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“Suit yourself.”
She sat back and rolled down her window as they pulled up to the university. Maddie sat on the stairs with ripped jeans, a baseball cap, and her nose buried in a book.
“Maddie!” she hollered, making a bunch of college kids look around. She winked at a cutie who could be a double for Justin Bieber before she moved over so Maddie could get in.
“Hey, baby,” she said as she tossed an arm over her shoulders. “What’s shakin’?”
Maddie eyed her. “You’re happy.”
Alice leaned forward so she could inform Maddie, “She’s dating Marcus.”
“Banging, not dating,” she corrected as she took off Maddie’s cap and ran her hands through her hair. “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”
Maddie jerked. “What?”
Alice elbowed her in the ribs. “Leave her be, Carmen. I am too, Maddie. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I meant herhairis virgin,” Carmen said and elbowed Alice back. “You want to do something to your hair?”
“Do something?”
Carmen fluffed her own blazing red hair, which needed a touch-up. “You want to be a mermaid, a unicorn, a Playboy bunny? What are kids doing these days?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Maddie said.
“What do you mean? You’re in college. You’re boarding, surrounded by your peers. What are your classmates doing?”
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t really pay attention. I just study.”
“You don’t have friends?” Carmen asked and got another elbow in the ribs, which really fucking hurt. “Will you cut that out? I’m already sore.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Alice said, instantly contrite. “What happened?”
“Marcus is a beast. That’s what happened.” She turned back to Maddie. “So what’s the deal?”
“Marcus hit you?” Maddie looked outraged. “Dad will kill him.”
She wanted to throw her hands up in exasperation. Mickey turned in his seat to watch the drama. The grin on his face said he knew exactly why she was bruised and couldn’t wait to hear the juicy details.
“He didn’t hit me. We just went at it like a bunch of animals. It was fabulous,” she said airily.
Alice made a faint wheezing sound. Maddie looked relieved.
“So? What kind of hair or nails do you want?” Carmen persisted.
“I don’t know.” Maddie picked up Carmen’s hand and examined her nails, which were grown out. “What are you going to do?”
“I still love the red, but I may add highlights or something. We’ll see what Shonda says. She’s the hair queen.”
“I guess I’ll get a trim,” Alice said.
“Whoa, calm down,” Carmen said dryly. “You don’t want highlights? What about layers?”
Alice shifted uncomfortably. “No, I think a trim will be just fine.”
Carmen badgered her all the way to the salon because she enjoyed seeing Alice riled, and sooner or later, Alice would give in to a makeover. When she entered the salon, she found it empty. Shonda had cleared her schedule for them. She did air kisses with Shonda and Keenan and had a glass of champagne in her hand within five minutes. Mom and Janice arrived at the same time, followed shortly by Lyla, Blade, Nora, and an entourage of no less than ten guards.
“Marcus told me I had to attend a meeting with you two,” Janice said, eyes sparkling. “What’s the deal?”
