Chapter 23 – Willa #2
“It's fine, I haven’t brought my shower stuff here yet,” I say, with a sigh, moving to where my bag is in the corner.
Last night we went to my place to grab some essentials, but I didn’t bring everything I would need, realizing I should probably get doubles so I wouldn’t have to lug things back and forth.
Leo agreed, and instead of writing that night, I sat at my laptop and placed an order for delivery to his house, which should arrive tomorrow afternoon.
“Yet,” Hallie says with a knowing smile, but I just roll my eyes before hefting my bag over my shoulder and making my way towards the front door.
An hour later, we’re at my house on Three Kings property, and I’m sitting on my bed after getting ready for the day while Nat goes through my closet.
They hung out nearby while I showered and dressed, chatting the entire time, and even though it should feel a bit intrusive, I strangely find it doesn’t at all.
During this time, I’ve filled the girls in on most of the important details, though it took a while to explain the coffee shop mess from years ago, the drama with Leo’s boss, and why we have to keep things low-key until my next relationship and Leo’s contract are up.
I swore the girls to utter secrecy until we were ready to announce it to the world, and I didn’t even second-guess that decision.
Normally, with something like this, I would make people sign an NDA, but somehow, just getting a couple of pinky swears from women I genuinely trust felt more binding than any contract ever has.
“So, we’re having a full girls’ day today before your date. We’re going to the salon to get your hair done–lucky you, Nat’s schedule is clear for the day because she hates working on Sundays. Then nails,” Hallie explains.
“We need to pick out your outfit now so we know what color to paint them,” Wren says with a gentle smile.
“This is your casual stuff. Where’s your going out stuff?
” she asks, looking over her shoulder at me.
I bite my lip, then stand. She steps aside as I move hangers over until the outfits I brought with me are revealed.
I haven’t touched any of them in weeks, realizing pretty quickly that I didn't need much more than a couple of shorts, a tee or two, and mostly, comfortable workout clothes. It’s strange seeing the things I brought, knowing the expensive labels are sought after, but suddenly hating them and the boring, colorless version of me they represent.
“Do you have anything that isn’t…neutral?” she asks.
“I’m sorry?”
“All of your clothes are neutrals. Like, browns, blacks, and beiges. And don’t get me wrong, they all look absolutely killer on you, I’m sure.” She pulls out a tan mini dress, then holds it up to herself. “This is hot, for sure. But it’s still sad girl beige.”
“It’s not sad girl beige, it’s…cool girl beige,” I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“Says who?” Nat says, crinkling her nose.
“Uh, my stylist? The media? The world?”
“Well, the world is a sad, colorless place these days, so that tracks,” Hallie says, and Wren nods in agreement.
“They don’t seem very…you,” Wren says. “They’re all very nice, they’re just…”
“They’re boring,” Hallie says, bluntly.
“And you’re not boring,” Nat says with a shrug of her shoulder. “Unless that’s what you like, of course.”
“I…I don’t think so,” I say with a cringe. I’d noticed that, of course, and have been wearing the colorful workout clothes I bought on rotation, but I figured it was that they were the better choice for doing work around Leo’s house. But maybe I was really just happy that they felt more… me.
“I just don’t think it fits you, you know? I mean, your stylist is great on your tour stuff—” Nat starts, but I shake my head.
“That’s Harper,” I correct quickly. “Tour costumes and red carpets are all Harper Holden. She designs and custom-makes everything for them for me. I have a different stylist for my streetwear and interview looks.”
“Well, that explains that. Harper has good taste. Your stylist does not,” Nat says, retreating from the closet with a disappointed sigh.
“Nat!” Wren chides.
“Oh, come on, it’s true! None of this says Willa Stone! It says…basic boring bitch. It says someone who wants to fit in and follow trends, not set them.”
“I don’t necessarily want to set trends,” I say, biting my lips. “I have more than enough eyes on me at all times.” Nat gives me a deadpan look, as if she’s over me.
“Yeah, well, unfortunately, you do it regardless. But right now, you’re setting boring trends.” She has a point, I suppose. “You know, you should spend your time here experimenting.”
