Page 57 of Make Her Mine
“Stunning?” Sherry said looking at the shiny minidress. “Glamorous? Awe-inspiring?”
“Slutty,” I said.
Sherry shook her head. “No, this is not one bit slutty. This is a classic design, Ella. And with those tall stilettos, you’ll look like a runway model. I’ll go plug in the curling iron and the curling wand. Let’s do your hair and makeup, and I’ll even join you, so you’re not alone when you walk in.”
“But Sherry,” I whined. “I don’t want to meet his parents.”
“Life is tough.” She took me by the shoulders, pushing me toward the bathroom. “Shower, do not shampoo. You did that yesterday. Hair styles stay better that way. You have ten minutes to shower and shave, then throw on a robe and come to my room so I can fix you up.”
“If you’re coming with me, when will you have time to get ready?” How could she do us both in enough time?
“Don’t worry about me; I’m a seasoned veteran.” She pushed me the rest of the way into the bathroom. “Oh, and don’t give Brandon a heads up that you’re coming. Surprising him is a lot better.”
“I don’t know about this.” I felt nauseated. “I might be coming down with a bug or something.” I burped and looked at Sherry with wide eyes. “See.”
“It’s called nerves. Shower.” She closed the door, and I obeyed her.
Since I’ve never crashed a party before, my anxiety was crippling. Amazing how severely it could affect a person! “Lord, if I’m this sick about going to a party, what’s going to happen when we actually kiss? Oh, Lord! Or have sex?”
Sherry called out, “I can hear you, Ella. More showering, less worrying.”
Small apartments were the worst. Back home, the walls were so much thicker! So, the remainder of her shower was in silence.
Once finished, I felt no better as I went to Sherry’s bedroom to be powdered, plumped, brushed, and curled. “I don’t want false eyelashes,” as I eyed them on the vanity top.
“Those aren’t for you anyway. You’ve got lovely long eyelashes, unlike the rest of the family. Lucky.” She pulled a lock of hair up to run a straightener over it.
Some parts she straightened, others she put into hot rollers, and still others were curled. What is the end game? It’s not making a heck of a lot of sense to me! “What if they’re gone by the time we get there?”
Sherry laughed. “I doubt they reserved a place like the Hyatt to go home early. Don’t worry, I’m nearly done here, and you can put your dress and heels on while I get dressed, then we’ll go.”
“Brandon should know I’m coming...” I looked at my nails that were done at the salon a few days earlier. “What if he hates the way I look?”
“Umm,” she hummed as she reviewed me in the mirror. “He willnothate it. You look gorgeous. I’m not just saying that. The haircut, the nails and matching pedicure, everything is coming together in an amazing way. Don’t agonize Ella, that guy will love what he sees when he lays his eyes on you tonight. And he won’t be the only man who will not be able to keep his eyes off you.”
“Oh, I don’t want anyone else to be looking at me, Sherry.” I felt so weird as it was! I didn’t quite recognize the woman who looked back at me in the mirror.
“Too bad. You’re going to stun them all.” She took pins with zirconias and put them in my hair until it looked magnificent.
Sitting there, looking at my hair and makeup, I found myself speechless. “Wow. Is that really me?”
Sherry nodded. “It is.” She pulled me up. “Now go put that dress on and let’s get the heck out of here.”
Fortunately, she took a few minutes to get ready, which gave me time to walk in the heels. Circling the living room, each time I passed the mirror by the front door , I caught my reflection and didn’t recognize myself. “Man, he’s going to freak out.”
“He sure is,” Sherry announced. “Time to go.”
My heart pounded so hard she probably heard it. “I can’t.”
Taking my hand, she tugged me along. “You can and will. You’re dazzling. And you’re about to see what happens to men when they see women as beautiful as you.”
Sherry wasn’t looking too shabby herself. “You look elegant yourself, Sherry.” She pinned her blonde hair up in a messy bun and wore a black dress and heels that made her look sophisticated.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if I met a handsome bachelor at this party. Hopefully, there will be a few of them!” We got into her car, then we proceeded to the anniversary.
Taking deep breaths to calm myself down, I looked good, so that helped. But I still was me on the inside, and that was disconcerting. “Do you think it would be okay if I stayed quiet tonight?”
“I don’t see what it would hurt.” She smiled as we pulled up in front of the hotel. “Here we are. Just be yourself. He likes you already. You don’t have to win him over. This isn’t for him, Ella, this is for you: a woman everyone notices. It’s powerful. You need to know how it feels. And it builds up your security, your femininity, too, which carries over to how comfortable you are with your sexuality.”
