed for a motherfucking deep canyon… and my brake lines had just been cut. Let’s hope this Pinecrest place is just the detour I need.
* * *
“I can do my own makeup,” I tell Kat, meeting her frown in the mirror with a scowl of my own.
“Uh-huh.” She arches an eyebrow. “You wearing any now?”
My expression drops. “Yes?”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She slaps a cosmetic bag down on the dressing table, turns, and gives me a ferocious smile. “Welcome to your first—and most important—class of the semester. Cosmetology: 101.”
My idea of makeup is a lick of mascara and a touch of lip gloss. And I usually don’t bother with the lip gloss because my lips are pink enough. Plus, it’s awkward when people stare at my mouth when I’m talking to them.
When Kat turns my chair and finally lets me see my reflection, my chest tightens. I think it might be anxiety, but there’s a chance it could be joy. I’m as flawless and dewy as an Instagram influencer. My blue eyes with their dark rings look huge and bright, my mouth a perfect pink pout. It’s a surprisingly natural look, especially taking into account how much fucking makeup I’m wearing. I lost count of how many layers of foundation and contouring Kat slathered on my skin.
“This is cute, but it’s gotta go,” Kat says, breathing tequila into my face when she leans in to add a last sweep of mascara to my lashes.
I clap a hand over the tiny key dangling from the chain around my neck. “Hell, no.”
Kat rolls her eyes. “Ugh, really?”
“It’s… a family heirloom.”
“Oh, God. You didn’t have to bring more—we’ve got plenty. You can’t throw away a cigarette butt around here without hitting like three heirlooms.” She scans my face, eyes narrowed, and then steps back and gives me a wide grin. “I’ll let it pass. People will be too busy looking at your eyes, anyway.”
I reach for my hair band so I can put my hair into a messy bun, but Kat slaps my wrist away. “A masterpiece like this must have a beautiful frame.” She stands behind me, fluffing out my mass of white-blonde hair, and then squares off in front of me with a spray bottle.
“Close your eyes and make a wish.”
A fine mist hits my face.
“Class dismissed,” Kat says, looking deeply satisfied with her work. “Now put on your Gucci, and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Kat points dismissively to a dress hanging from the closet door.
It’s black.
It’s slinky.
