Page 79 of Running from Drac

Amber

“Amber, where the hell are you?” Pippa shouts from around the building.

Reluctantly, I emerge from my hiding spot, ready to call this whole night off.

“There you are,” she says in relief. “Where the hell did you go?”

Shrugging, I reply, “I needed some air.”

Pippa shakes her head. “Well, your makeover starts in a few minutes. They’ve been waiting for you.”

“I’m not sure if I’m up for this anymore, Pippa. I know you paid for all of it, but my heart just isn’t in it after my mother left the way she did.”

Pippa moves closer and places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you’re going through a lot right now, Amber. Maybe you are even getting cold feet a little. That’s normal when you’re about to get married, but I know you need this. You need torelax and let go for one night. You’re so pent-up. There’s so much going on that I know it feels overwhelming—”

Pushing her away, I glare at her. “The only thing overwhelming right now is you. I can’t believe you invited her, not to mention those two bitches you call friends. Why would you do that, Pippa? You know they fucking hate me.”

She rolls her eyes. “God, Amber, I thought you’d want your mom here. And as for Katie Lyn and Devony, they were already coming to the spa, so I just invited them along. It was your bad attitude that scared them away.”

“My bad attitude? Seriously, Pippa, you’ve had a fucking bad attitude for the last month or so.”

Pippa shakes her head. “God, you can be so ungrateful sometimes, Amber. Anyways, Raul is waiting for you. How about we don’t lose out on the money I dropped on this, and you at least pretend to be enjoying yourself?”

Mallory comes up beside me and squeezes my hand. “Just try, Amber. We’re here for you, okay?”

Reluctantly, I nod, following the three girls into the salon. A handsome Spanish man is standing behind a salon chair. He’s dressed in a nice pressed shirt and has on black slacks that fit him perfectly. He’s got to be in his late fifties with ebony black hair, a thick mustache under his nose, and olive skin that a tanning woman would die for. His smile brightens the whole room when he looks me up and down.

“You must be the bride!” he says with an accent so thick, I feel like I’m in Cabo.

“Yeah, my name’s Amber,” I meekly reply, my emotions still on high alert. “Is it that obvious?”

He shrugs. “Pippa paid for the whole package. And you, my dear, need the whole package.”

I wasn’t sure whether I should be insulted or not. I know I left the house in my worst outfit, looking like I just rolledout of bed twice, but that still doesn’t make me feel like he’s silently judging me.

He notices my hesitancy and smirks. “Don’t worry, beautiful. Even in that frumpy getup, you still shine above everyone else. I’m just here to take you from the moon to the sun, so the universe revolves around you.”

Guiding me to the chair, Raul places a cape around my shoulders and then starts tugging at my blonde strands. “Oof, these ends are split like pieces of wood. When was the last time you had a cut or trim?”

“Over a year ago.”

“You definitely needed me, beautiful bride.” He shoots a look towards Pippa. “Extensions?”

“Definitely extensions,” she agrees.

My three besties are in their own chairs, sitting with various hair stylists from all walks of life. Before I know what’s happening, we’re all taken to the shampoo bowls, our hair thoroughly washed before the cutting begins.

Raul stands behind me, smiling widely as I stare at my reflection. I look even more like a drowned rat.

“I’m a master at this, don’t you worry,” he says with a wink, combing through the wet tangles at the crown of my head. “By the time we’re done, your soon-to-be husband won’t be able to pick his jaw up off the floor.”

I give him a tight-lipped smile. “We’ll see.”

He raises an eyebrow in the mirror. “Uh-oh. That didn’t sound very bridal. Trouble in paradise?”

“It’s complicated,” I mutter.

Raul stops brushing for a moment. “Relationships always are.” He resumes gently working through my hair. “So, tell Raul. How long have you and this lucky man been together?”