Page 8 of The Sexy Part
The vanity has a collection of makeup, so I go over, looking for the makeup bag. I find it on the floor behind the vanity. “What were your friends doing in here? Playing keep-away with your stuff?”
She shakes her head. “I threw it when Michaela, that’s my fiancé’s ex-girlfriend, came in to announce that Dave left because he decided he couldn’t marry me after all.”
“Did you throw anything else?”
“No. I’m not usually prone to fits of temper. If you had seen the smug look on her face, you’d have thrown something too.”
“I’m sure. I’ll go look for the rest of your stuff.”
I go down the hall and check out the bathroom. There’s all the hair stuff. They probably needed an outlet close to the mirror. I gather up gel, mousse, hairspray, and a curling iron and head back to her room.
She hangs her wedding gown in the closet.
“Found the hair stuff,” I say. “Is that everything?”
She turns and dashes a tear from her cheek. “Yes. I’m just going to leave this here.”
“Okay.”Mom will know what to do with it.
I pack all the hair stuff in her suitcase and zip it closed. “How about some cake? I saw some in the refrigerator downstairs.”
“My cake? The triple-layer chocolate with cherry filling?”
“I think so. Is that bad?”
“I was really looking forward to that cake.”
“Okay, then. Let’s go. I got the suitcase. Grab your purse.”
She hesitates.
“Unless you’d rather go home. I can box some cake for you to go.”
“Home is Dave’s apartment. We just put a deposit down on a condo and got approved for a mortgage, but I can’t swing it on one salary.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’m not sure where I’m going with this. I’m exhausted and not thinking straight.”
“I can find you a place to stay tonight. Doesn’t have to be with me.”
She takes a deep breath. “I’d like to put off reality a little longer. Let’s eat cake.”
She grabs her large purse from the floor and heads out. I follow. She stops on the way to poke her head in the bathroom and gasps.
“Cooper! Why didn’t you tell me I look like a raccoon? Look at my mascara and eyeliner. What a mess.”
“It didn’t seem important in the grand scheme of things.” Honestly, it doesn’t take away from her beauty.
She digs in her purse and finds a travel makeup wipe, expertly cleaning up her eyes. Then she flips it over and cleans her entire face.
She turns to me, fresh-faced and stunningly beautiful. “Better?”
“Yeah. Good. Great, actually.” Her skin is flawless, her eyes a sparkling blue, her nose cute and upturned, her lips full and luscious. I can’t seem to look away.
She gives me an uncertain smile. “Thanks.”
She heads for the stairs. Halfway down, she says, “This was supposed to be my big moment on the grand staircase.”
“Now it’s a little moment on the way to better moments.”
“Can I bottle your positivity?”
