Page 25 of Wish Lists and Road Trips

“I don’t think you’re boring,” I said, looking up at him.

He stopped in the aisle and turned to me. I was still clutching his arm, so now we were practically chest to chest. He looked at my hair, my mouth. Finally he met my eyes. “That’s because you’re easy to talk to.”

My heart suddenly felt too full for my chest. Having a hunch how hard he had to work to make words come out of his mouth, that felt like an enormous compliment.

I let him go to get some more air, and so he wouldn’t see how red my cheeks were. There was a toy lightsaber on an end cap, and I picked it up, pressing a series of buttons until it flashed red light. Then I smacked Nick in the stomach with it. I’d be lying if I said the solid thunk it made on his abs didn’t shoot electricity straight between my legs.

Nick took it from my hand and touched the tip gently to the side of my neck. I pretended to be mortally wounded.

“Brit. Do youwantto get home?”

I frowned at him. Of course I did, but that didn’t mean we had to ignore all of the fun parts. Since I’d started this trip, the world I lived in felt smaller and smaller. I’d been imagining adventures like this since I was a kid and I hadn’t gotten to live any of them until happenstance and maybe a little bit of fate had set me on this course with Nick.

Nick, whose stress was ratcheting up every second I didn’t answer him. “Yes, of course I want to get home.” But first I wanted to enjoy the ride. I had a hunch Nick could use the adventure as much as I could.

“I only need a couple more things,” I promised. I steered us around the grocery section to my favorite part of any store.

“Makeup?” Nick asked, incredulous.

“It’s not for you.”

“I didn’t think it was.” His ears turned pink.Oh, Nick. You are so adorkable.

I bent to look in one of the sample mirrors. My face was unrecognizable without my favorite winged eyeliner and pink lipstick. I picked out a tube called Two to Tango, then grabbed a liquid liner and mascara.

“Guys like to think women dress up for them, but it’s not always about you. It’s about self-expression, what makes us feel pretty and unique and seen. For ourselves.” I swiped my lips with the color and popped them in the mirror. “I just like my face better like this.”

He laughed quietly and I pushed his arm. “Is that funny?”

“No, it’s just, I like your face too.”

I swallowed, sliding my gaze sideways. Nick was casually inspecting a bottle of brush cleaner like he hadn’t just slayed me twice in the span of five minutes.

I plucked at the front of my shirt, letting cool air fan my chest.

“How did you get into all of this anyway?”

I shrugged. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at.”

He gave me a look likecome on.

“Okay, it’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at that I loved. I’m also unusually good at algebra butblech. I did makeup for all the girls in my high school at one point or another.”

Most of the time they were making fun of my outfits or ignoring me altogether, but they were all my best friends whenever one of them had a date.

“Eventually, my mom’s friends started hiring me to do it for their fancy parties and it became a little business. Thoroughly embarrassing my mother was one of the perks.”

Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and followed me down the aisle. “Why would she be embarrassed?”

“Oh, didn’t you know, Nicky? Working for my money is beneath my status.” I made a gag sound. “My father paid for me to go to college, because he wanted me to be well-read and well-studied so I could be a good partner for my future husband.” I snorted. “He actually said that. Everyone I know thinks this is a silly dream.” Even Meri sometimes, I thought, though she’d never admit it.

Nick picked up an oversized powder brush, then put it back. “If you love it, it doesn’t matter what they think. But opening a studio is a lot different than doing makeup at some rich lady’s house, or at the mall where someone else pays for the space and the utilities. There’s insurance, advertising, taxes. Have you ever done anything like this before?”

“Why do you keep asking me about the things I’ve done before, Nick? There’s a first time for everything and this is mine.”

He shrugged. “I’m just wondering if you’ve thought out all of your options. Buying a place is a big deal.”

“Of course I’ve thought it out.” And I was ninety-two percent sure that my business plan was based on facts not emotion. Of course, there’d always been a little voice in my head that sounded a lot like my father’s asking me what the heck I knew about running alifelet alone a business.

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