Page 64 of Lost & Found

What the hell was I supposed to do with it? What was it supposed to cover?

Nothing, apparently.

My stomach rolled as I kicked my shoes off. I shoved them under the chair. Next went the jeans, and I folded them neatly and then hooked my hands into the waistband of my underwear. With nothing to lose except the precious fur God gave me, I yanked them off.

As I stood in my T-shirt and socks, I realized I had a new dilemma. As if this entire situation wasn’t bad enough.

Fuck, do I take my socks off, too?

She said everything from the waist down. That technically meant my socks as well. I spent three full minutes debating the moral implications of sock removal before realizing they could stay. It wasn’t like she was going to wax my toes, too.

A knock sounded, and I realized I was still holding my underwear. I shoved them between the folds of my jeans.

“Just a minute,” I screeched as they peeked out.

I took a deep breath and only after I was sure they weren’t visible, I climbed onto the table, pulling my T-shirt down low and draping the stupid square of nothing over my lady bits.

Only then did I call out. “Ready.”

Was I really more worried about her seeing a portion of my underwear than my most intimate region? I needed professional help, truly. Wonder if Marcel ever had this type of discussion before?

I would put it on my potential list of confessions. She smiled and entered the room to check the wax. I was fascinated by the way it swirled and pulled when she tested it.

“Lie on your back for me. So your friends told me you’re going to a beach wedding. Did you pick out a swimsuit?”

“Swimsuit?” I asked stupidly, lying back on the table. At least it was a sheet and not the paper you get at the gynecologist’s office.

“I’m pretty sure she said beach wedding? Maybe I heard wrong?”

I continued to stare like she was speaking a foreign language. She cocked her head to the side.

“Shit. How could I space a swimsuit? Kinsley,” I called, and the door sprang open, surprising Nadine.

“Oh, okay, changed your mind, huh? No problem. As long as you’re comfortable, we can have whomever you want back here.” Nadine stepped back from the table.

“What is it? I’m here. Did you start already?” She rushed to my side and pushed the hair back from my face. “Tell me what’s going on inside your head. It’s not so awful. Okay, I don’t have any basis for that really, but Tori gets it done all the time. She has had a baby though, so maybe her pain tolerance is higher than normal, but women, loads of them, get this done all the time. And men, too.”

I shook my head, and her brows knitted together. “A swimsuit,” I murmured while Nadine gave us a minute. She busied herself with the wax once more. She hummed along to the music that played in the background.

“What about one? Do you want to do a bikini wax instead?”

I shook my head. If I was going to have my hair ripped out, all of it was going. “I didn’t get one and I’ll need one, right?” Her mouth formed an O as she finally understood my dilemma. “What am I going to do now? I don’t have time to get one. We leave tomorrow.”

Kinsley patted my hand and leaned down before kissing my forehead. “I’ve got you covered. I will run back to Geraldine’s. She has your sizes and she can recommend one. I’ll get two just in case. Do you think you’ll be okay alone? I can leave Tori.”

I let out my breath and relaxed my shoulders back. “No, I’ll be fine. You sure you don’t mind?”

“I would go to the ends of the earth for you, Izzy B. A bathing suit? That’s nothing. Consider it done.” With a final wave, she exited the room.

“Sorry, about that,” I murmured, feeling embarrassed.

“Not a problem. Since this is your first time, I’ll explain everything as I go. No surprises. We’ll work in small sections. I’ll try to go as fast as possible, so this is done in no time. We’ll have you sitting back out front before your friends get back. What do you say?”

“Yeah, fast sounds good. No one wants it done slowly, do they?”

She laughed. “Not normally.” She paused a moment, taking in my nether regions. “Hmm, I hate to say this, but your hair is a bit on the long side. If I apply the wax right now, it will be excruciating. How do you feel about a little trim before?”

I groaned as my humiliation climbed. “Yeah, whatever you need.”