“Oh, Gracie.” With a patient breath, Hazel decides to change tactics. “Okay… if you can find something other than a dress, I swear to Lucifer I’ll give it an honest shot.”
Grace starts cackling like a maniac, and I know Hazel is not coming on top of this. By the evil glint in her eyes, I know this little mastermind came prepared and had Hazel right where she wanted.
The siren pales at the sight of a sophisticated black jumpsuit with a delicate golden chain around the middle.
Kicking and stomping, Hazel tries on the outfit and surprisingly agrees after kicking down a vase sitting on a high shelf to test the materials’ flexibility. The chain around the waistdoes the rest of the work, making it easier for her to hide her fancier daggers in plain sight.
Grace flutters her nonexistent wings when Hazel begrudgingly admits she won’t mind if she had a few similar outfits for when she can’t wear her traditional pantsuit with an armored corset.
I haven’t seen any of them in traditional clothing yet, but judging by how Grace keeps gushing over them, I’m excited to see those corsets.
Hazel is next on the chair to get her make-up done, and Grace promises to keep it light and mainly focuses on adding a shiny power that makes Hazel look like a light bulb.In a good way, of course. I stand beside my sister the whole time so I can practice it later.
Trying her best to be gentle, Grace brushes my stubborn waves and suddenly mentions cutting. The aggressive way I saynois pure instinct, making her flinch. I’m sure she will leave, but Grace continues brushing my hair, ignoring my freak-out.
“Breathe, Nevaeh, it was just a suggestion. I’m not cutting them now, only styling.”
I apologize for startling her, but Grace brushes me off, not expecting an explanation, unlike Hazel, who keeps tapping her foot annoyingly until I start talking. Sharky is too nosey for someone who doesn’t even share her chips with me.
It’s easier to let loose with the way Grace runs her fingers through my hair. “Sheused my hair against me all the time. This is the first time I don’t have random bald patches with how she pulled on them or an uneven length. I just don’t want to lose this.” My voice is timid near the end, and I close my eyes to soak in how good it feels to say it out loud.
“No one’s cutting it all, honey. I love your hair. I was thinking of a little trim, so it’s healthier and has a nice shape.” That doesn’t sound so bad. Not bad at all.
“So, I don’t have to cut a lot?”
“Nothing more than a couple of inches.” I give in because healthier and better shape sounds good, and I trust her. Grace squeals in delight. “We’ll make a girls’ day out of it. Face masks, spa, and wine.”
“As long as there’s wine, I’m in,” Hazel chimes in.
Maybe drunk Hazel would be more willing to spill merfolk secrets. This woman loves torturing me with the lack of information, but I’m going to get it out of her one day.
Before starting on her own makeup, Grace hands me a dress, and I’m immediately doubtful by the way the material is scrunched up in a ball. When I don’t move, Grace assures me it’s supposed to look like that, and itwillfit.
Escaping to the bathroom, I squeeze myself into a dress that quickly takes on the shape of my body. When I see myself in the mirror, I instantly fall in love with how it looks on me.
The black bodycon dress has full sleeves and a somewhat deep V-neck with a Criss-cross cut on my abdomen that reveals a patch of my stomach. The dress hugs my body perfectly, the perfect mixture of sexy and classy. The hem reaches mid-thigh, and it’s a good thing the sheer stockings beneath stop my scars from stealing all the attention.
Stepping closer to the mirror, I admire how Grace used neutral shades to highlight my features, and shimmering glitter on my cheekbones and eyelids. When she asked me to choose a lip color, I asked for the cherry lip balm because the matte texture of the lipstick felt too dry.
My long hair falls over my shoulder in soft, defined curls. I can practically hear them crying in relief that, finally, someone treated them nicely.
When I leave the bathroom, Hazel is sitting on the bed scrolling through her phone, and Grace has just put down herhairbrush. She gasps when her eyes land on me, and Hazel forgets to close her mouth until I clear my throat.
“You look so pretty!” Grace quickly wipes a tear before it ruins her perfectly done makeup.
“Your Angel is going to eat you up tonight, lady,” Hazel wiggles her brows at me mischievously.
“Yeah? Let’s talk about how goodyoulook.”
“Coming!” Before I can fluster her, Hazel runs out the door, yelling about Seiji calling her. So, she can make a video about the weirdest sex to exist but can’t take a compliment?What a strange woman.
Moving my attention to Grace, my mouth drops open to see her in a champagne bodycon dress with tiny stones embellished all over it. The sweetheart neckline reveals her sharp collarbones and sleeves that flare around her arms.
“Honeybunch, you look like a goddess.”
She ducks her head, hiding her smile, and I think the only reason her face isn’t all red is because of her caramel skin tone. It’s not like the way she flusters can be missed.
“Really? You don’t think it’s too short, or the neck is too low—”
