Page 26 of Face Off

“I’ll deal with Lance,” I said. “You’re allowed to enjoy your wedding.”

Bliss’s shoulders relaxed. “Okay.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re doing poorly.”

“She usually does,” Aura said.

Bliss lifted her middle finger beneath the cape.

Her stylist announced that she was ready to rinse, saving us from whatever response Aura had prepared. Bliss rose carefully and moved toward the shampoo station with enough foil surrounding her head to make the process look medically concerning.

Aura’s stylist finished the final pass through her hair and turned the chair toward us. Sleek black hair fell past Aura’s shoulders, the ends cut into a clean line that made her features appear sharper. The style transformed her without softening anything. She looked elegant, expensive, and capable of destroying a man’s life before the first course arrived.

I whistled.

Aura stared at herself in the mirror. “Easton is going to become a public nuisance.”

“He already is,” Bliss called from the sink.

“He’s going to become worse.”

I took Aura’s phone from the table and held it up. “You need photographic evidence before he touches it.”

“You say that like I don’t intend to use his reaction for entertainment.”

“I assumed.”

Aura stood and adjusted the white button-down she wore over fitted black pants. She turned toward the window with one hand against her waist while I took several pictures.

“Send me all of them.”

“I will.”

“And delete any where my face looks strange.”

“Your face always looks strange.”

“Then use filters.”

Bliss’s laughter carried from the shampoo station.

By the time her hair was rinsed, toned, cut, and blown into bright waves around her shoulders, the salon had delivered three women who looked different enough to justify the cost and familiar enough to make the entire afternoon feel like us.

Bliss stood between Aura and me near the mirrors while one of the salon assistants took pictures.

Blonde, black, and blonde threaded with strawberry gold. Bride and maids of honor. Best friends since we were twelve, even when some of us had taken longer to understand when friendship became family.

After the assistant returned Bliss’s phone, she studied the pictures with tears gathering in her eyes.

“Don’t,” Aura warned.

“I’m getting married.”

“We’re aware.”