Page 50 of Finding My Charming

I shook my head and tried not to be disheartened by the look on her face. “His friends are coming to Ari’s party tonight. He’ll probably be there.”

She had an odd expression on her face. “It’s just so strange.”

I was about to ask her what she was talking about when she continued talking to herself.

“After the flirting and the ride and the almost-kiss, and he doesn’t even ask for your number?”

“Well, I didn’t think it was weird until now.”

She finally looked at me and frowned. “Sorry, honey. I just don’t get you teens these days.” And now she was back to her age. “I’m sure it will all work out.”

Just like that, my Friday mood disappeared.

ari was staring, frowning just like Sherrie. “This won’t work.” She pointed up and down at me.

My black pencil skirt and floral blouse that was perfect for the office would be horribly awkward to wear going out with friends. “Yeah, I’m going to need to borrow some clothes. Again.”

After several discarded outfits that Ari determined were unworthy of seeing my potential true love in, I ended up in a short black skirt and a loose, shimmery cream tank top with black-heeled booties.

I watched Ari in the mirror while she wrapped my hair around a curling wand. “Are you sure this isn’t too—”

“Flattering? Attractive? Sure, to lure the guys in.” She released the curl and tugged on another section, a little too aggressively in my opinion. “Stop fidgeting! You look like a bombshell, or you will if you let me finish!”

I stuck my tongue out, and she rolled her eyes at my reflection.

“I saw Vincent last night. In normal clothes with normal makeup, and things went fine. Why do I need to paint my face now?”

“Because I said so.”

I glared at her while she continued to fuss over my hair.

“You need to finish your makeup.” She held the wand with one hand and pushed a tray of eyeshadow toward me.

“I thought I did.” My face was dusted with bronzer, and I’d coated my lashes with twice the mascara that I would ever put on myself, due to her prodding.

“You look like you’re ready to go to work. Or school. Or a luncheon with your professors.”

I dropped my gaze from her back to my face. Sure, I didn’t wear as much as other girls — April constantly pointed that out — but I’d never thought I really needed to. My olive skin stayed tan year-round, and my light brown eyes weren’t going to magically become more interesting if they were framed with a new shade of eyeshadow. She’d noticed that I’d been wearing a hint of makeup for a few days and took this as all the encouragement she needed to take me on as her new pet project.

I blew out a huff.

“It’s eyeshadow, Elle, not plastic surgery.”

Sometimes I hated how well she knew me.

After a mini internal debate, I gave in, just like she knew I would. Making a teeny tiny bit of effort had a very slim chance of killing me. My mom had complimented me when I first put some on, so maybe other people would notice — hopefully, without commenting.

I dabbed a dark brown shade on each eyelid and looked back at Ari for approval. She shook her head with a small smirk playing on her lips but finally nodded. I couldn’t tell much of a difference, but it got her to let it go.

While she finished curling my hair, I picked up her phone to change the song that was playing. The screen was still pulled up to the pictures from the party. After scrolling through a few, I stopped at the picture of Vincent. I was startled by the reaction that happened in my chest. I felt all fluttery, like maybe butterflies? Is this what girls always gushed about?

I swiped the screen and continued searching, hoping for another one of him. Less than ten pictures went by before I froze and dropped the phone to the tiled floor.

“Whoa! Watch it!” Ari started to bend down, taking my hair that was still wrapped up with her.

I clutched at the strand and cried out, “Ow!”

She stood back up and shot me a look in the mirror. “Why’d you throw my poor innocent phone?”