Page 3 of To Her

Geri

" I f you try to set me up with one more of Jake's 'awesome mates,' I swear I'll shave your eyebrows off while you sleep."

I glared at Haley through the mirror as she stood behind me, attempting to tame my hair into something resembling a sophisticated updo. Two months of living together in her parents' mansion had taught me that threats were the only language she truly respected.

"You wouldn't dare," she replied, completely unfazed as she twisted another section of my hair. "Besides, this one's different. Matt's actually decent—not like that finance bro Jake tried to hook you up with at Christmas."

I rolled my eyes. "You mean the one who spent forty-five minutes explaining cryptocurrency to me? Yeah, real winner there."

From across the massive bedroom that had become our collective getting-ready space, Anna snorted with laughter. "God, that guy was the worst. But Haley's right about Matt. He's not like Jake's usual crowd."

The bedroom itself was a testament to Haley's parents' wealth—cream-colored walls adorned with original artwork, plush carpet that felt like walking on clouds, and a bathroom bigger than my entire previous apartment.

We'd transformed it into a war zone of beauty products, discarded outfits, and half-empty champagne flutes.

"What makes this Matt so special?" I asked, wincing as Haley secured another hairpin with unnecessary force.

"Well, for starters, he's not a douche," Anna said, holding up two different pairs of earrings to her ears. "He's Jake's cousin from up North. Visiting for a few weeks before he ships out."

"Ships out?" I raised an eyebrow, meeting Anna's eyes in the mirror.

"He joined the army," Haley explained. "Finished his basic training or whatever they call it. He's got some leave before his first deployment."

Great. A military guy. Probably all "yes ma'am, no ma'am" with a buzzcut and protein shakes.

"So he's only here temporarily," I said, trying to find the silver lining. "That means when this inevitably crashes and burns, I won't have to worry about running into him around town."

Haley tugged at my hair a little harder than necessary. "Would it kill you to be optimistic for once? It's been two months since the Ben disaster. You can't hide in this house forever."

The mention of Ben's name still sent an uncomfortable jolt through me. Two months wasn't nearly enough time to forget walking out of his apartment in my pyjamas, barefoot and broken-hearted. Or the three weeks of him blowing up my phone afterward, alternating between apologies and accusations.

I'm sorry, baby, it was a mistake. It didn't mean anything.

You're overreacting. It was just sex.

You're crazy, you know that? Breaking my phone? You need help.

I'd blocked his number eventually, but sometimes I still caught myself checking to see if he'd found another way to contact me. The last I'd heard, he and Jess were officially dating. Good for them. I hoped they'd be very happy together until he inevitably cheated on her too.

"I'm not hiding," I said, reaching for the glass of champagne on the vanity. "I'm regrouping."

"In my parents' guest room," Haley pointed out.

"In your parents' mansion," I corrected her. "There's a difference."

And what a mansion it was. Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a pool that overlooked the ocean, and enough square footage that the three of us could go entire days without running into each other if we wanted to.

The kitchen alone was bigger than most apartments, with marble countertops and appliances that looked like they belonged in a restaurant.

The living room featured floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the Pacific like a living painting.

Haley's parents had "downsized" to a beachfront condo two towns over, leaving their daughter and her two best friends to house-sit indefinitely.

It was the kind of ridiculous privilege that only old money could afford, but I wasn't about to complain.

Not when the alternative was moving back in with my father and enduring his daily reminders that I'd be settled by now if I'd just followed his plan for my life.

Business school, Geraldine. A proper career. Not this... skin therapy nonsense.

I took another sip of champagne, letting the bubbles wash away the echo of my father's disappointment.

"There," Haley said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "You look hot. Ben would eat his heart out if he saw you."

"That's not the goal," I lied, examining my reflection.

She wasn't wrong, though. My long black hair was artfully arranged in a way that looked effortlessly tousled while still showing off the multiple piercings along my ear.

The dark makeup around my eyes made the brown irises look almost black, intense against my pale skin.

The cherry blossom tattoo peeked out from beneath the strap of my dress, a splash of delicate pink against my shoulder.

The red dress I'd splurged on—one month's tips from the restaurant where I'd picked up waitressing shifts—hugged every curve.

It was shorter than I usually wore, with a neckline that dipped just low enough to be interesting without veering into desperate territory.

The fabric caught the light when I moved, shimmering slightly.

"The goal," Anna said, finally selecting a pair of dangling silver earrings, "is to have fun. To dance. To drink expensive champagne that Jake's parents are providing. And maybe, just maybe, to kiss someone hot at midnight."

Anna was the peacemaker of our trio—always finding the middle ground between Haley's relentless optimism and my cynicism.

Tonight she looked like a disco ball personified in her silver sequined top and white jeans so tight they might have been painted on.

Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves around her shoulders, the product of an expensive blowout earlier that day.

"Exactly," Haley agreed, moving on to her own hair. "No pressure. If you hate Matt, you never have to see him again. But at least give the guy a chance before you write him off."

