And she did a damn good job.
After she was done, she turned my chair around to surprise me, and I peered in the mirror at my reflection. It was like aPrincess Diariesmoment. Curtain bangsframed my face, my golden locks stopping at my chin in a wavy bob haircut.
What will August think? I shouldn’t care about his opinion, or anyone’s, but I can’t help it. I crave his affection and the look he gives me when I step into a room.
His pupils dilate into a full moon. There’s a saying that when someone looks at the person they love, their pupils dilate. I’d like to believe that’s true since Ellie’s would dilate every time she sees chocolate cake.
For tonight’s dinner, I’m wearing a sage green body-con dress and ankle strap heels that make me feel hot. Time was saved since I didn’t need to worry about my hair, since it was already styled, and it’ll never look this good again.
I haven’t touched a curling iron since the junior year prom incident.
Everyone is at the long dinner table, and I’m the last one to meet them. The only seat available is right across from August, who’s looking just a bit too sunburnt. Even with a red nose, he’s still cute.
“Riley,” Ellie calls out. “Over here!”
August’s attention is drawn from his menu to me. I can’t look away. He’s the only man who has ever had this effect on me, and my heart makes sure that I know this.
My heart always fought against me when it came to him. It yells at me every time he’s near me.
Run to him. Take him. Hold him. Don’t let go again.
Sounds and chatter bring everything around me back into motion. I sit between Addie and Hailey. August’s eyes flick back to the menu.
Beau points at me. “Your hair.”
“Oh no!” I place a hand on my head, the smooth and soft waves caressing my fingers. “Someone cut my hair.” I smile.
Beauflaps his menu open and eyes it. “No need to be a smarty pants, Riley. I was going to offer you free trims.”
“That’s fine. I’ll just go to Jorge.”
Beau gasps and closes his menu. “You take that back.”
“What’s wrong with Jorge?” I ask, playing stupid.
“You know he’s my biggest competitor. He has that swagger that can make any woman crawl to him.”
“You know he's super gay, right?” Hailey says.
"Yes, and he's very handsome." Beau looks at Hailey, then back to me. "A gay, handsome, Latino man. Do you know how hard it is to compete with that?" Beau leans across the table. "What if I wear a crop top? I have the goods to show off." He gestures to his body.
"You're going to whore yourself out for haircuts?" Hailey cocks an eyebrow.
“If that’s what needs to be done.” He flips his menu back open.
Hailey rolls her eyes and takes a drink from her glass. The deep, red wine matches her lipstick.
"Your hair looks nice," Rowan tells me with a mouthful of buttery bread, grabbing more from the basket in front of him.
"Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen you with short hair." James turns to me and examines it. "Makes you look more... serious."
"Thanks?"
"I think it looks hot," Hailey says, running her fingers through the silky blonde strands. "August, do you have anything nice to say about my sister's new haircut?"
August snaps out of whatever trance he was in, which makes me feel incredible, and says, “I really like it, bold of you to do.”
I glance at him over my menu for a split second. I say, "thank you," under my breath.
