AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod.
"I was wondering since you always look so stunning if you could show me how to apply makeup. Since my mom isn't here... I'm hoping you might want to."
My heart goes out to her, hearing the longing for some womanly advice coating her every word. I rise and hold out my hand. "It would be my honor, so c'mon, Samantha." She stands up and wraps her arm around me.
"Thank you so much, Alisha. I don't know what I would do without you. Next to my mom, you're the coolest woman ever."
I chuckle. "Well, that is a big compliment. But keep in mind, I will not smear your face full of makeup. You don't need it. And, more importantly, it would give your father a heart attack."
She let out a funny snort as she nods in agreement while following me to the bathroom.
"You blue-eyed girls look your best in golds, bronzes, and warm browns. These shades will make your eyes sparkle," I say, wiggling my brows.
I show her how to apply blush, eyeliner, and mascara, and after a while, I let her try it herself. Samantha gazes into the bathroom mirror—the warm brown eyeshadow she used herself is making her eyes pop, and the soft blush on her cheeks is showing her fantastic bone structure. This girl is gorgeous.
"Can I ask you another question, Alisha?" she asks while putting down the mascara. I stop what I'm doing and gaze up at her through the mirror. She's back to biting her lips.
"Sure, ask me anything."
"When we were out shopping, I noticed you were checking out your surroundings. And you kind of looked afraid…"
I blow out a long exhale—she noticed.I ponder what to tell her. Should I tell her some bullshit story or tell her the truth? When I think of Cole and how it hurts that he's not honest, the choice is simple.
"A few months ago, a man beat me up, and I ended up in the hospital." Samantha gazes at me moon-eyed as I tell her in short what happened. Her hands are covering her mouth, and the moment I stop, she hugs me. I have to admit that sharing it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
"Oh my god, Alisha, you're so strong. I don't think I could go outside knowing that the person who hurt me may be observing me."
I swallow and shrug. "Some days, it is hard. But locking myself up in this apartment isn't going to help me. My parents taught me always to be strong and never to give up. Because if I do that, he wins."
"Where are your parents?" she asks curiously.
I grab my phone and open one of my last text messages. I turn and show her the picture that goes with the message. Samantha snatches the phone out of my hand.
"Is that a cruise ship?" she asks with utter amazement.
"Correct. My father retired last year, and now they're on their dream vacation."
Samantha's eyes roam over the screen and dart between me and the picture. "Wow, you look like your mother. She's stunning as well."
I chuckle.
"Don't you miss them?"
"Sure I do, but they deserve this holiday. My parents both worked hard. My mom is turning fifty this year, and this was my dad's birthday present. They've been on holiday for over six months, and they'll be returning in two months."
Samantha bites her lips, and her frown grows as she's thinking. "So they were on holiday when you got attacked? How did they react when they heard you were in the hospital?"
Samantha stares at me when I don't react.
"They don't know. I didn't tell them," I murmur as I grab my telephone back.
Samantha's mouth drops open, and her eyes are as big as watermelons. "They don't know?"
When the guilt I've been pushing away runs free through my head, I straighten my spine and remind myself why I didn't tell them. "It may sound weird, but if I had told them, they would have taken the first plane back. The thought of them breaking their dream holiday just to come back and worry about me would only make me feel bad. I had Bella, Emma, and Amanda helping me during the recovery."
"You are an amazing woman, and I hope Cole apologizes for shouting at you."
"You heard that?" I ask with raised brows.