“I think she’s going to get plenty of experimentation time with Leo,” Hallie says, and once again, Wren groans. I just laugh, somehow becoming numb to this strange behavior.
“I mean with clothes, but yes, absolutely with Leo. We can circle back to that later today and make a list of everything to try. I’m sure he has a lot to teach a woman.” She fans at her face, and Wren grabs a pillow, tossing it at her with a laugh.
“Stay focused, Nat. Clothes. What is she going to wear on her date tonight?” Wren asks, laughing. Nat nods, then pinches at her face as if trying to center herself.
I laugh, shaking my head, deeply enjoying my time with these unhinged women. “I’m sorry my options are limited. I didn’t exactly expect, well, any of this.”
“Do you think we have enough time to go shopping after the salon?” Hallie asks Nat, whose eyes light up. “It’s only a block from the salon.”
“Oh, definitely,” she says. “We can get her something there. They should be open now, and if we’re out of there by, say, 10:30, we should be golden.”
I look from Nat, contemplating her adjusted timeline, to the admittedly boring closet behind her, and speak without thinking.
“I think…I think I need a new wardrobe,” I say. “Do you think we have time to get a few extra things?” Silence lingers before Nat speaks.
“Oh my god, I think I just came,” Nat says, and I look to her, part concerned, part entertained.
“Ignore her. She’s gross,” Hallie says.
“And has a shopping addiction,” Wren adds.
Nat ignores them, moving to me and falling to her knees before me.
“Willa Stone, goddess of pop music, queen of tabloids, please, please, please let me help you pick out your new wardrobe. Summer stuff that you can wear around town. Casual things. Colors! Patterns!”
She’s lighting up with each addition, and I watch in fascination, giggling a bit.
“Put her out of her misery,” Hallie murmurs. “She won’t stop until she passes out.”
“Oh, uh, well, yeah,” I say with a laugh. “That would actually be so great—” I can’t finish my sentence because Nat is standing, pulling me up and into her, and hugging me tight.
“Oh my god, this is so exciting! Next week. I’m off on Wednesday?” she says, pulling back to look at me. “There are a few cute boutiques in town, and we can do some online shopping if you have a store you love.”
I shrug, and she finally releases me, stepping back,
“Honestly, I don’t. I haven’t gone shopping in a long time.”
Nat’s eyes close, and she takes in a deep breath.
“I think you broke her,” Wren whispers. “Okay, so shopping first, quick, and then next week on my next day off, we’ll do some real damage.” Nat ignores her, grabbing a strand of my hair. “Then we’ll head right to the salon to do your hair.”
“Do my hair?”
“I mean, I can do the norm, wash, blow out, or we could touch up your roots,” she says, a bit hopeful.
I don’t have to look at my hair to know that my darker blonde roots are showing, and I know that in a week or two, they’ll start to drive me crazy.
I’m creeping up on my normally needed eight-week update.
The mere idea of a random small-town hair stylist doing my hair would probably put Jackie into a heart attack, but I trust Nat more than most stylists I’ve worked with and have seen her work enough to know she’s amazing at what she does.
I picture how I looked in the mirror earlier and remember thinking that my brown eyes clash with the bright shade of blonde my hair is now.
With the blue contacts, it works. I look icy, unapproachable, too cool for everyone in the room, but here in Holly Ridge, I don’t want to be the fake, expensive version of myself. Touching the ends of my hair, I shrug.
“We can go a bit darker? Closer to what you think my natural color would be?” Silence fills the room for a moment before I look up at Nat and see her eyes are wide with excitement.
“Better cover your ears,” Hallie mutters.
“Oh. My. God,” Nat says, then starts jumping up and down. “Oh, my GOD! Yes! Yes, yes, yes. I didn’t want to pressure you because that’s rude—”
“Oh, now you’re worried about manners,” Hallie murmurs with a smile, fully entertained.
“But this color washes you out so much. This is going to be so fun! Ah!” I blink a few times, her excited shrieks causing me to flinch.
“Yeah, definitely broke her,” Wren says with a smile, but Nat is already grabbing my things, snagging a pair of white tennis sneakers from my closet and some socks before tossing them into a bag.
“Come on. We have so much to do,” she says, then heads out the door, leaving the rest of us no other option but to follow.