Page 42 of Little Gray Dress

“Why would I thank you?”

“Because without me, you’d not be wearing my old ring.”

I watch her glance down at her ring and purse her lips together. “Whatever. Where’s Hannah?”

I intentionally fork another pile of eggs into my mouth and shrug my shoulders at her.

“Oh good! May, you’re here. The girl you recommended will be here any minute, maybe you could do your tan first since you’re ready to go?” Hannah glares at me over Greta’s shoulder as if I’m not eating fast enough. Does she honestly think I’m going to rush eating the best omelet I’ve ever tasted? I think not.

“Sure! I’d love to. Isn’t she great?” I watch the two of them walk off together, chit-chatting as if they’ve been best friends forever, leaving me in peace to eat my delicious omelet.

When I’m finally done with my second omelet I head upstairs to attempt the start of getting ready for this wedding. I look through the basket of expensive toiletries Hannah left in my room and grab the shampoo and conditioner before jumping in the shower. I take extra time shaving every part of me that may or may not be exposed today and I can feel my irritation washing away with the conditioner. Maybe all I needed was a good shower? Or maybe it was the omelets.

“Hey Em, Hannah wanted me to—” Lily stops midsentence as I walk out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my chest.

“To what?”

“What did you do to your hair?”

“Uh, washed it, don’t act so surprised.”

“With what?” Her face is anything but amused by my sharp wit.

“What do you mean? Shampoo… Actually, I used the stuff Hannah left in here.” I point over at the basket of goodies.

“I don’t think it was shampoo…”

“Why?” I walk past her back into the bathroom and glance in the mirror. “OH MY GOD! Oh my God, what in the holy fuck?” My once dark ash hair is now a muddy purple color.

“What’s wrong?” Hannah walks in, her mouth dropping opened in shock. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything, Hannah, except using the shampoo you gave me.” I point to the basket.

“Why would it do this?” she asks me, getting closer to inspect it.

“I don’t know.”

She grabs the shampoo off the shower shelf and squeezes some into her hand. “It’s purple?”

“Why is it purple?”

“You didn’t notice this while you were showering?”

I watch her squeeze the conditioner into her hand. It is also purple.

“No… I had my eyes closed, and then I was shaving.”

“You shower with your eyes closed?” Lily asks.

“Sometimes, when I’m trying to relax. How do you shower?” I snap at her, wondering why my showering techniques are suddenly to blame for my hair turning purple.

“Beside the point.” Hannah waves at her. “It’s not so terrible, it’s kind of a purply color. When the hairdresser gets here we’ll just have her fix it.” She forces a deep breath, obviously a little more stressed out than she’s letting on.

“Right.” I take a deep breath and glance in the mirror. “Of course, she can fix it.”

“How about right now you go do your tan and then as soon as the hair lady gets here we’ll get your hair fixed?” Hannah is doing her best to stay calm, but her voice keeps cracking when she speaks. I am going to single-handedly completely ruin yet another wedding day.

I walk towards the den where the tanning lady is supposed to be set up. And, of course, right before I walk in, Greta walks out.

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