Page 27 of Shield

“Go like this,” she says, and smacks her lips together. I follow suit. She pulls out liquid eyeliner and starts to draw.

“Oooh, girl!” Blake croons. “Blowjob lips!”

I crumple into laughter as Olivia jerks the eyeliner away. “Oh my God, Siena!”

“Sorry, sorry,” I laugh and sit up straight. “I don’t want to ruin your party.”

“If Matti couldn’t ruin it, there’s no way that you can,” she quips, then pinches her lips together, looking at me with wide eyes.

The smile freezes on my face as my eyes dart to hers. “Whatdoes that mean?”

Moments of silence pass, and Blake leans forward slowly. “What did I miss? Who’s Matti?”

“He’s no one,” I growl. “Matti’s not going to be there, is he, Olivia?”

She shakes her head emphatically. “No. No way. He’s not a club kind of guy. It’s just that I talked to him about having stations set up where people could spray paint their own graffiti, and he tried to shut it down. That’s all I meant.”

“Graffiti painting stations? That’s a fucking great idea!” Amelia shouts. “Do you have a DJ spinning old school hip hop?”

“Of course,” Olivia says, giving me a tentative smile.

Fuck, just the mention of that man and my good mood disappears.

Olivia notices and shakes her head, lowering her voice. “Don’t worry about it, Siena. He’s not coming. I promise. I don’t even think he realizes it’s tonight. He’s had his head up his ass for weeks now, totally distracted like all the time.”

He’s distracted because he’s fucking someone else. Kissing someone else.

My stomach churns at the thought, and I bite in a deep breath, resolving to let it go. Fuck it. Olivia wouldn’t set me up like that. She knows how he threw me out after I was attacked, and she’s very aware that I haven’t spoken to Matti since.

Well, except for the parking garage. I didn’t tell her about that.

Olivia adds a few finishing touches and leans back, assessing her work. “Perfect,” she murmurs.

With a flourish, she presents me to Blake and Amelia.

“Love it!” Amelia yells, filling our shot glasses.

“Definitelygetting dick tonight!” Blake shouts, and I blush.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I say, with a self-conscious laugh, trying hard to shove the image of Matti out of my mind.

Olivia gives me a conspiratorial wink, handing me a mirror. “Maybe,” she grins, and I wonder if she can read my mind. “Maybe not.”

The lipstick is perfect for the dress and matches the little neon pink eyeliner accents around my eyes. I don’t recognize myself, and that feels like a good thing. Safe. Like a shield that I can hide the real Siena behind, and all her problems along with her, while fun Siena goes out and enjoys herself for fucking once.

It’s time.

Olivia is watching me proudly. “I have the perfect shoes to match, too. Silver and sequins to match the dress.”

I toss the mirror onto the couch. “Hell yeah, let’s fucking gooooo!” I stand up and yank the hem down, wiggling my ass and throwing my hands in the air like I’m ready to dance all night.

Olivia laughs. “Yes! But first, SHOTS!”

13

Matti

Iknow I told Vin I’d show up tonight, but after hours of sitting at the bar, a random woman rambling on nonstop next to me, I’m seriously considering bailing.

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