Chapter Four #2
“It’s perfect. Thank you so much, Leo.”
Wrapping him in a hug, I felt his hand come up to cup the back of my head, like it usually did when we hugged.
“You’re welcome,” he replied.
We stayed pressed together for a while, until someone clearing their throat had us parting and a weird feeling twisted my stomach when he pulled away.
“I thought I could do my daughter’s hair for the party?” Mom stood behind us, smiling eagerly at me and holding a straightener. She clacked the tongs twice, making me laugh at her cheesiness.
“I’ll leave you two to it. See you when you’re done,” Leo smiled at me then kissed my mom’s cheek as he left the room.
Mom’s eyes dropped to my necklace as she pushed me down onto the cushioned stool in front of my dresser. “I see he gave you his present?”
I pressed my hand to the pendant where it lay flat to my chest. “Yes, it’s beautiful. I love it.”
Mom plugged in the straightener and switched it on, grabbing the brush and running it through my hair. “He was so nervous to give it to you, it was so sweet. Reminded me of your father at that age.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew, gross.”
Mom laughed and tugged my hair gently in reprimand. “It’s not gross. It’s adorable.”
She began using the straightener, gliding it through my hair but instead of straightening, she twisted it, curling the lock of hair and I watched amazed.
I’d never been great with hair and make-up.
I didn’t understand what looked good or how to pick the right shades for my complexion.
I preferred being outside with the horses or messing around with Leo, watching him getting bucked off a bull, to doing my hair.
So I marveled at the wizardry my mom created as she curled my hair with the straightener.
“We’re not like you and Daddy, Mom.”
“No, I know, sweetie, you’re just friends. It’s a beautiful friendship and it makes me and your father so happy that you have someone who will always look out for you. And that you have someone to look out for in return.”
“If I can keep his attention. He’s always off with other girls lately,” I grumbled, picking at my nail polish.
“He is at that age,” Mom chuckled. “Why don’t you give him a taste of his own medicine? I bet he wouldn’t like it if you were off with other boys. Uh, not doing anything you shouldn’t be though,” she added hastily.
I shook my head. “Again, Mom. Gross.”
“Good.”
We slipped into silence as she did my hair and I watched her in the mirror.
“How did you know you loved Daddy?”
She sighed, dreamily. “Oh well, he pursued me for a while. We ended up spending a lot of time together while he was doing all his pursuing and I just realized I liked spending so much time with him that I wanted to spend all my time with him.”
“Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “That is how I feel about Leo though.”
“Well maybe it’s in a different way. I wanted to kiss your father,” she paused. “Do you want to kiss Leo?”
I wrinkled my nose at the thought. “Not really.”
Mom laughed. “There you go then. You’ll find someone else that you want to spend your time with, that you want to kiss and then you’ll get to have that person and Leo and you’ll be so fulfilled. And Leo will have the same with someone else.”
“I guess so,” I replied slowly, not sure if I liked the idea of Leo finding another person that he wanted to spend all his time with. Which I know made me selfish, but I couldn’t help it.
“There, all done, my beautiful girl,” Mom said and turned off the straightener. She finger-combed my hair and curls rained around my face. I looked so feminine and different from usual. I was blown away.
“Now, do you want a bit of mascara and lipstick?” Mom asked, a twinkle of mischief in her eye.
I grinned and nodded. Once she’d finished making me over, she grabbed her camera and took a picture. I hated my picture being taken but it made her happy and I loved spending one-on-one time with her.
“I know we’re a big family of girls, but I want you to know you can talk to me about anything,” she said as she hugged me tight. “I love you all equally and have time for all of you, forever.”
“Mom? You’re squishing me,” I complained.
“Sorry,” she pulled away, dabbing at her eyes. “Look at you, all grown up and so so beautiful, my strong girl.”
“Don’t do thaaaaaaat!” I groaned.
“Sorry!” she said again and then tugged me back into another squishy cuddle that I secretly loved.
“We gotta go, Maddy!” Leo called from downstairs. I patted my hair and smoothed my dress. Mom winked and nudged me out of my bedroom.
Leo was standing at the bottom of the stairs and as I walked down, I held his eye the entire way, loving having all his attention on me and my nice dress and great hair.
When I got to the bottom step, he gave me a wide smile, Maddy’s Dimple appearing.
“You just had your She’s All That moment,” he said.
I blushed and shoved him away. “You and those silly romcoms.”
*
Daddy drove us to the party, Kat and Gertie coming along since Gertie was dating Kyle’s older brother, Billy.
“All of you be safe, no drinking or drugs or anything that you shouldn’t be doing. Leo, look after my girls for me, will ya?”
“I can look after myself, Dad,” I moaned.
“Same,” Kat and Gertie echoed.
“In that case, girls look after Leo for me, will ya?” he joked.
“Chaaaarlie,” Leo groaned and got out of the truck, my dad’s laughter following him.
“Seriously though, call me if you need anything. I’ll pick you up at eleven and not a minute later.” He fixed us all with a stern look before driving off.
Kat and Gertie hurried into the house where music pumped out and lights flashed inside the windows. I lingered back, excitement and trepidation clenching my gut.
“You’re not scared of a high school party, are you?” Leo goaded, knowing exactly how to push my buttons.
“No!”
“Then come on, Tough Girl.” He took my hand and tugged me through the front door. Music immediately assaulted my ears and as we wandered through the house, Leo’s thumb stroked over the back of my hand.
I saw kids I knew from school clustered together in different groups.
A few kids I didn’t recognize but figured they were juniors as I saw Kat and Gertie talking to them.
Billy Pope had his arm slung around Gertie’s shoulders and my excitement flared.
If Billy was here, then maybe Kyle was close by too.
“What was your wish?” Leo spoke in my ear as he pressed tight against me, letting someone past us.
“I’m not telling you, then it won’t come true!” I replied, hotly.
He smirked down at me. “I bet I can guess.”
Leo drew us into the kitchen, and we found a couple of sodas on the countertop which he snagged and continued our journey through the house into another room.
He dropped my hand to snap the top off the soda, slurping up the bubbles that spilled over before handing it to me and doing the same with the other can.
We found a quiet corner of the living room, and I leaned against the wall, facing out so I could see everyone.
Leo stood facing me, one arm resting on the wall above me, leaning in to shout over the music.
“Anything to do with Kyle?”
My eyes snapped to his. “How did you—it doesn’t matter. I’m not saying because then it won’t come true.”
“I knew it,” he replied smugly, taking a sip of his drink. I whacked his stomach and he snorted his soda. I grinned wickedly, loving the glare he leveled at me.
“You’re an ass.”
“Takes an ass to know an ass,” I retorted.
“You—”
Whatever Leo was about to say was interrupted by someone shouting, “Who’s up for spin the bottle?”
There was a chorus of boos and some cheers. I wasn’t bothered either way, until I saw that the person suggesting we play was Kyle. My eyes widened and I batted Leo’s arm away, throwing my hand in the air. “I’ll play!”
Kyle ran his eyes over me before his lip lifted on one side and he nodded, ushering me over. I turned back to Leo and shrugged a shoulder and waved goodbye.
I was off to make my birthday wish come true.