Page 52 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“You need to stop that,” Nina said, jabbing a finger at her. “I get why you did it when you were young, but you’re not now, and we’re your friends.”
“What?” Leah asked.
“Getting pissed off when someone offers to do something for you or buy you something.”
“I don’t,” Leah argued, only just managing not to squirm and shuffle her feet at the looks her friends were throwing her.
“You got anything other than cutoffs or clothes you wear around here?” Nina asked.
“Maybe.” Leah wasn’t ready to concede.
“I’m going to look in her wardrobe,” Zoe said, walking past her and into the house.
“I can dress myself!” Leah ran after her.
They all trooped upstairs, and Birdie stopped in Hudson’s room. The curtains looked good, as did the stuff Leah’d picked up online or in thrift stores. It looked like a little boy’s room, and her nephew certainly seemed happy with it.
“I love your room, Hudson. Those curtains are so cool,” Birdie said.
A hand tugged Leah to her bedroom.
“You don’t have to pull me into my own damn room, Nina.”
“Well, hustle it along, girl. We haven’t got all night. Happy hour starts soon.”
She crossed to the closet, where Zoe was already rummaging. Leah had always liked to look nice, but with little money to spare, she’d learned to hunt for bargains and make the most of what she had.
“I have jeans in there, and a top, and that will do,” she said, trying to push Zoe to one side, but like her brothers, she was immovable.
“What kind of top?” Zoe asked. She wore a short black skirt and a pink one-shouldered top paired with black heels. Even in school, she’d been able to throw on anything and look good.
“I’ll do your makeup.” Nina’s voice reached them from the bathroom.
“I can do my own goddamned makeup,” Leah muttered, refusing to acknowledge the small flutter of excitement at the prospect of a night out with her friends, where she could laugh and drink and for a few hours not worry about raising a kid when she had no credentials to do so.
“Why do you have to be so touchy?” Nina asked, appearing in the doorway to her room. “We’re here to help.”
“Because she was raised that way,” Phoebe said, now going through the jewelry in the small box on the chest of drawers.
Leah didn’t add anything to those words because they were the truth. She’d had no good role models.
“I remember her attitude in school, but it always impressed me,” Nina said. “But now it’s annoying because she’s not a kid anymore but grown-up and in control of herself.”
“Right here,” Leah gritted out. “And I’ve got shit going on, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“We know you do,” Zoe said. “But a lot of people have shit going on, so let’s put it to one side and have some fun too.”
Fun?When was the last time she’d had that?
Twenty minutes later, she was dressed in jeans and a silk camisole in deep blue. On her feet were wedges. Her makeup was done, and her hair had been brushed until her eyes watered.
“I don’t brush my hair because it goes frizzy,” Leah said, looking in the mirror.
“I twisted the sides and pinned them back. You look good, so stop moaning,” Nina said.
“My face itches,” Leah muttered as they left the room.
“You’re just out of practice,” Phoebe added.
