I don’t think my collarbone has ever been as prominent as it is in this moment.
I hadn’t noticed the extent of my regrowth earlier, either.
My brown roots are more visible under the natural light that my bathroom gives off, compared to the lights in Manor Mall. My hazel eyes have the darkest circles I’ve ever seen; I’m surprised Jenna let me be seen next to her.
I look like a malnourished zombie.
I put my health on the back burner, forgetting to make sure I wasn’t burning out.
Whoever this person is staring back at me, I don’t like her.
I don’t evenknowher.
I hope she doesn’t stick around.
Running my hand through my matted hair, I step into the shower, and let the scorching water spill over my entire body, relaxing under the stream.
"C, the girls from the salon are here. As usual, Tahnee will do your makeup while Margot does your hair."
Her voice is loud and commanding like the boss she is, as she helps her colleagues set up their products and equipment.
Everything is beginning to make sense.
Of course, she had this planned for me. I should have known.
Jenna owns her own salon, which means she has employees at her disposal for every occasion.
She is the stylist in California that everyone wants. Celebrities are lining up out the door, but her pre-booked clients always take precedence.
Reluctantly, I sit and smile while allowing the girls to work their magic, hoping they can restore me to my former self, even if it’s temporary. I’ll take even the slightest resemblance.
"What’s all this for, anyway?" My eyes remain closed as Tahnee applies my makeup and Margot fiddles with my hair from behind me. They’ve given me strict instructions to not move a muscle and I oblige, as usual.
Jenna’s team has done my hair and makeup for countless events, so I am well-versed in the rules.
Their movements stop in sync as the words come out of my mouth, and Jenna clears her throat before she answers my question.
If I didn’t already know Jenna was up to something, I do now.
"I figured we could use a night out on the town. It justhappensto be your birthday." I can hear the smile in her voice when she drags out her sentence.
To be fair, all Jenna has been trying to do over the last few weeks is distract, distract, distract. Like any best friend would do after your fiancé dumps you with a note. But I haven’t really let her. I wanted to wallow in self-pity, and my kind of misery doesn’t like company, so I didn’t let her even try. I shut down any attempt by giving her excuse after excuse.
I think she got over asking, because eventually she just…stopped.
Until today.
Scanning my appearance in the mirror, Tahnee has done an amazing job hiding the dark circles under my eyes, and Margot has not only de-matted my hair, but she sprayed it temporarily back to my original shade, leaving me with fresh, bouncy waves that sit perfectly below my shoulders.
Giving myself a soft smile, I make my way toward my bedroom to find that Jenna has already laid out one of the two gowns that I’d bought earlier today. She chose the royal blue option.
The color of Austin’s eyes.
Cursing my subconscious, I put the dress back on its hanger, swap it for the emerald green one, and let out a sigh of relief.
I clasp my new, gold chain around my neck, so it doesn’t look bare, and my left hand feels suddenly empty. My stomach is in knots.
My eyes flick to the black, velvet jewelry box that’s lived on my vanity for the last few weeks. A ring I wore every day with pride, but took off the day he left.
