Hot Mess (LBSC #1) | Completed

Chapter 29

I woke on Saturday feeling oddly at peace. I'd gone to bed thinking I'd wake up and feel like I did when I'd left that awful message on Quinn's phone, but that wasn't the case.

Zoey rapped on my door then opened it a crack. "Hey, girlie, let's go and get glamorous. Nikki'll come over later to help us get ready."

I swung my legs from under the covers and sat up. "Why am I not freaking out about tonight?"

Zoey let her hand fall from the knob and shrugged. "Maybe you've made peace with yourself? You like who you are now?"

I thought about my new job, my new boyfriend, and my new, less co-dependent relationship with Zoey. My burgeoning friendship with Malcolm and the rag-tag people that made up the Late Bloomers' Social Club. Yoga classes with my spiritual adviser, Daisy. All of these things made up the New Reese.

Old Reese would never have been able to apologize to Javi for her melodramatic reactions—it still counted even if it was unintentional—or look past her personal interests to put other people's wants and needs first. And for sure Old Reese would never be well on her way to doing a headstand in yoga class.

"I do," I said in awe. "I actually do. It finally feels good to be me."

"That's the spirit. Now get your ass up and in the shower so we can go."

After I showered and executed another search for gray hairs, we made our way to a salon for mani-pedis and eyebrow waxes.

"The friends that scream bloody murder while waxing together stay together," I said, linking arms with Zoey as we left the salon in our disposable flip-flops.

When we arrived at our apartment building, Nikki was already leaning seductively against a door, one heel perched on it. In one hand she held several hangers containing plastic wrapped garments. She didn't bat an eyelash when she saw us.

"What's all that?" Zoey asked as we got closer.

Nikki put both feet on the ground and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. "Just think of me as your fairy godmother transforming you for the ball."

"I didn't budget for—" Zoey began.

Nikki shook her head lazily. "You know I know people. These are some choice pieces created by a friend of mine. You'll wear these tonight, give her some free publicity, and return them. Everyone wins."

Zoey smiled and nudged my arm. "Awesome."

"I'm pretty sure she just meant you, Zo," I muttered under my breath. So now Zoey was going to look like a million bucks and I'd be wearing whatever I could find that didn't need to be washed.

Nikki pursed her lips. "Actually, Reese, I brought some things for you too. What kind of fairy godmother would I be if I let you show up to your reunion looking like one of the ugly stepsisters."

Damn Nikki and her supersonic hearing.

****

"Reese," Zoey's eyes were wide and her mouth made a perfect "O". "You look beautiful."

Nikki stood next to her, arms folded across her chest and nodding appreciatively. "Hell yeah, she does. You're welcome."

"Thank you, Nikki." I twirled around. "I mean it. I feel like a princess."

Nikki and Zoey were just outside my bedroom door. I was still in my room, having changed into the second dress Nikki had brought for me. The first one was all wrong in the color and fit, but this one...this was the one.