Page 41 of Love on the Ice
Using my hair crimper, I take my time and give my hair beachy waves. I’m not sure if I pull it off, but it’s different than the typical straight look I usually wear. Once my hair is done, I put on a light layer of makeup, then some clear gloss. I am not someone who wears a lot of makeup.
All my girls can contour and put on these gorgeous lashes. Then there’s me. I’m basically au naturel. I wish I felt more comfortable doing more, but I feel foolish when I do. Uncomfortable and out of place. I feel like a clown who everyone is staring at, even though, in my head, I know nobody is.
Slipping out of the bathroom, I head to my bedroom, my hair and makeup done, but a towel wrapped around my body. I have no idea what I’m going to wear. Do I dress up or down? Do I wear jeans and a nice top? I don’t want to dress up too much because I’m certain this is not a real date, but I also don’t want to be too casual.
Chewing on the corner of my lip, I stare at the clothes in my closet, trying to decide what to wear when there is a knock on my bedroom door.
“It’s Brooklynn.”
“Come on in,” I call out.
The door opens, then closes after she steps into my space. I don’t look at her. Instead, I continue to stare at my closet, hoping that something will jump out at me. Nothing does.
“Lorelai,” she says.
Turning my head, I look over to her. She’s standing with her back against the closed bedroom door, her eyes focused on me. She seems nervous, and I don’t understand her hesitation. I’ve been a little closed off lately, but that’s all me. Between my job, my school, and Reid, I’m not really present.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything immediately.
She clears her throat and stays where she is. Then she speaks, and when she does, I let out a sigh of relief. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it’s not what she says.
“I want to help you pick something out for your date if you’ll let me.”
“My date?” I ask.
She shrugs a shoulder, pushing off the door and moving toward me. “I saw Reid outside this morning, and he said you guys were going out for dinner tonight. I thought you might want some girl talk and help.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her that what Reid and I have is not what she thinks it is. We aren’t dating. We’re eating meals and having sex. There isn’t much else. It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like this before, and I just don’t know how to deal with it, mainly because I’m falling in love with him as each moment passes.
“Girl talk?” I ask.
She nods her head once as she moves toward my closet and starts to sift through the items hanging up. She heads straight for my short skirts, and I almost roll my eyes because every single one of them she talked me into, and I’ve only worn them when I’ve gone out with her, and she’s made me.
“So, you and Reid,” she says, her voice almost singsongy.
“Me and Reid, but it’s not serious,” I point out.
She snorts. “Okay, Lorelai. Keep telling yourself that.”
A few minutes later, she puts together an outfit that I never would have myself. It’s a short skirt, a dark-pink one, with an oversized white V-neck T-shirt. She ties the shirt in the front, tucking it up inside, and the back hangs low, covering my ass.
For shoes, she extends a pair of white sneakers and then hands me a jean jacket to put on. It’s comfortable, dressed down without being an outfit that I would ever wear during the day. It’s cute. Even if the skirt is a touch shorter than I would prefer.
“Why is this so cute?” I ask, turning to look from my reflection to meet her gaze.
She smirks and shrugs a shoulder. “Because you’re gorgeous, and you can pull it off, babe.”
I almost laugh at her, but the doorbell rings, and I know it’s Reid. Brooklynn takes a step toward me, reaching out to take my hand in hers. She squeezes my fingers, her eyes searching mine before she speaks.
“That man is head over heels for you, Lorelai. We can all see it. He’s so into you. It’s adorable. This is your moment, your man. Welcome it.”
Without another word, she turns and walks away. I wouldn’t know what to say in response to that anyway. All I could do would be deny the fact that this man sees me as anything more than someone to share his nights with… sometimes.
Chapter
Eighteen
LORELAI