I was being insistent. Nothing new there, but this time was different. If I had to be there, then so would Rory.
“Not this weekend,” I say, running my tongue along my teeth.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
She leans back in her seat. Those silver eyes narrowing the slightest bit when I do the same. We could both play this game, baby girl.
“Why do I need to go?”
“Why wouldn’t you want to?” I say instead.
She cocks a shoulder. “Not my vibe.”
“Make it yourvibethen?” I smirk. Keeping my voice as disinterested and rigid as possible or this would never work.
“I have plans—”
“Cancel them,” I cut in flatly. She really was a shit liar.
I knew for a fact she didn’t. Convincing Finn—which was too easy to do—to text Hailey and give her a heads-up on the party.
Schematics, really. Ensuring my odds.
Pushing off the table by my knuckles I raise from my chair. Speaking in a statement. Leaving no room for question. Rory would be there.
“See you, Saturday.”
thirty-six
Rory
Irollmyeyes.
Hailey’s frown deepens when I moveagain. Shooting me an expression in the mirror. Sticking out my tongue playfully, I put my phone down on the counter to appease her.
“Another one? Guy needs to get a grip.”
I don’t bother answering. Both of us already know my reaction.
Cole had been texting me excessively since the party started over an hour ago downstairs. The music a dull thump in the background from my bathroom.
The sounds, calm compared to what I am used to listening to with Finn living across the hall, so it didn’t bother me as Hailey finishes doing my makeup.
She hums along, bobbing her head to the song as she does the last of my mascara.
“There,” she says, giving it one more flick. “Now you look perfect.” Nodding her head in self-satisfaction.
After she seals the lid, I decide it’s safe to move and look at myself for the first time since she started.
A shiver runs down my spine. The winged eyeliner, with the dark ruby-colored lipstick, made me look so much like my mother, it was alarming. Not to mention the hair.
Sure, it was no longer the same shade, but Hailey had somehow convinced me not to straighten it. Let those ‘natural waves fly free’. Or at least that’s what she’d said seeing them after I’d stepped out of the shower earlier.
Not being able to stomach leaving them down completely. We negotiated and left them natural but pulled back into a styled high pony.
The overall look edgy but polished.