Page 6

Chapter 5

Ainsley

“P ass me the red-coloured matte lipstick in your makeup bag, Lee!” Soph yells from the living room.

I pick up the lipstick and walk around the corner. We’re all still in sweats, but our hair is done, and makeup is almost perfected. Thank goodness. We have less than fifteen minutes until Liam arrives with his car, and we head to the new players’ gala.

We spent all day yesterday at the mall looking for dresses, shoes, some extra sticky boobs, and then finished the day with a hair appointment. Millie wasn’t joking around when she said she wanted to revamp her hair. She chopped it right off, shocking Soph and me. When she came around the corner with her previously long, light brown, curly hair cut to her shoulders, our jaws hit the ground. She had honey brown hair that almost hit her ass, so a solid six inches of curls was gone.

I go back to apply my last coat of mascara on my lashes, catching a glimpse of Millie behind me getting dressed. She has her new hair down with a slight wave to it and gold pins on one side, laying it flat behind her left ear. Her sun-kissed, tawny skin looks shiny from the shea butter she just covered herself in. The dusty blue dress she is wearing brings out the gold flakes in her eyes. I pull out my strapless sage green dress. It's sophisticated and elegant, but the colour and the half updo with braids in my hair make it more me. My long blonde hair is shining a little brighter tonight from the touch-up I had done yesterday.

“BITCHES! Get in here; I’m pouring up shots before we go!” Soph yells, and Millie rolls her eyes with a smile on her face.

Soph steps over to us in a deep red one-shoulder gown that is simply stunning.

“Let’s light this bitch up!”

She yells, and Millie and I laugh, already feeling the excitement buzz in the air. Soph nods her head towards the kitchen.

“Grab a shot, my girls.”

“Deal,” Millie says behind me, and I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Really?” I’m surprised she is agreeing to this so quickly, having been quiet while getting dressed.

“Yep! Doesn’t hurt to take the edge off, right?”

I laugh and walk over, picking up the small shooter of Hennessy. Extending a glass to Millie, I take a whiff of the dark liquor in front of me.

“Ugh, why Henny?” Millie whines.

“Because it’s smooth, and we can wash it down with some Big8.”

I shoot back at her.

“Okay, fine.”

“Let’s go get ‘em, ladies. To my ride or dies!” I yell at my besties while arching my head back.

“Okay, Glow Stick.”

Soph and Millie say at the same time and start giggling. I join in on the laughter as we hit the shot glasses on the counter, look into each other's eyes, and then throw the shots back. Millie makes a cringy face and chugs more Big8 than anyone else, and Soph rolls her eyes as she checks her lipstick on her phone. I head to my room to grab my purse and look down at my phone to see that Liam has texted.

“Our noble steed is here!” I call out to the girls.

I take a deep breath. It’s been a while since I went to an event this big. My love for my girls and Burna Boy definitely outweighs my fear of awkward small talk, and ensuring I keep up the infamous Harris family’s high caliber.

“Postman is here!” Soph laughs back and I overhear Millie say “Oh shit.”

I look back at her, and her face is a little red.

“Millie, you good babe?”

“Yeah, just let me touch up my lip gloss.”

She runs towards the washroom. I know she is trying, for me, for Liam, for her mom. But her anxiety has to be through the roof, even with Liam and I here to ground her.

“You both go on down. I'll lock up when I’m done.”

She reassures us because both girls have a key to my place in case of emergencies or if they want to chill and I’m not home yet. I grab Soph’s hand, and we head down the stairs, our heels making clapping noises the whole way down. When we look outside, I see Liam with his dusty blonde hair extra-long on top, but the sides shaved down a little more and his beard edged up. Looks like someone also booked himself a glam day. He has on his favorite suit, dawning his true blue colours with pride. No surprise there.

“Looking good, bro. You know you don’t have to wear blue every single time you go to a sporting event, right?”

“Yes, I do. It’s actually in my contract until next year, Ainsley Lousie.”

“Oh shit, really? That sucks dad couldn’t help with that deal.”

