Page 38 of Tastes Like Watermelon Moonshine
Chrissy stops my spin, her hands on my shoulders. She cocks her head and looks me straight in the eyes. “Girl.” She pauses for dramatic effect, her mom is the drama teacher at school after all, then blinks her eyes multiple times. “Let Jaimie and I handle this. We’ll have you looking amazing in no time.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “If I let you handle it, I’ll end up wearing a dress. And it’s not Sunday.”
“And would that be so bad?” She props her hands on her hips and stares me down, humor glinting in her eyes.
“I guess not.” I finally mutter. Shrinking under her gaze.
She lifts her chin in anI winmotion.
“I’m so nervous!” I flop back onto the pile of clothing on my bed. “We’ve hung out like a thousand times, been officially a couple for four months, and I’m getting cray-cray over a little birthday picnic.”
Chrissy takes charge. “Jaimie, you figure out her hair and makeup while I raid the closet.” She throws open the folding doors to my closet, causing them to shake and creak.
“Don’t break my closet.” I say with a laugh.
“Do you have anything in here that isn’t plaid?” Chrissy sighs.
“I have a few t-shirts with horses on them. And dresses for church, and maybe a skirt or two and like one blouse.” I kick my dangling legs against the side of the bed. “I keep it simple.”
“Are we dressing her first, then doing her makeup?” Jaimie asks from her spot by the dresser. She’s gone through my sparse collection of makeup items, tossing them all over the dresser.
“Dress first, then we’ll do hair and makeup.” Chrissy’s voice is muffled from her spot in the closet.
“You have like no makeup, hope you’re cool with using some of mine.” Jaimie stuffs my makeup back into my drawer beforeleaving the room. She carries a purse full of makeup in her car. She’s more country than I am, but somehow she wears more makeup than Chrissy and I combined.
“I’m just naturally beautiful,” I tease her. “I don’t need much makeup.” I raise a hand to my face, holding it horizontal under my chin while I bat my eyelashes. My best model pose.
Chrissy turns from the closet holding a dress I’d shoved to the side. It’s a dark purple, with a flowing, whimsical skirt. “Raegan,” She cooes, “this one is gorgeous. I think you should wear this one.”
“Sorry, that’s my Easter dress.” I sit up, and look it over closely. “I hid it, because I wasn’t too sure about it.”
“Of course.” Chrissy rolls her eyes.
“But it’s a picnic. Why can’t I just wear jeans and a normal shirt?” I screw up my nose.
“Raegan.” Chrissy dances over to me and smushes my cheeks then gives me the mom face. “This is your birthday picnic with your boyfriend. You will not show up in just jeans and a t-shirt.”
“I still think that dress might be too fancy. I’ll compromise and wear a blouse with my jeans, instead of my usual plaid.” I choke out the word blouse. I hate that word, it’s just such a weird word.
Chrissy huffs. “Fine.” She replaces the dress. The hangers scrape and bump as she continues her search. “Aha.” She whirls from the closet, a triumphant look on her face. In her hand she holds a pastel purple boho blouse. “I have never ever seen you in this shirt, Raegan Marie. And I want to know why.” She props a hand on her cocked hip and gives me a Trunchbull look. “Ya know.” I pause, partly out of fear, I’ve never seen Chrissy like this before. And partly because I don’t remember the shirt. “I honestly don’t have a good reason.” My face morphs from fear to a sheepish grin. “I think I forgot that I owned it.”
“Well, you’re wearing it tonight.” She waves a hand at me like I’m a servant. “Now figure out which jeans you’re wearing with it.”
“I think my stone-washed ones would go best. And I can wear my white Cavendars.”
The door bangs against the wall as Jaimie bursts back into the room carrying a makeup bag the size of my one and only purse. This is her car makeup bag, the one she keeps at her house is even bigger.
I shake my head and laugh. “I won’t need that much makeup.”
“Get dressed, then I’ll decide how much makeup you need.” Jaimie says breathlessly.
It takes me just a few seconds to throw on my jeans and the flowy blouse. Okay, I’ll admit, the flowy shirt combined with my favorite jeans is pretty cute.
“Sit at the desk, and face me.” Jaimie points to the chair.
“Please, I don’t want a ton of makeup.” I whine as I plop into the seat.
“Don’t worry, I’ll go lightly.” Jaimie angles me just right and gets to work.
