Page 40 of Finding My Charming

I nodded while she continued.

“They’re friends, and Calvin is coming to the party this weekend. Hopefully, this guy shows up with him.”

“Does it say his name?”

She shot me a look of bored frustration. “How else would I know who he was friends with?”

“Enough with the attitude, Ms. Stalker. Not everyone can find everything on the internet like you.”

“His name is Vincent Connolly.”

I soaked that in. Even his name was sexy.

“And you, my dear, need to start getting ready. Unless you’re planning on going like that.”

She eyed my navy shift dress like it was diseased.

“What’s wrong with this?” I tugged at it, confused. “It’s one of the new ones we picked out!”

“It’s cute, for going to work or church or tea with the queen, but not for handing out food or collecting donations.”

“Fine.” I marched over to her closet without a word and began pushing hangers around. I pulled out a pair of denim cutoffs and a black-and-white plaid shirt.

“Help yourself!”

I slipped on the shorts and winked. “Thanks!”

After I finished fixing my hair into a messy ponytail, Ari came up from behind me and pulled it out. I twisted around and looked at her then the hair tie in her hand.

“What was that for?”

She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Would it kill you to try just a little bit?”

“We’re going to be out in the heat. Working. I want my hair up.” I reached for the band, but she back stepped.

“Let me do it.”

I rolled my eyes and turned around with a huff.

After less than a minute of tugging and jerking, she put her hands on my shoulders and pushed me across the room to the standing mirror. Once I was in position, she unbuttoned each sleeve and roughly folded them up to just below my elbows. Then, she stepped away and quickly returned with a few aqua and white leather wrap bracelets that she then added to my left wrist.

“There.” She looked at me in the mirror and smiled. “Just a touch of gloss and you’re good to go, my friend.”

She’d managed a fishtail braid, something I hadn’t been able to master despite hours of practice and watching video tutorials, and the little touches she’d done to the outfit actually made me look trendy.

“Not too shabby.”

She grabbed our purses off the bed and continued through the door. “I know. I do good work. Now let’s go before we’re way late, and your mom comes for us.”

I followed her while dragging my feet. I wanted to stay here and learn as much about Vincent that I could. I needed to find him somehow.

Ari stopped at the bottom of the stairs and faced me. “You need to cheer up! You look great, and we’re going to have fun tonight.”

I nodded silently while still wishing I could stay.

“Come on. It’ll be good to take your mind off things for a little while.”

“Things? This is my life, Ari. My completely confusing, messed-up disaster of a life.”