13. Kelsey
Kelsey
Stepping back, Kelsey cocked her head to the side and studied the shade of eyeshadow she had chosen. The slight shimmer worked perfectly with her client’s eye shape, and the color made the bride-to-be’s eyes pop. It would photograph beautifully.
“How do you feel about wings?” she asked. “And false lashes?”
“I could never figure out how to do either,” the woman in her chair admitted with a nervous giggle.
“That’s why you hire an artist for your big day.” Kelsey winked. “If you’re not opposed, I think they would really complete the look. I don’t have any lashes now, but let me put the eyeliner on.”
Coming closer and stooping slightly, she brought the liquid pen up, and with a steady, talented hand, she added eyeliner with a flick at the corner of her eyes. After double-checking that they matched, she got the mascara and did her final touch up.
“There,” Kelsey announced and moved to her client’s side.
The woman leaned forward in her chair and examined herself in the mirror. Kelsey rounded the chair and stood behind it. The bride-to-be turned her face this way and that, examining the job Kelsey had done. In her opinion, she nailed the elegant aesthetic requested.
“I could never do this by myself,” her client said. “It’s amazing how good I look.”
Kelsey grinned. “You were fabulous when you arrived. All I did was enhance your natural beauty.”
She loved how makeup could transform someone’s confidence. This woman was gorgeous in her skin, but with a few strokes of Kelsey’s brushes and a carefully chosen color palette, she was runway ready.
“Wait until your fiancé sees,” Kelsey said.
Her client beamed with a smile from ear to ear. She was radiant. If satisfaction were an expression, this woman wore it.
“Do you have plans tonight?” Kelsey asked as she fiddled with an eyelash curler.
The bride-to-be nodded. “We’re going out with his parents to sample the restaurant they picked for the rehearsal dinner.”
Briefly, they chatted about the establishment. Kelsey had never been but made a note to try it out one day. Friends of hers had raved about the brunch there.
After settling the booking and establishing the woman was happy with Kelsey’s work, they confirmed the wedding date, and Kelsey blocked off her day.
Working at the salon was all well and good.
It allowed her to hustle and source people seeking special-occasion makeup.
Through these connections, she’d gotten into the theater scene.
Devin, a hair stylist who had since left for greener pastures, was big in the local playhouse, and he hooked her up with his troupe. She did the makeup for the local actors.
Kelsey wasn’t making bank, but she was comfortable. Busy with a full-time gig and two side hustles, she made enough to pay her bills and had started building her nest egg a while ago. She wasn’t struggling, and that was all that mattered to her.
Checking the book, she noted that her next appointment wasn’t due for another half hour. Which meant she had enough time to run to the coffee shop. Stopping by her co-workers’ stations, she took orders, collected money, and headed out the door.
Right into a wall of leather-clad flesh that smelled like skunky weed and bad decisions.
After literally bouncing off him, she stumbled backward and peered up into Pete’s dickhead face. Her day was officially ruined.
He smiled and waved. “Hey.”
Her pulse hammered, and anger boiled in her veins. What the fuck was he doing there? Kelsey had assumed running from him and going home with a completely different dude the night before sent the message that she wasn’t interested.
Shaking her head, she refused to return his greeting. Stepping aside, she made to move past him and continue to the shop at the end of the strip mall. She had coffee to get and had no desire to deal with him.
“Wait.” His fingers curled around her arm, jerking her back toward him.
“Let me go,” she growled, glaring down at his offensive touch.
She had enough of him grabbing her without her permission.
“Come on,” he pleaded, without releasing her, though his grip loosened. “Don’t be like that.”
She glanced around the parking lot. While plenty of cars were about, apparently the people who owned them were busy elsewhere. She would have to handle this alone.
Meeting his gaze, she narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going to say it again.”
With a sigh, he released her. “We should talk.”
She scoffed. “About what?” She folded her arms across her chest. “Pretty sure I was clear last night.”
Pete placed his hands on his hips. “Things got out of hand. We both did stuff we shouldn’t have.”
Kelsey couldn’t help but laugh at his absurdity.
He reached for her again, and she immediately stepped back. She wanted no part of his hands on her. Once had been more than enough.
A loud rumble drew their attention. Pete’s gaze flicked behind her, and she turned. A pair of Harley-Davidsons pulled into the lot, and Kelsey’s heart fluttered for a completely different reason.
On a steel horse, her knight in worn leather had arrived.
How had he known?
Pete growled as Kev pulled his bike into a spot.
“My ride is here,” Kelsey lied confidently.
With an extra sashay in her step, she swiveled her hips as she sauntered toward Kev and his friend, who had cut the engines of their bikes. Kev’s focus wasn’t on her or Pete yet; he seemed intent on surveying his surroundings.
Was he aware she was there? Had he noticed the pickle she was in? She was about to make damn sure he did.
“Kelsey,” Pete called after her.
The heavy clomps of his footsteps followed her.
She quickened her pace as Kev and his companion turned in their direction.
Please save me again, she pleaded silently, hoping he could read her mind.