CHAPTER 10

JULIA

16 Days 'til Christmas Eve

I glance at the clock then type out a message to Kyle.

Me: You don't really need to come to the hair and makeup trial, you know. It's mostly for the bride and bridesmaids. I can handle it.

I hit send, hoping he'll take the hint and skip this one. It's not like he needs to weigh in on lipstick shades and updos. But seconds later, his response lights up my screen.

Kyle: Oh, I'm coming. Can't let you end up looking like a banshee if it all goes south. Besides, we've done everything else together-why stop now?

A grin slips through as I roll my eyes. How typical of him-smug, stubborn, and showing up just to make sure I don't mess it all up, apparently. Ironic much?

Me: Suit yourself.

His smug face, with the irritating smirk, appears in my mind as I hit send.

An hour later, seated in the tall swivel chair at the salon, Mae, the makeup artist, gets started with a cleanser before priming me. I watch her curiously, pulling out every shade in the palette, wondering what exactly she has in store. Mae talks me through a look described as "timeless yet radiant" and I hope to dear God I don't end up looking like my mother. Not that my mother isn't beautiful, because she is, but we have vastly different tastes in both beauty and fashion. I close my eyes and let her work, half-listening to her rundown of Penny's options for winter tones, half in deep relaxation from the soft sweeps of the makeup brush running over my face. When she's halfway through a smoky eye, I ease open the other, spotting Kyle in the mirror. He strides over in four long steps, then stands a foot away, crossing his arms and rubbing at his chin like he's here to supervise a construction project. His eyebrows raise high on his forehead, feigning horror in a way that only he can.

"Sheesh, that'll terrify all the kids at the wedding," he simpers.

Mae's eyes narrow. Great, now he's gone and insulted the one person who will either make or break Penny's wedding photos. "This is a timeless look, thank you very much. And it's not finished yet, so maybe reserve judgment?"

He shrugs, but I spy the smile creeping at the corner of his mouth. He's searching for a snappy comeback, I'm sure. "Hey, just trying to look out for the bride and groom. Last thing we need is guests fleeing the reception." And there it is.

Shaking my head, a laugh escapes, catching Mae's attention. I throw her a sympathetic smile, practically begging for forgiveness. Ignoring his remark, she resumes work with a professional demeanour. Kyle settles into a green velvet chair in the corner, flipping through a magazine. He's not even looking at the pages though, rather scrutinising us like he's an auditor. Though, I'm curious to see what he thinks of the result. He's unexpectedly invested in Penny's wedding, and it's sweet.

Mae finishes my eyes with a subtle silver shimmer, then dusts a light blush over my cheeks before stepping back to check out the overall picture. I look in the mirror, trying to figure out how I feel. The smoky eye is striking and bold, plus she's given me a deep contour that's very glam. It's intense, to say the least. I raise a single eyebrow at Kyle, waiting for his critique.

He leans in, tilting his head like he's studying a piece of abstract art. "Hmm... are we going for wedding glam or vampire chic?"

Mae sighs, crossing her arms like she's ready to ban him from the salon. "Alright, alright. Maybe we'll try something a little softer?"

"Please," Kyle says. "I don't think Penny wants her bridesmaids looking like extras from a horror film." Mae huffs, dabbing cotton wool to remove the heavier elements of the makeup.

She starts over with softer, warmer tones on my eyes, keeping the shimmer, then adds a light, natural blush. As she brushes on a subtle nude lipstick, I sneak a glance at Kyle. He watches on, almost as if he's fascinated by Mae's brushstrokes. There's something about his quietude that makes me wonder if he's seeing more than just the makeup.

Mae steps back again, satisfied, and I look in the mirror, pleased with the resultant look. It's pretty, soft, almost too understated. Kyle tilts his head, still not entirely sold.

"It's better," he concedes, "but I think it's missing something."

Mae huffs, pulling out a rich, deep red lipstick. "How about this for a pop of colour? It'll bring in a holiday feel without being gaudy."

The change is immediate, bringing out warmth while complementing the subtle eye makeup, adding just the slightest touch of drama. I turn to Kyle, arching an eyebrow. "Better?"

He pauses, looking directly at me, and a glimmer of something, perhaps appreciation, shines in his eyes. He nods, clearing his throat. "Yeah. Now you don't look like you'll scare off the guests."

Mae rolls her eyes but can't hide her smile. "Glad to have your approval."

Next, another stylist, Lina, takes over doing my hair. She starts with an intricate updo, twisting and pinning sections of my hair while Kyle watches. I catch his eye in the mirror once again. What's going through his mind when he looks like that? His crooked smile is both comforting and unnerving.

After a few different options-a sleek chignon, a low bun with delicate curls, and a half-up, half-down style with braids framing my face-we settle on a look for Penny. An elegant updo with loose tendrils around the face, romantic and a little whimsical, perfect for a winter wedding. Lina pins the final tendril, and I spin the chair around, facing Kyle for the final verdict.

"Not bad," he nods. "She'll look beautiful." His tone is uncharacteristically soft, and for a moment, I see a glimmer of the old Kyle-the one who would have done anything to make Penny happy. Too bad he couldn't stay that way. But then I remember Penny's words, that she's 'over him', and I shoo away the thought.

For the bridesmaids, we decide on a similar relaxed style, with an effortless and carefree twist. After a few tweaks, we finally lock in the look, and Lina notes it all down, booking us in for the big day.

Glancing at my reflection, Kyle's gaze lingers on me. He says nothing, but there's something unspoken. Tension or curiosity, I'm not really sure.

"Shame to waste all that effort just for you to go home and... what, stare at your laptop?" he teases.

I frown at him. "Some of us have actual jobs, you know. I was planning on doing some work this afternoon."

"Oh, come on," he says, feigning innocence. "I just meant it'd be a shame not to make use of it. You look almost - presentable." He leans back, smirking. "Unless you want all this to go to waste?"

Staying out sounds more appealing than sitting at my computer. "Alright," I say casually. "I actually had dress shopping planned for tomorrow, but if you're free now, maybe we can check out a store or two?"

His eyebrows lift. And is that genuine excitement? But it's gone as fast as it came, back to dowdy indifference. "Works for me. Let's go see if you have as good taste in dresses as you do in... whatever that is on your face." He gestures vaguely to my makeup.

I scoff, grabbing my purse. "Try to keep up, Kyle. You might learn a thing or two about women."

He falls into step beside me, heading down the street towards a dress shop. A strange, fluttery excitement courses through me, like a tiny spark igniting inside my chest. It's strange, Kyle offering to help, rather than his usual Grinchy self. Maybe it's the holiday spirit seeping in, or some other change of heart. Either way, something feels different about him today.