Haley, in contrast to both of us, had gone for classic elegance—a black dress that skimmed her curves, her dark hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, red lipstick the only pop of colour. She looked like she'd stepped out of a vintage Hollywood film.

I sighed, reaching for the bottle to refill my glass. We'd been pregaming for the past hour, and the champagne was doing its job, softening the edges of my perpetual wariness. "Fine. But if he starts talking about push-ups or protein powder or whatever, I'm out."

"Deal." Haley grinned triumphantly. "Now help me decide—hair up or down?"

"Down," Anna and I said in unison.

"You always say down," Haley complained, but she was already pulling the elastic from her ponytail.

"Because it always looks better down," I replied, standing up to stretch. My feet were already protesting the four-inch heels I'd chosen, but beauty is pain, or so they say. "Where is this party again?"

"Jake's parents' beach house," Anna said, applying another coat of lip gloss. "About twenty minutes from here."

"Another mansion?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"More like a really nice vacation home," Haley clarified. "But yes, it's gorgeous. Right on the water, with a deck that wraps around the whole house. That's where they'll do the fireworks at midnight."

I tried to picture it—standing on a deck overlooking the ocean, the sky exploding with colour as the clock struck twelve. Would I be alone? Would this Matt person be beside me? Would he try to kiss me?

The thought sent an unexpected flutter through my stomach. It had been two months since I'd kissed anyone. Two months since I'd felt desired. Two months of rebuilding the walls Ben had managed to break through, only to prove they hadn't been high enough in the first place.

"Earth to Geri," Anna waved her hand in front of my face. "Where'd you go just now?"

I blinked, realizing I'd been staring into space. "Nowhere. Just thinking about how much my feet are going to hurt by midnight."

"That's what the champagne is for," Haley said, handing me the bottle. "Liquid painkillers."

I topped off my glass, then passed the bottle to Anna. "Tell me more about this Matt person. What does he look like? What's he into besides serving his country or whatever?"

Haley and Anna exchanged a glance that I couldn't quite interpret.

"What?" I demanded. "What was that look?"

"Nothing," Anna said too quickly. "He's... nice-looking."

"Nice-looking," I repeated flatly. "That's the best you can do? Is he hideous? Is that why you're being weird?"

"He's not hideous," Haley assured me. "He's actually really hot, in a... rugged sort of way."

"Rugged," I echoed. "So he's a lumberjack? Or just hasn't discovered personal grooming?"

Anna laughed. "No, he's clean-cut. Especially now with the military thing. He's just... masculine. Strong jaw, broad shoulders. You know."

I didn't know, but I nodded anyway. "And personality-wise? Please tell me he can hold a conversation about something other than guns and war."

"He's smart," Haley said. "Studied engineering before joining up. And he's funny—not in a loud, centre-of-attention way, but he's got this dry wit that sneaks up on you."

That didn't sound terrible, actually. I took another sip of champagne, feeling it warm my chest on the way down. "And why exactly is he single? What's the catch?"

Another one of those looks between my friends.

"Seriously, what?" I demanded.

"He got out of a long-term relationship about six months ago," Anna admitted. "His ex cheated on him with his best friend."

I nearly choked on my champagne. "Oh, for fuck's sake. You're setting me up with the male version of me? Two bitter, recently-cheated-on people? That's your brilliant plan?"

"We prefer to think of it as two people who might understand each other's trust issues," Haley said primly. "Besides, it's been six months for him. He's had more time to process than you have."

"Great, so he can give me tips on how to get over being betrayed," I muttered. "Can't wait."

"Just give him a chance," Anna pleaded. "One conversation. If you hate him, I'll personally create a diversion so you can escape."

"What kind of diversion?" I asked, momentarily distracted.

"I'll fake an asthma attack," she offered. "Or spill a drink on Jake's mom. Something dramatic."

That made me laugh despite myself. "Fine. One conversation. But I'm holding you to that asthma attack."

The next hour passed in a blur of outfit changes (Anna), makeup adjustments (me), and increasingly ridiculous toasts (Haley). By the time our Uber arrived, we were all pleasantly buzzed and laughing at nothing in particular.

I checked my reflection one last time before we headed out. The girl staring back at me looked confident, sexy even. No one would guess that beneath the perfect makeup and figure-hugging dress was someone still piecing herself back together.

"To new beginnings," Haley declared as we clinked glasses one final time before heading out.

"To rich friends with empty mansions," Anna countered.

I raised my glass, the champagne bubbles tickling my nose. "To low expectations and high alcohol content."

They both groaned, but I meant it. Two months ago, I'd walked away from what I thought was a good relationship with nothing but my phone, my keys, and my shattered trust. Tonight, I was walking into a new year with no expectations beyond having a good time with my friends.

And if this Matt guy turned out to be yet another disappointment? Well, at least there would be expensive champagne to drown my sorrows in.

I drained my glass, slipped my feet into heels that would definitely hurt by midnight, and followed my friends out the door.

The night air was warm for December, carrying the salt scent of the ocean.

Somewhere in the distance, I could hear early fireworks popping, celebratory and bright against the darkening sky.