Chapter 6
Chapter Six
FAITH
Y esterday, Jess and I spent the afternoon in Ophir City on a shopping spree. Now, I stare at a bed laid out with frilly, lacy shirts, flashy jeans, and pretty bra and panty sets.
I hesitated about spending money on fancy underwear.
An unnecessary expense in my book. But Jess explained, “Sexy underwear is the foundation of your entire vibe. Nobody has to know you’ve got them on.
It’s about the confidence they give you.
Trust me, they’re the most important thing you can buy today. ”
Next, we visited a local salon where Jess talked me into getting highlights and a trim. It felt weird focusing on me for once. Having all the attention is a new feeling. It always went to my rodeo queen sister Birdie while I hung out in the shadows.
My mom rued the day my hips started growing and went into permanent mourning when they didn’t stop.
She declared my rodeo queen days dead before they ever started.
And once the initial sting wore off, I felt relieved.
After all, what Birdie endured under my mom’s controlling, microscopic gaze was nightmarish.
I resigned myself to being the ugly sister.
The one nobody paid any attention to. This belief became a part of my identity, and I find it impossible to shake, especially in the context of Travis.
But Jess is bound and determined to make me feel like the queen she says she knows I am.
And I like the idea of it, for sure. I guess that’s a start.
I took the morning off from work and had my part-time employee handle the delivery with the help of Logan and his brother Maksim, and now I sit staring in the mirror at my transforming reflection.
Jess spent the past half hour curling my hair, and the caramel-highlighted brown locks look lustrous and sexy.
She applies blush, eye makeup, and lip gloss. She doesn’t do anything over the top or that makes me feel like I’m no longer myself. Instead, she enhances my light brown eyes and long, thick eyelashes, and she makes my cheekbones stand out with the perfect amount of blush and bronzer.
By the time she finishes, my lips look full and shiny, my face has a fresh, dewy appeal, and my hair is downright fierce. I shake my head, staring at my reflection in disbelief. It’s still me but with so many glamorous possibilities emphasized.
“Damn, girl, you look hot! My brother’s going to lose his shit when he sees you.”
“Do you think so?”
Jess smiles next to me, staring in the mirror. “I know so.”
I look at my watch, realizing I’m running out of time before he arrives at the feed store. “Okay, what should I wear?”
Jess holds up a sexy corset-looking top in a floral burgundy print.
“This one looks so good with your eyes. It makes you one hot mama. Oh, and these jeans,” she says pointing to the flashiest, tightest pair we got.
They have embroidery and bling all over the back pockets and look like the kind of pants rodeo queens wear, not wallflowers like me.
“I don’t know. That outfit is a little over the top, especially for a plain Jane like me.”
Jess’s eyes narrow. “You promised me you weren’t going to talk that way anymore.
Remember? Girl, you’ve got to own your look and your sensuality.
Quit worrying about what others think and focus on what you know and want.
This was your favorite outfit yesterday, and I know you’re going to wear the shit out of it today. So, what are you waiting for?”
I clap my hands together, allowing myself to feel the excitement coursing through me. “You’re right. I really did love this outfit, and it made me feel amazing.”
After scrambling into the ensemble and slipping on my best pair of cowgirl boots, Jess lets out a happy sigh of approval and hugs me. “You look fierce and fucking jaw dropping. Have fun and enjoy watching Travis drool. I know he’s going to, hun.”