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Without as much as another word, Magnet had punched him again, this time so hard in the stomach that Zeppelin vomited.
While I’d wanted to throw my arms around him and thank him for defending me, I hid when Magnet came back inside. I joined him in the kitchen a few minutes later and acted as though I was unaware of what had transpired.
“Look at your hand,” I gasped when I realized he was holding it under the faucet as blood flowed from his knuckles.
“It’s nothing,” he snapped before abruptly leaving the room.
Now, I wished I’d thanked him that day.
I realized he was still staring up at me while I held the eyeliner pencil Verity said would create the appearance of deep wrinkles beneath layers of foundation and face powder.
The simple act of putting one hand on his shoulder to steady myself sent a flood of heat through my body.
“Thank you for helping me with this even though I was a total arsehole about it earlier,” he said quietly enough only for me to hear him.
“I’ve a bit of practice with makeup,” I responded as I pressed the pencil into the natural lines of his forehead. “Sorry,” I said when he winced. “Your skin is quite dry. I reached for the container of cold cream I should’ve known to apply first.
“That feels good,” he whispered as I used my fingertips to massage the moisturizer into his face.
“Good thinking, Schön,” said Verity, walking over to me. “It will also help when it’s time to take the makeup off.”
“How often do I do that?” Magnet asked.
“Daily,” Verity and I responded at the same time.
“Daily?”
“Now, you see what we go through in an effort to look pretty every day.” I picked up the pencil again, and this time, the lines I drew were much smoother.
“You don’t need it,” he whispered.
I was focused on his forehead but glanced into his eyes. “Thanks, but you haven’t seen me without it.”
When I placed my hand on his shoulder again to complete the area around his nose, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Sorry. I’m sure I’ll get faster at this with more practice.”
His eyes closed. “No hurry.”
“Actually, there is,” said Nemesis. “You’ll need to finish this on the plane.”
“Sure, um, of course,” I said, realizing Ehren had finished and all eyes were on Magnet and me.
He leaned forward and looked in the mirror in front of him on the table. “Interesting,” he muttered. “Just with the gray hair and beard, I look like my grandfather.”
“Grandfather?I may have overdone it. I’m so sorry.”
My hand shook as I tried to put the lid back on the container of powder.
Magnet touched my wrist with his fingertips. “Let me.”
“I should wash up,” I mumbled, walking out of the room and into the lavatory after setting the container on the table. Why had I volunteered to help with Magnet’s hair and makeup? I knew it wasn’t a good idea to be so close to him, to touch him, or to lean into him like I had. The simple act of massaging the cream into his face had resulted in my heart pounding. His periodic quick intakes of breath had me fantasizing he was as affected as I was. Which was preposterous. Wasn’t it?
Remembering we had to leave, I quickly washed and dried my hands, then returned to the room where we’d all been gathered a few minutes ago. Only Zeppelin remained, and he was the last person I wanted to talk to. He’d made his opinion of me abundantly clear the day I witnessed Magnet defend me.
I put my jacket on and grabbed my bag, ignoring him.
“Schön?” he said as I was on my way out.
