Page 24 of Desert King

I swallow thickly. “I don’t want to be unseen anymore. People look through me, not at me.”

“I can, do… more. But Amber, I can’t fix what’s in here.” The tip of her finger brushes my chest. It’s not sexual and yet it is…

She shrugs. “I do kinda go both ways. There’s something about you… a frailty layered over great strength. It’s like you can’t decide which one to wear.”

“Are you a mind reader?”

“It’s the Native American in me. My great-grandmother was a seer.”

“Wow. That’s beyond impressive.”

“My half-brother insists we connect with the land and our heritage. Once a month we go to the reservation in the mountains… we smoke pipes, set up a sweat lodge as a way to keep our culture alive.”

“I wish I had something like that. My family isn’t into culture or religion.”

“Maybe I’ll take you with me next time we go.”

“I’d like that.”

“Are you coming by later?”

I nod.

“Good. Have a good day with my boy. Open Instagram. Find a few looks you might want to try. And when my Royal Bastard of an ex swings by, give him the bird for me.”

“Yeah, ok.” I roll my eyes. I smile as she kisses Evan on his head before she leaves for work.

* * *

“You ready?”

I nod, anxious to see my big reveal. Jenny spent hours, plucking, exfoliating, and putting some weird cream on my face. Then she artfully raised her shears to my long locks, “promising not to cut too much.”

I held my breath as she applied strong smelling dye to my hair, but she swore I’d look “like a desert rose in full bloom,” by the time she’s done.

Neither of us speak as she wheels me around to face the mirror.

“How is this possible? You did this just with make-up and hair dye?”

“What can I say, I’m good. Right?”

My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. Gone is the plain, brown mouse girl with pale skin and muddy eyes. In her place is a stunning brunette with caramel highlights and light pink tipped ends. My eyes are wide and lined with pink and black liner. My lashes are long and full. She put a light tanner and coat of blush on my cheeks.

“All I need to do now is gain twenty pounds.”

“That won’t be hard, girl. Just stop at Tommy’s Tacos on your way home every night. Everything is deep-fried and the avocado guac is homemade.”

“Yum.”

“Are you ready to tell me about this biker giving you a hard time?”

I shrug. “He hates me. For no reason either.”

“Is he a Royal Bastard?”

I nod. “Tarak.”

The brush stills in her hand. “Tarak?!Girl, what did you do to piss off the Desert King?”

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