My gaze darted around the room, searching for the one boy who probably wanted nothing to do with me.
“He already left,” Lexi said, appearing at my elbow. Her eyes were slanted down in sympathy as she gave me a knowing look. “We tried to stall him, but he didn’t stick around.”
I attempted to smile reassuringly at her, but I was pretty sure it hadn’t worked. My conversation with Gabriel before the round hadn’t felt complete. I wanted to find him and thank him for a good game, but it didn’t seem like that was going to happen anytime soon. “That’s okay. He was probably disappointed he didn’t win.”
“I don’t know about that.” She shrugged. “He seemed pretty chill about it, all things considered. More distracted than anything.”
Well, that was something. He really was too good. That boy deserved more. A lot more.
And maybe I could do something about it.
“Hey, Lex, do you mind if we make a couple stops before you go crazy on me for the dance tonight?” I chewed on my bottom lip, a plan forming in my mind.
Her lips quirked, questions entering her eyes. “Sure. We’ve got some time before I have to tackle that nest on top of your head.”
I grimaced, not looking forward to that. “Good. And then I promise, I’m all yours.”
The way she wagged her sculpted eyebrows and rubbed her palms together excitedly should’ve made me groan with dread, but all I could do was laugh. This might not have ended up being the magical day that I’d wanted it to be, but there was still so much to be happy about. This morning, I’d proven that girls could game. And that they could win. Tonight, I would get to hang out with my two best friends. There was nothing to be sad abo
ut that.
Even if I’d miss that boy like crazy.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I didn’t recognize the girl staring back at me in the mirror. Her blonde hair was perfectly curled, falling over her shoulders. Her lashes were thick with mascara. Her cheeks tinted pink and glittery. A touch of gloss on her lips. Leaning closer to the mirror, I gazed in disbelief at the work Lexi had done.
“Is that...me?” I asked, gripping the edge of the sink.
“Kind of crazy what a layer of mascara and a curling wand can do,” Lexi joked behind me. She finished putting on her layer of lipstick and then smacked her lips together. She looked amazing—as usual. With a knee-length navy blue dress that highlighted the tone of her skin, she would fit right in at the Winter Ball.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I squinted warily at my reflection. We’d taken over Lexi’s dad’s house, especially the guest bathroom. Curling irons, makeup bags, and random piles of clothing sat everywhere. They did nothing to calm my nerves. “I’m not sure about this. Doesn’t it seem kind of like a lie? I mean, I don’t even look like myself.”
“Girl, you can look like whatever you want. That’s the beauty of makeup.” She turned toward me and frowned. “Is it a lie when I cover up my acne scars everyday?”
I shook my head. “No...”
“Then it isn’t a lie if you put on a layer of makeup for a dance. The important part is if it makes you feel good. Be honest. Do you like it?”
I turned to look at the mirror again. It was kind of cool to see my cheekbones stand out so much with the slight layer of contouring Lexi had done. The gloss made my lips look fuller. And the layer of sparkly white powder she’d placed on the inside corner of my eyes and beneath my brows made my eyes pop.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” I said, grinning.
“Good, because to tell you the truth, I didn’t have to do much to you.” She patted the side of her fancy updo and then smiled at me in the mirror. “You’re already gorgeous. You’re the perfect canvas.”
I ducked and blushed, but for the first time in my life, I didn’t try to correct her. Today, I was gorgeous. I was owning it. No more putting myself down. I was a mighty warrior, a kick-butt female gamer, and a gorgeous sixteen-year-old high school girl. It was possible to be all those things at once.
“Thanks, Lex.”
Her eyes shone as she wrapped her arm around me. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s get in the limo before the boys drive away without us. Charlotte’s probably running out of ways to keep them distracted. If we don’t hurry, they’ll find new dates.”
I knew she was joking. Zane and Hunter wouldn’t have left the girls behind for all the world. And sure enough, as we entered the living room, where Mr. Black sat with Charlotte and the boys, Zane’s eyes went straight to Lexi and lit up with an appreciation so strong I could feel it even in my gut. Hunter wolf whistled. Lexi and I paused to curtsy. The boys were both looking handsome in their black dress pants and button-down shirts. Charlotte wore a yellow silky gown that dropped to the floor and a matching yellow flower in her straightened hair. Both of my friends looked so pretty, it almost hurt to look at them.
“Time for pictures,” Mr. Black said, standing from the couch with his phone in hand. Lexi’s step-mom, Maria, stood next to him, beaming with pride. Mr. Black made us pose for a good half hour, getting every picture imaginable. By the end, even Lexi was done with primping and looking cute for the camera.
She took the phone from his hand and kissed his cheek gently. “We’ve got to go, Dad.”
“Yeah, okay.” He nodded and acted like he was wiping away a speck of dust from the front of his shirt, but I was pretty sure he was just trying to hide the tears in his eyes. It was adorable, but made me immensely grateful we hadn’t gotten ready at my house. My own dad might have turned into a blubbering mess.