Page 106 of My Lucky Star
Burcu smiled. “You do? It’s yours!”
I shook my head. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean—”
“Let me get something to wrap it up.” She stood, turning to Cem and Emir. “So, what’s the plan? My father would not want anyone to write about us...” She paused, as if looking for the word, then shot me an apologetic look and continued in Turkish.
Emir raised his hand. “Don’t worry. If we go first, the paparazzi will follow us. Then we’ll send another car to pick up Aria.”
A cold shiver ran down my neck. I pivoted on the couch to face Cem, pleading with my eyes.
Don’t leave me here with her. Please.
I couldn’t catch his gaze. Cem stared at Burcu, deep in thought.
Burcu smiled. “Sounds like a good plan. Maybe it’s best if she gets changed into something less... golden?” She turned to me. “I can lend you some black clothes.”
I nodded. That’s what I needed – another fitting room experience with a piece of clothing I couldn’t zip up or squeeze into. Sensing that I had little choice, I finished my tea and followed Burcu down a long hallway, into a bedroom with a giant walk-in closet. She laid some black pants and shirts on the bed. “Choose what you like. You can redo your makeup in the bathroom.”
As she left the room, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror and gasped. My lipstick had smeared on the left side of my mouth, creating a joker-like effect.
That’s what I was. Except I was all out of jokes.
Utterly humiliated, I rushed into the bathroom. This is why I never wore lipstick. I could get done up for a role, but in real life, I could never maintain a flawless appearance. I prayed that the mishap had taken place after all those photos at the restaurant.
I located a box of cotton pads among Burcu’s massive selection of toiletries and wiped off the lipstick. For a moment, I thought about reapplying it – Melis had slipped a touch-up kit into my clutch – but what was the point? I couldn’t compete with perfection.
Chapter 38
Cem
IHAD NEARLY FALLENasleep on Burcu’s couch when she reappeared in front of me.
“Alya is getting changed.” She smiled, refilling my tea.
“Aria,” I corrected, and she gave a carefree shrug.
Emir, who seemed equally exhausted, pushed himself upright and exchanged a look with Burcu. It could have been him politely acknowledging her presence, but something about that look bothered me.
