Isn't She Lovely (Redemption 0.5)(24)

And those damn movies caught me at a desperate time. A couple of weeks ago my mom caught me off guard by inviting Olivia to brunch. Surprise! A few days after that Olivia happened to be playing tennis when my dad invited me to play doubles. It didn’t take a genius to see that my parents were playing matchmaker.

I’d been all set to tell them that Olivia and I were done. But then they went and arranged for me to take Olivia out on the boat—alone, like it was some special treat. There was no f*cking way.

But neither could I bring myself to tell my parents the truth. It was too humiliating. So I did what any pathetic chicken would do: I told them I had other plans. With a new girlfriend.

Like I said, not my best idea. And I wasn’t joking when I told Stephanie that there were surprisingly few females in my social circle who would work. This is the kind of messed-up shit that happens when you grow up in New York. I don’t care how many people live in this city.

When it comes to the rich—when it comes to the Prices and the St. Claires and the Middletons—the social circles are tight, and the sexual circles tighter.

Which brings me to … I look up from the luxe leather chair where I’ve been staring unseeingly at some trashy magazine.

Stephanie Kendrick.

The hairdresser has already put the black cape around Stephanie’s shoulders, emphasizing the black shit around her eyes and the dark attitude.

“So what am I doing here?” the hairdresser asks, scooping up the length of Stephanie’s hair before letting it drop around her shoulders.

My throat goes slightly dry at the memory of what that hair felt like against my fingers the other night. So damned soft for a girl with rough edges.

And then there was that kiss …

“Yeah, babe, Maddie here wants to know what we’re doing,” Stephanie says, meeting my eyes in the mirror.

“Ethan, does your mom know you’re here?” Maddie asks, turning to give me a look.

“Nope, and I’d sure appreciate it if you didn’t tell her.”

Maddie shrugs. “I didn’t tell her that it was you who messed with my dye trays back when you were six and turned her hair copper, did I? Not gonna tell her that you’re bringin’ a girl around now.”

I give her my best smile, ignoring Stephanie’s look of disgust. I haven’t seen Maddie in years, probably since that time she mentioned when I accidentally-on-purpose messed with the color tray. I seem to remember being irritated that my mom was having a “root crisis” on the same day as my basketball game and dragged me to the damned hair salon while the rest of my friends were headed to get pizza and soda.

More than a decade later, my mom is still coming to Maddie for root crises. Too bad she hasn’t shown my dad the same loyalty she shows her stylist.

I push the thought away. I’ve gotta stop dwelling on this shit, or I’m going to turn out all bitter and mean like Stephanie.

“So, Maddie,” I say, “Stephanie here’s a low-maintenance kind of girl, but she said she wanted to spruce herself up. I think she’s trying to impress me,” I say with a little wink for Maddie.

“Spruce myself up?”

“So what are we thinking?” Maddie asks, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Well, to start, I was thinking we could get rid of the dark. Take her back to her natural color,” I say, hoping I’m using the right terminology. I’m pretty sure I am. Olivia had talked about her hair. A lot.

But both Stephanie and Maddie are staring at me, so clearly I’ve said something wrong.

“You know … lighter?” I say, feeling a little less confident

“Well, if I’m not mistaken,” Maddie says, setting her mug aside, “we’re dealing with the real thing right here.”

It takes a second to register, and I look at Stephanie’s hair in surprise.

“That’s your real hair color?”

Stephanie gives me a flat look. “I can tell you think it’s pretty.”

“No. Yes. I mean, sure, but it’s so dark.”

Stephanie glances at Maddie. “Do you have my purse handy? I’m going to see if I have a gold star in there I can give Mr. Observant here.”

“Oh, calm down. I guess I just thought, given your penchant for all things dark and dreary, that you’d dyed it.”

“A man without stereotypes. Refreshing.” Stephanie’s tone is light, but she looks pissed.

Shit. Somehow I expected this to be easier. That Maddie would work her magic, turning this dark gremlin into a soft, blond sweetheart.

“So, what are our options, Mad?” I ask, trying to ignore Stephanie.

The hairdresser studies her client for a moment, picking up stray pieces of hair and letting them fall to the shoulders. “We should keep it long. It suits her. But some layers would do a world of good. Maybe add some long bangs to emphasize her eyes?”

As if Stephanie’s eyes need emphasizing. They’re big and bright and blue.

And not at all f*cking relevant right now.

“Okay, whatever you think,” I say, suddenly desperate for some space. “Sweetie, you good if I go grab us some coffees while Maddie does her thing?”

“I’m good, love bug dumpling.”

Her words are all sugar, but I know even after turning away that she’s shooting daggers at my back.