He busts out laughing.

“No, Ains, I can wear whatever I want, but I like this suit. So, I’m fucking wearing it!”

Asshat.

I slap his arm as he opens the car door for Soph and I.

“You look good, Soph,” Liam says.

“Thanks, Postman.” She says with a smirk.

“Where is Mils? She didn’t bail on us, did she? Or did y’all scare her off?” His brows pull together in worry.

“Take the man out of Texas, but the ‘y’all’ never leaves.” I laugh.

“She is right behind us, locking up…oh shit,” I add, thinking about Millie’s new hair.

“Wait until you see what she did, Liam. You’re gonna flip!”

He looks at me, confused. ”What do you mean? What did she…”

He stops when we hear Millie shout ‘Coming’, as she scurries down the stairs and out the door. Liam is still standing there, mouth clamped tight and eyes growing a little wider, taking Millie in as she messes with the contents in her purse. Here we go again, just like grade 10. Liam can’t take his eyes off Millie.

“So sorry, I’m here. I didn’t make us late, did I?” She whispers, obviously a little flustered.

Liam still hasn’t said a word, so I jump in.

“Nope, we’re good. Liam, doesn’t Mils hair look fucking fantastic!? She should have cut it ages ago, right?”

Liam blows out a small breath like he was holding it in as Millie slowly looks up at him with a gentle smile. The smile breaks through the fog that Liam is in so he can finally snap back into reality.

“Yeah, Mils, you look stunning. I’m glad you could come. Just stick with me. We will take a few pictures, and then we can leave the second you want to. Promise.”

He says while rubbing the back of his neck. My eyes grow wide.

“I’m sorry! Am I missing something here?”

I look between the two of them. Please, dear Jesus, don’t say it.

Do not say it, Liam.

He peels his eyes from the lock they have had on Millie to look at me.

“Um, yeah. You know I needed a date, and you didn’t want me to bring one of the girls I have on speed dial, and Millie agreed to help. We will just take a few photos outside and meet you inside when we get there.”

Shit.

“Liam Christopher Harris! You are telling me that Amelia Kiyana Powell is your fucking fake date tonight? Mils, you sure you're okay with this?”

Millie turns red and opens her mouth, but before she does, Liam cuts in.

“I’ve got her. It won’t be a lot, and the second she wants to stop, we’re out of there. Chill out.”

Millie slowly looks up and pins her shoulders back.

“Thanks, Liam! I’ll be okay, Lee. Just going to give the new hair a moment and come back inside.” She flips her hair and smiles.

Soph speaks up to support her.

“Hell yeah, girl, that hair deserves its own damn billboard.”

The three of us girls laugh, and Liam’s face turns a deep red shade as Millie slides into the back of the SUV. I turn around to look at Liam and give his arm a little shove.

“You don’t mess with her again or I will burn your suit, you little shit.”

“Heard. Loud and clear, sis. It’s time for Toronto to witness what the Harris siblings are made of.” He winks, and I see his hands stretch at his sides before he opens the front passenger door and climbs in.

Those two are fucked.

As we pull away from the curb, Liam yells back at us, “What do y’all want to listen to?”

Soph jumps in.

“Millie gets to pick; this is her moment!”

Liam looks in the rearview mirror, locking eyes with Millie.

“What will it be, Mils? Make it one I will enjoy, not just for you girls.”

A slow smile takes over her face, and she leans forward to whisper in the back of his ear, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”.

Liam laughs. “Um, I don’t think I heard you, One-in-a-MILLion. Can you repeat that?”

She clears her throat as she sits back in her seat, a smile growing on her face, and almost surprises herself by yelling, “MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!”

We all clap as Liam turns on the song to the highest volume. The sunroof rolls back, and I grab both my girls by the arm and haul us up out the top of the car. The dark night contrasts with the bright city lights as the bass guitar beats on.

My girls and I sing our hearts out and laugh as Liam’s voice carries over the rest of us.

“I’m going out tonight! I’m feeling alright…”