Jeremiah knocks at ten sharp. “Yikes,” he says when I open thedoor.
“Wow,” I deadpan. “Keep the compliments coming.”
He grins. “Just means we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
We drive through the city, away from our side of town. The buildings get cleaner. Sleeker. The people on the sidewalks wear sunglasses that cost more than my rent.
“You’re sure this is okay?” I ask. “You don’t have to—”
“We want to,” he interrupts. “You’ve had a hell of a week. Let us fix you up.”
I nod, watching the blur of traffic slide past the window. Letting the hum of the road settle something in me.
Fifteen minutes later, the salon is all glass and chrome and smells like eucalyptus and money. I glance down at my flip-flops and jeans, suddenly self-conscious. Jeremiah notices.
“You look fine,” he says, squeezing my hand. “They’ll see the potential. And if not, they’ll see my wallet.”
I snort.
∞∞∞
Later, when it’s done, Pauly leans against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, studying me.
“You don’t look like a Lina anymore.”
“She looks badass,” Jeremiah beams. “Now we just need to match the attitude.”
I roll my eyes, but something about his words stick.
The old Lina smiled too easily, said sorry too much, took up less space on purpose... and what did that get her? Used. Hurt. Dismissed.
Maybe it’s time to let her go. To become someone else.Someone fierce. Someone who speaks up. Who goes after what she wants because she knows she’s worth it.
I think of Axel. Of all those Gossip Girl marathons, the two of us laughing in the dark.
W.W.B.W.D.? What would Blair Waldorf do?
She wouldn’t flinch, that’s for sure. She wouldn’t apologize for taking up space.
Maybe it’s time I stop apologizing, too.
I turn to the mirror and roll my shoulders back. My hair’s darker now, cut to my shoulders.
My reflection holds her chin up, instinctively. I look harder. More confident. Braver.
“I’m not Lina anymore,” I say, voice low but sure.
“I’m Aro now.”
Chapter 30
Axel
I’ve texted Nik a dozen times. Nothing.
It’s finally go time. Sean texted saying Johnny would be out all evening, and Lina’s expecting us. Except Sean called her Aro. It’s weird. I know that’s what he calls her, but I can’t wrap my head around it. She’ll always be Lina to me.
I send Nik one last message:
