Chapter 15 #2
“Please come in. Make yourself at home,” I murmured.
My stomach swooped with the number of bags they carried.
“Hair, makeup, and shoes.” Evie attempted to put me at ease.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like getting all dolled up; it was that I didn’t usually have time to do it.
Nor was I that talented at it. My hair was always in braids because that’s what Natalie had taught me.
I had a strict skincare routine, but makeup was daunting.
Like, how many steps did I need to take to apply it?
And what needed contouring versus highlighting? I was clueless.
Micah hung the garment bag on the closet door and turned to look at me properly, head tilting. “You still nervous?”
“Why would I be nervous? It’s just dinner. With management. And the people holding our season’s budget between their fingers. And Connor.” I swallowed, and it felt like my throat was lined with rocks.
Lola’s mouth curved. “There it is. He’s the one you’re nervous about.”
“It’s not—” I started, then stopped, because denying anything with that much force was always a tell. “He’s the Knights’ captain. We’re required to go together, part of our jobs.”
Micah sat on the edge of my bed while Evie and Lola emptied their bags onto it.
“Well, however you feel about it, we’re here to make sure you feel and look amazing.
” She unzipped the garment bag with a little flourish.
Inside was a tailored dark green jumpsuit I recognized immediately.
She’d sent me a picture of it when she bought it a few months ago.
I also vividly remember Connor telling me that he had a tie that was dark green. What were the chances my assistant coach was conspiring here? High. Very, very high.
“I can’t wear that,” I said, even as I stepped closer. The fabric looked soft and expensive, the color shimmering with emerald velvet.
“You can and you will,” she replied. “It’s not doing anything in my closet tonight, and it’ll look better on you.”
Lola pulled the towel from my head without warning, and I knew I wouldn’t escape their help. Secretly, I was grateful.
Within an hour, Evie had dried and styled my hair, and Lola had been working on putting products on my face while Micah made us all mocktails from the kitchen.
“Okay, tilt your chin for me,” Lola said with her brow drawn in concentration. She tapped something cool on the top of my cheekbones. “You have ridiculously good skin, by the way. It’s been a dream applying this.”
My gut burned with the compliment. “Thanks,” I managed.
Micah handed me a glass, condensation beading down the side. “Grapefruit and lime. No alcohol, because I’ve seen you on tequila, and we’re not doing that before a donor dinner.”
“That was one time,” I protested, taking a sip. It was tart and fizzy and exactly what my stomach needed. “And it was college.”
“And yet the legend lives on,” Micah said as Lola brushed something through my eyebrows.
“Close your eyes for me.”
I obeyed, more from trust than anything.
Somewhere between Evie’s steady hands in my hair and Lola’s commentary, the buzzing in my veins had quieted to something less feral.
It was still there, but it wasn’t in charge.
Usually, I was the one bossing everyone around, herding them on the pitch or through workouts.
But I realized how good it felt to hand the reins over, even if it was temporary.
“You know, this actually works out well,” Evie said, sectioning off another piece of hair with quick fingers. “We’ve all been so busy prepping for our first season. We never get to do fun things like this.”
Despite myself, a smile tugged at my mouth.
“Also, you never let us do this. I swear when we first met you, I thought your hair was permanently in a braid.”
“It’s practical,” I argued.
“It’s boring,” Evie countered easily. “You deserve to feel… I don’t know. Done up and fancy. Powerful in a way that isn’t just physical. The braid works for the pitch, but don’t forget about this side of things too. You’re more than who you are out there.”
The words sank into the quiet hum inside me. I liked feeling powerful and beautiful. Sometimes, I guess I had a hard time remembering that the two could coexist. I didn’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Especially tonight with the help of these three.
I opened my eyes just long enough to catch their reflections in the mirror: Evie with a strand of my hair curled around her finger; Lola leaning close, focus unwavering; Micah leaning her hip against the dresser, watching me with that quiet, steady knowing she always had.
A different kind of team. A different kind of safety.
I closed my eyes again before emotion could make a scene of itself.
“Well, I’m grateful for you all. Even if this is all done against my will.”
Lola snorted, and Evie cackled. “We love you too, Cap.”
Micah smiled just as the other two stood back assessing. “It’s time to get dressed. I can’t wait to see how hot you’ll look in that jumpsuit.”
“You’re going to walk into that restaurant tonight and make every single investor wonder why they haven’t been giving the Valkyries all of their money already,” Lola said with a smirk.
“Connor will lose his mind,” Evie squeaked.
Was I ready? Technically, yes. But the hoard of butterflies currently occupying my stomach told me otherwise.
I didn’t think I’d ever be ready for Connor O’Riley.