Page 115 of The Secret We Keep
I wish I could shake the guilt, but if it hadn’t been for my swift exit, then… well, I don’t know what would have happened.
Looking down at my phone, I notice a text from Holly.
Holly: Count your lucky stars, I’ve managed to get the night off!
Oh my God, that’s exactly what I needed to hear
Holly: I’m free now if you fancy a walk?
Yeah, a walk would be good. Feels like it’s been ages
Holly: It has.
Meet you by the bus stop?
Holly: I’ll be there in 15 x
“This feels nice.”
“Doesn’t it.”
Holly and I walk across the open plain, the wind blowing wildly in our faces.
“Talk about blowing off cobwebs, my eyelashes won’t last another five minutes.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “Might be good for you to ditchthose things.”
“No way,” she disagrees with a laugh. “I look ugly without them.”
“You do not.” She’s ridiculous.
“It wouldn’t do you any harm to try them once in a while.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
She drops her gaze, eyes widening. “Nothing. Just thatoccasionally,it wouldn’t hurt to practice some feminine beauty.”
“Feminine what now?”
“Beauty,” she says with finality in her voice. “Like getting your nails done. Or your hair. You used to love having your hair done.”
“I did?”
She nods. “Remember? You let me practice for college before I decided hairdressing wasn’t for me.”
I shudder with regret. “I didn’t love it. You said you’d dye my hair dark brown, and it actually came out purple.”
She shows me her teeth, biting them together. “Sorry.”
My lips pinch.
“So you won’t be dying yours this weekend when I do mine?”
“Absolutely not.” I push her away from me playfully. “I don’t want to look like a plum again. I don’t mind getting you what you usually go for, but count, me, out.”
“Killjoy.”
“Whatever,” I tell her.
