CHAPTER ONE
“Sutton!” I groan, frowning at my best friend and costar of the newest video we’re filming—or at least wewere—for our popular beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel. “Gurl, you were supposed to sit still. Now you look like Goth gone bad.”
I laugh. Thank goodness we aren’t doing this on Instagram Live right now or we’d be screwed.
From her director-style chair, Sutton grins back at me. Like she hadn’t just smeared the fabulously winged eyeliner I’d spent the past fifteen minutes meticulously applying to her prepped and primed lids as I described what I was doing in detail on video. Her brilliant green eyes glitter with amusement in the golden light pouring in through the windows of the beachfront home we share with our other bestie, Liv. We’d picked the most sun-drenched room in the house for our recording studio so that our viewers not only got a great look at us in natural light, but also glimpses of the cresting waves and golden sands that make up our backyard, too.
“Sorry,” Sutton says. “My allergies are acting up.”
Liv edges into the shot—but only when she’s sure that she’s paused the recording.
“No worries.” A warm smile lights up Liv’s face. “It isn’t like we’re live on Insta right now. We always have to do some editing magic on our videos afterward anyway. Besides, Sutton is only adding more to her workload since she insists on doing all that editing herself. We promised our subscribers we’d have this up tonight.”
Now it’s Sutton who pouts. “Ugh! I forgot about the deadline. Kali, we’ve got to hurry this thing along. I have a date with a beach towel. If I’m going to model Liv’s designs, I need to work on my tan.”
I pin her with a look. “I thought we all agreed to use sunless tanner from now on. You know, better for our skin and all that.”
Sutton runs her hand through her long, dark hair, flipping it over her shoulder. “You know how I like to lay out. It relaxes me.”
“Well, then do it under a beach umbrella,” Liv says, backing me up. “And put on sunscreen.”
Sutton playfully sticks her tongue out at us. “Okay, Mom.”
Liv and I can only laugh. . Sutton really is the most childlike of the three of us.
“I guess that makes me Dad, then. And…” I grab my cell and check the time, “Dad is late for a meeting.”Crap. I needed to leave—now. “You’re not the only one with a full itinerary today, Sutton. I’ve got a date with about fifteen different people in the city.”
Unfortunately, mydatesare definitely not for pleasure. I’ve got business meeting after business meeting lined up today and I can’t be late.
Sutton winces. “On second thought, can we not say the D-word? Especially since none of us have time for love with how much we work.”
Liv and I exchange a pained look.
I’m totally feeling Sutton on that. I mean, she isn’t exactly wrong. I can’t remember the last time I went out with someone. Between sponsorship calls and post deadlines and video shoots, there isn’t a whole lot of time left over for romance. Not that I’m complaining. I’m in love with my career as a lifestyle influencer. What more could I really ask for?
Right?
“Are you stopping by the boutique when you drive up to LA today, Kali?” Liv asks hopefully.
I flash a grin at my slender, auburn-haired friend and nod. “They’re dying to get our Glossed & Glammed clothing line on their shelves. All I have to do is sign some more contracts and we’ll be ready to rock.”
Sutton, Liv, and I let out a trio of dreamy sighs that are a heady mix of optimism and excitement.
Glossed & Glammed is practically our baby. The beauty and fashion YouTube channel started out as a simple passion project during our sophomore year of college but it’s since exploded into a super popular—not to mention super profitable—social media phenomenon. While I focus on generating perfect makeup tutorials and collabs, Sutton is our model, video editor, and most avid poster on our socials. Liv, our resident fashionista, prefers to be behind the camera when she’s not working on fashion tips or designs, but Sutton and I make sure to drag her into the shots whenever we can.
Speaking of which...
“Liv,” I announce dramatically, “you’re going to have to take over for me.”
At my rising tone, the adorable black Labrador mix pup curled up on the plush, Tiffany Blue bed on the floor near the big picture windows perks his ears and cocks his curious head to watch us. I blow a kiss at my George—named aptly after George Westmore, Hollywood makeup artist extraordinaire—and leap to my feet.
Liv’s face instantly turns bright red. She stares at Sutton, then the camera, then at me. “Seriously? You’re leaving now? You didn’t redo Sutton’s makeup yet.”
Sutton yawns and scoops up her sleek calico cat to plant a kiss on the feline’s pink nose. Coco the cat mews and majestically stretches up lean and tall for the camera as though she’s modeling for it. I swear that cat loves the spotlight as much as her twenty-two-year-old owner.
“I know, Liv, but business calls.” I hold up a hand and start ticking off my to-do list using my fingers. “Like I already mentioned, I have to meet with the boutique to get those designs for you to check out. Then I have a meeting with the charity we’re promoting this month, Fostering Tomorrow. Oh! Speaking of which, there’s a big event coming up at the end of the month that we’re supposed to be anchoring, girls. Don’t forget!”
“Believe me, I won’t,” Sutton says with a laugh, running her hand over Coco’s fur. “You make me post about that charity every other day.”
