Page 13 of Stuck with my Frenemy
“No. I get to apply it,” I argued because I’d waited for this day since the first time I saw this black-shrouded ball of darkness.
With purple, flowy hair. If she just curled it more …
I was getting off topic. It was lipstick time.
“You drop the damn tube now or I’ll kick your ass,” Ebony threatened, her spine straightening to make her appear more menacing.
“Bring it. I’ll give you a gun show you’ll never forget.” Keeping the lipstick wrapped in my long, elegant fingers, I flexed, twisting my arms until I tucked them up under my chin like a praying mantis. “You want some of this, too?”
“What do you mean ‘too?’ Who else are you giving some of your insanity?”
I blew out an exasperated breath. The only way this would ever work was if I somehow caught her by surprise. Hmm, what could I do? Eyes roaming the small bathroom, I hid my smile when I finally had a plan. “I’m going to show my guns to Ash, dummy. Oh, dear Cupid! What is that?” I pointed with gusto toward the door, and as if perfectly planned, Ebony started turning.
Creeping forward, I had the lipstick aimed where her mouth should be when she turned back. I’d paid close attention so I could get the specifications right. Like a lipstick engineer, if you will.
Or whatever.
“Cherry, seriously? What are you looking—”
The moment she turned, I was on her like cheese on bread, the lipstick painting a beautiful line. Until she jerked like she was having an epileptic seizure.
Then the beautiful maroon shade colored jagged lines up and down her top lip. Wincing, I just stared at her with an incredulous look. “What is wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head as a child too many times the way you accuse me of? Because even Death’s Princess should know that you never move when someone is applying lipstick.”
She rushed to the mirror, her mouth dropping to the floor as she took in her appearance. “Cherry! I swear to all the gods I’m going to kill you.”
“Only if you catch me.” Dashing for the door, I paused with my fingers curled around the handle. “Scrub with warm water and most of it will come off, but this is the good shit and it lasts all day for real. So, good luck, girl!”
Ebony’s growl followed me out the door, and hurriedly I righted my steps to make it seem like nothing at all was wrong even though I’d just spend entirely too long in the bathroom. All eyes were on me as I slid into my stool again, taking a sip of my Cosmo. “Gosh, this is delish. You do good work, Ash.” Since he had his back turned, I needed to get his attention, and I had to speak loudly so I would be heard over the music.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, his eyes darting over the crowd behind me in search of something—or someone. “Where’s your friend?”
“B.I.N.G.O,” I sang, smirking and leaning as far back as I could in my seat while taking another small sip. Deliciousness.
He eyed me as if I’d grown three more heads while a line formed between his eyebrows. “Uh, what?”
“I guess I should have spelled Ebony instead of Bingo, but it’s the same thing,” I told him, shrugging.
“Ebony is where, then? Playing bingo?” Confusion muddled his features, and I just shook my head.
“No, in the bathroom, duh.” I leaned closer, whispering, “She had some complications.”
With a long, drawn-out nod upward, he held his face in place and pressed his lips together tightly. “Aha. I see.”
“Do you?” I asked, imitating the same face he was giving me. “Because your expression does not show me that you do.”
Quiet filled the bar when the song was changing, and he didn’t say anything. I really didn’t understand why nobody ever understood me. It was like I was speaking another language or something. When the silence got annoying and made me twitch, I continued. “So, tell me about your brother. How long has he been dealing antiques?”
“Some might say forever. He’s always had a natural talent for finding rare and valuable things.” As if he’d said too much, Ash flinched away. “How long have you two been collectors?”
“For about, oh, I’d say seven years. We have this giant house that is ancient old, so antiques always look right inside something like that, right? Plus, Ebony loves them.” I snickered in my head at the jab at her old persona, but somehow I kept a straight face on the outside.
Until old Ebs slid in next to me, her eyes narrowed on me the whole time. Then I burst out laughing because oh, dear Cupid, the lipstick so did not come off.
“Hey … Ebs,” I croaked, trying not to cackle at her tic-tac-toe-board face, which was even worse than before because anyone would be able to tell she had scrubbed from the tint all around her mouth.
Clown face.
I couldn’t hold the cackle back that time.
