Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“Hot, hot, hot.” She shakes her head. “Fire in human form.”
“Thanks.” I smooth my hands over my hips.
We join the others and Hope helps me strap a pair of red, feathers-and-sequins wings on my back.
“Damn, Trinity,” Lilly says, running her hand over the leg of my suit. “This is amazing.”
“Thanks.” I search the room. “I need my halo.”
“Oh, hang on.” Hope runs out of the room and returns a few seconds later with her hands behind her back.
“What’s that?” I ask.
She holds out a gold crown with sparkling red stones. “Instead of a halo, I thought you deserved a crown. You are a LOKI queen, after all.”
“Queen of the bad angels. I love it,” Shelby hoots.
Well, at least if I start crying, I won’t ruin my makeup since I haven’t put any on yet.
“Damn it, Hope.” I take the crown and study the shiny gold metal and ruby-red crystals. “It’s really pretty. Thank you.”
“We’re almost done,” Serena says. “So whoever needs me next, come on over.”
Lilly’s been transformed. Serena painted a full mask of glittery blue and green fish-like scales from Lilly’s forehead to the apples of her cheeks. Below that, she’s painted an outline of a skull, complete with a freakish number of white teeth stretched almost from ear to ear.
“Mermaid skeleton?” I guess.
“Yup. My dress is in the closet.”
“If you need to be lubed up, I’m now an expert,” Hope offers.
“Hope, we all know you don’t need lube with Rock,” Lilly says sweetly. “The man looks at you and—”
“Shut up.” Hope laughs. “I meant if you need help getting into the dress. Never mind.”
Serena’s still laughing when I take the chair in front of her. “How do you feel about falsies?” she asks me.
I stare at her with a blank expression, then glance at my boobs. “I don’t think I need anything additional in that department.”
“No! False lashes. I have this red feather pair that would be so perfect with that outfit. I’ve been saving them for something special.”
“No, I don’t want to—”
“Please,” she pleads. “They’ll look so good on you.”
“Just say yes, Trin,” Shelby warns in a low, confidential tone.
Serena grins and nods vigorously.
“Okay,” I agree.
“They might be a little heavy.” Serena leans to the side to search her train case for the lashes.
Finally, she presents a gold, glittery rectangular box to me. Two crescents of tiny red feathers with curled edges rest inside. I don’t know a lot about makeup stuff, but they look expensive.
“Are you sure? You don’t want to save them for yourself?”
“No! I have so many, I’ll never use them all.”
“All right.” Why not?
“Yay!” She lets out a happy squeal. Then, a pang of guilt creeps over me. I’ve known Serena for years, but we’ve only gotten close since she hooked up with Grinder.
I reach over and rest my hand over hers. “I’m glad you came tonight.”
“Grayson said it was mandatory,” she says with an affectionate smile.
I’m not getting my point across. The touchy-feely stuff will never be my specialty.
“Look down,” Serena orders.
First, she pats shadow over my lids, then lines my eyes.
“Time for lashes!” she chirps.
Her touch is gentle even if the process is a bit uncomfortable.
“Don’t blink,” she warns.
“All right,” Lilly announces. “What do you think?”
“Serena says I can’t open my eyes,” I mutter.
“Talk about dangerous curves.” Hope whistles. “Wow, Lilly.”
“Okay, you can look,” Serena says.
I peel my eyes open. The left one feels like it’s lifting weights and every time I blink, I get a flash of red.
“Feel okay?” Serena asks.
“Just a little weird.” I flick my gaze to Lilly and let out my own whistle. A sleek, deep blue, sequined strapless dress falls to her ankles, the skirt flaring out at the bottom. White “bones” have been embroidered into the front of the dress. Instead of legs, there’s the outline of a tail. “Damn, woman. How can you make a skeleton look sexy?”
Lilly places her hands on her hips and strikes a dramatic pose. “It’s a gift.”
The girls snort-giggle and heckle Lilly.
“Let’s finish,” Serena says, touching my chin and turning me to face her. “Eyes closed,” she reminds me.
Someone’s phone buzzes.
“Rooster’s got my fortune teller booth all set up,” Shelby says. “I’m gonna head down there.”
“Okay,” Serena says to me. “You can open your eyes.”
I blink them open for the second time.
“Feel okay?” Serena asks.
“I think so.”
“You’ll get used to them,” Shelby assures me. “I wear them onstage all the time.” She comes closer. “Ooo, never any as pretty as those, though. You girls all right if I head downstairs?”
“I’ll go with you,” Lilly volunteers. “Scope out the party.”
“Let me finish your liner,” Serena says. “Then it’s your turn, Hope.”
Hope stares down at her outfit. “Next to the four of you, I feel so uncreative in my totally plain costume.”
“Yeah, but you look hot as fuck,” Lilly says. “And anyone over twenty-five should know who you’re supposed to be without asking.”