His gaze softened and the mask shifted over his cheeks. “Of course I do.”
Oh. He’d answered so quickly, and that brightened her right up. She’d been afraid he wouldn’t want to be around so many people or hang out around a bunch of college students, nerdy as they were.
She beamed. “Great! I was really hoping you would. But you only have a day to come up with a costume. And the rules are thatyou have to make it out of things you already have available or can acquire for free.”
He chuckled. “I’m pretty sure I can think of something.”
Audrey smirked.
“And you know what? A lot of people there will be wearing masks.”
Eight
“How do Ilook? He’s going to be here any minute.”
“Hang on, hang on, I’m almost done, don’t move. Relax your mouth.” Violet opened her own and Audrey imitated her, trying not to look anxiously over her shoulder at the door while her roommate put the finishing touches on her lipstick. She was terrible at doing makeup and hardly ever wore it, but Violet was more than happy to lend her a hand.
“Why do you even have this shade, anyway? It’s so weird.”
“Quit talking,” Violet snapped while she carefully swept the color across her lips. “It was all the rage a few years ago among the edgier YouTube makeup gurus and I had to try it out. I only wore it a few times, and I’m honestly jealous of how good it looks on your face,” she grumbled with a pout. “Never looked half as good on mine.”
“It does?”
“Hush.” She flipped the tube over and swept a few coats of a clear sealant over Audrey’s lips. “There. Once that dries, it ought to hold in place even if you two have an extended makeout session in an alleyway somewhere. But don’t touch it, and give it a minute to dry.”
“How am I going to get this off if it’s blast-proof like that?”
“You—wait, what? What kind of making out are you doing?”
Audrey’s cheeks burned. “He’s sweet.Iget kind of intense,” she mumbled.
Violet snorted. “Jesus. Okay then. And, well, I guess itisyour third date.” She bounced her eyebrows significantly and thrust Audrey’s usual emotional support tube of ChapStick into her hands.
“Right. Th-third—third date.”
Her stomach dropped at the reminder.
“Lip balm will get it off. Lots of it. Swipe it on, then immediately wipe it off. The oils in it should do the trick.” Audrey tucked it in her clutch right as her roommate passed her a hand mirror. “Just look at my gorgeous handiwork. I’m a fuckingartist.”
“Whoa.” Audrey didn’t recognize the person reflected back at her. Her eyes were dark and smoky, colored with various shades of black and gray and bright, glittering holographic silver eyeshadow. More silver was dusted along her cheeks as highlighter, and the silvery-gray lipstick Violet had just so expertly applied was still drying, but the glossy topper shone gently in the golden fairy lights of their apartment. Her hair was loosely curled and tumbled to her shoulders, and Audrey marveled at how well Violet had gotten it to cooperate. She lowered the mirror and beamed at her as she grabbed her coat. “Thank you. I could have never done this myself.”
“You did such good work on the dress, so we had to stick the landing.” Violet patted her shoulder just as their buzzer went off, and she gasped and lunged for the button to let Theo in before Audrey could.
“Vi, I’ll just meet him on the stairs, you don’t have to—”
Violet spun on her heel, her finger raised accusingly and her scowl dark. “No.I’m officially meeting Theo. That’s my reward for this masterpiece I’ve just created.” She gestured at Audrey’s face. “Don’t tell me otherwise.”
Audrey sighed. “Fine. But at least let me answer the door. Hewouldn’t tell me what his costume was, and he’s mine. I get to see first.”
“I’ll kill you if you squeeze out without letting me say hi.” She glanced down and suddenly ripped Audrey’s clutch out of her grasp.
“Hey!That’s—”
“Where your keys and phone are, yes.” Violet grinned wickedly at her. “You get it back when I’ve met the Sasquatch.”
Audrey groaned, but she didn’t have time to protest further before there was a knock at the door. She yanked it open eagerly.
Theo stood in front of her, tall and straight, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he was about to do something else when he fully registered Audrey in front of him—and audibly gasped.
