Page 32 of All of Him
“Depends on the situation, I guess.”
“I want to help you with something without triggering you.”
I raised my eyebrows at her, not sure where she was going with her words. She sighed and reached her thumb out, like that day in my truck, smoothing the concealer on my cheek. I tried to ignore the fire that ignited under her touch, but I knew she would notice the uncovered cheek reddening.
“Did I do it wrong again?” I asked.
Amanda shrugged.
“It’s the wrong color,andyou do it wrong,” she said with a straight face. She was trying to ease into the idea of helping me with my scar, especially since she’d found out about Garrett. I appreciated the tiptoeing, but it was unnatural, coming from her mouth.
“So, do you trust me to help you out? It seems like something you would want to be done correctly.”
“So,” I whispered, making sure no one else could hear, “you think my scar is still too obvious?”
Her shoulders fell, and shook her head.
“Not at all. I think the way you botch the cover-up makes it worse than it probably is. I just have a small plan to get you the right stuff, and then I can show you how to do it correctly. I’m not trying to push you, honestly, Noah. I just don’t think you want me fixing your makeup every time you fuck it up.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “But I’m not getting color-matched in public.”
“That’s what I figured. So, trust me that we’ll get you the right stuff without it being obvious. That’s what I meant byI have a plan.”
“Okay,” I agreed reluctantly. She had a point after all. “Today after work? The mall should be dead.”
Amanda nodded and leaned back against my desk.
“Thanks…I think.”
We beelined it to Sephora, a store I never wanted to be caught dead in. I’d thrown on a hat, as if that would hide my identity, and followed closely behind Amanda. As soon as she entered the store, she went to the counter. No one else was inside, and a little anxiety trickled away.
“Hey, Steph!” she said, waving at the girl behind the register.
The girl looked like Penny, cheery with her blonde ponytail high atop her head. I cautiously followed Amanda, my hands in my pockets and my head on a swivel.
“Hey, Amanda! Delia said you’d be in. What do you need?”
Amanda looked around, then leaned in closer to the counter, trying to be discreet. As another woman entered the store, I willed myself to keep my eyes on Amanda and Steph. With enough effort, I could avoid hyperventilating.
“This guy needs a color match, but can you do it in the back and pretend the product is for me?”
The girl’s eyes darted at me quickly, then back to Amanda.
“Sure,” she whispered. “Just give me one sec. I’ll be right back.”
Amanda winked at me as Steph walked to a counter in the middle of the store. I rolled my eyes at her, still worried about being seen, but there was no one near us.
“You okay?” Amanda asked.
I nodded, hoping this would all go off without a hitch, then remembered she would have to see me without cover-up at all to show me how to use it. Something inside me slipped further, and I wanted a Xanax. Instead, I took a deep breath and watched as Steph waved us into a door behind the counter.
“Okay,” she said sweetly, holding a device that looked like a laser gun. “I’m assuming the side of the face that isn’t currently tinted orange is your natural color?”
Orange?
“Yeah…” Amanda drew out, biting her lip. “I told you it wasn’t the right color.”
I glared at her, though she looked slightly sorry for her words for once. I softened, remembering that she was only trying to help me.
