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“Maybe nothing, Killian. Don’t stick up for him. He doesn’t deserve it.”
I kept my mouth shut. I hadn’t been about to defend him but I knew speaking these words out loud gave her power.
“I’m finally seeing what you’ve been trying to tell me. What I’ve been so blind to. Nothing I do will help Peter notice me. I’ve been deluding myself into thinking we were soulmates. That given enough time, he’d see what I do. Knowing Peter, even if he does like Wendy, he never sticks with one girl for long. But it doesn’t matter whether it’s Wendy or someone else. He’llneverchoose me.”
Pain permeated the shadows in her eyes.Fucking Peter.How could he not realize he broke Tink’s tender heart with each of his conquests?
“How can I help?” I asked.
“You can’t. Unless you can make me sexier. More noticeable,” she sighed.
“You’re already beautiful, just as you are,” I said before I could stop myself. This whole thing with Peter had dimmed the sparkle in her eyes. But I still saw it. And bathed in the rosy glow coming in from the windows, she took my breath away.
And she had no idea.
She wrinkled her nose. “You’re just saying that because we’re friends.”
Friends.Not even a flicker of recognition that me telling her she was beautiful could be anything more than that.Damn.If that wasn’t a wake up call then what would be?
“Tink, you’re sexy as hell. I don’t know how to convince you it’s true, but if you really want a makeover, I’ll help you get one. But just know it’s only going to enhance what’s already there. Don’t change yourself for Peter.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Tris kneeled on the couch, leaning closer to me, excitement written on every inch of her face. “I don’t want to change myself for Peter anymore.”
I had to have heard her wrong. “But you just said you wanted to make yourself more noticeable. If not for Peter, then who?”Jealousy coiled like a cobra in my gut ready to strike at whoever she named next.
“I don’t know, but someone who will think I’m amazing.”
“Youareamazing. You don’t need me or any other guy to tell you that.” I hated how she sought validation for the beauty that was so apparent to me and everyone else, except that douchebag.
She was everything.
Hope, that had already done me dirty over the years, scratched at me forcing itself to the surface of my mind. If she were truly done with Peter, what could that mean for me?
“Killian. I need you to put away those rose-colored glasses and help me be the best version of me. Clearly, I’m not amazing enough as I am if guys don’t notice me.”
I ran a hand down my face, and over the scruff of my five o’clock shadow. “So you’re completely over Peter? You’re done with him?”
Hesitation flashed briefly across her features, but she extinguished it, giving me the answer I needed. I understood that she wanted to attract other men, but her heart would always belong to Peter. Eventually, she’d change her mind once again, and there was no way I’d be stupid enough to put my heart out there only for it to be epically crushed.
“I think you had the perfect idea. Let’s do a makeover.” She looked at me, the soft pleading in her eyes tugging at whatever heartstrings I had left. I already knew before I opened my mouth that I’d agree—even if I hated the idea of her changing herself for someone else. The only relief I had was that it wasn’t Peter.
I pulled out my phone and messaged James Alden. He and I had helped Jareth a few months back when Hazel was kidnapped by the person who’d killed his father.
KILLIAN
I’ve got a favor to ask. Your sister, she has a clothing store, right?
ALDEN
Yeah, why?
KILLIAN
I need her help.
ALDEN
I’m not setting you up with her. She’s taken, you manwhore.