Edge of Attraction Read Online Free PDF Page B

anything to wear, at least not for a date.
    “What’s wrong?” Jess asked. “What are you thinking?”
    “I probably shouldn’t have signed up on the site. I suck at dating and I have nothing to wear.” The site, text flirting with EdensNomad—all of it was a horrible idea. But at the same time, I’d regret it if I backed out. I bit my lip at the thought of meeting this mystery man and then reconsidered. How bad could it really be?
    Jess flicked her long hair behind her shoulder and gave me a playful squeeze on the shoulder and a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t you worry. I’ve picked up a few tricks in Paris, ma cherie . Let’s visit my suitcase. I have the perfect outfit for you.”
    I looked over at Jess and gulped. “Thanks, Jess.” Then I texted EdensNomad. “Tomorrow night. I’d love that.”

Chapter 6
    Allison
    The next afternoon, Jess held me hostage on the toilet seat. She’d given me firm instructions to sit as motionless as possible, and so far I’d done a good job. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn’t help but notice how boring I looked. My auburn hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail. I wanted to take a nap just from looking at it.
    “You know,” I said, “I have never felt right about my hair since cutting it. Maybe you can work some kind of miracle.”
    “Miracles are my specialty.”
    I could hear her rummaging around in the closet for make-up, and I sat quietly, wishing I had more of a unique look. Instead, there I sat, with no make-up, freckles, and bags under my eyes. I needed serious help if I was going to be even a little attractive on this date.
    “You are going to look great when I’m done with you.” Jess continued to root around for supplies, and I continued to sit like a statue, looking straight ahead into the mirror.
    “I’m not a fan of being covered up, you know.” I talked into the mirror, but I knew Jess could hear me in the hall. She entered the bathroom a few minutes later and plopped an assortment of make-up and hair products on the tiled floor.
    “Believe me. This stuff will only enhance your inner beauty. It won’t cover it up.” As usual, Jess sounded so confident in what she said that it was almost impossible not to believe her.
    “Okay,” I said. “Bring on the inner beauty.”
    After all, I didn’t feel like I could look much worse.
    She had me face to the side, away from the mirror. “I don’t want you to see it yet—not until I’m done.”
    She started with foundation all over my face. It felt like she was painting me with plaster, but I let her go on. Maybe the end results would be worth it. She tried to keep my freckles visible, exclaiming at one point, “They’re cute!” After that, she applied at least four different kinds of eye shadow, in various shades of peach and brown. Then she applied one final rose-coated gold finish.
    Just when I thought I could be released from my toilet seat prison, she started with the winged eyeliner job. It was nearly impossible for me to stop blinking, and she had to reapply it once because I smeared it. Luckily, Jess was patient, and she didn’t mind going over it again to finish it right. Her final touch was some luscious black mascara, which she carefully applied to my lashes.
    When it came time to do my hair, I shied away from the curling iron. “It doesn’t bite!” Jess said. She ran a comb through my butchered locks and then curled them loosely.
    I reached up to squeeze the curls with my hands to see if they sprung back but Jess yelled, “Don’t touch them!”
    When she finally finished, she turned my head toward the mirror. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe the surprised woman I saw staring back at me. Was it even me? I looked absolutely stunning. I had never felt so beautiful in all of my life, not even at my high school prom, when I’d gotten my nails done and my hair dyed. This was just incredible. Jess had done an amazing job, and I felt like a new woman.
    Jess came, left