Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I rolled toward her and braced my head on my hand so I could watch her.
“I’ve tried going into work with no makeup on,” she said as she went about her routine. “Because I always forget to turn the stupid fan on and the mirror gets all fogged in the bathroom. But I can’t do it. I feel naked without makeup. Like I forgot to put my pants on or something. I blame my mother.”
“I like your mom,” I said, fascinated by the efficiency and grace of her movements as she dropped a little tube of something and picked up a tiny brush.
“I like her, too,” she said, glancing at me for a second. “But she’s always done up, and I guess it was just programmed into my psyche. I can’t go out barefaced. It feels too weird.”
“You’re beautiful either way,” I replied honestly.
“Too charming early in the morning,” she said, waving a brush at me. “Tone it down a notch.”
“I can install a switch in the bathroom that turns your fan on automatically when you turn on the light,” I said as she went back to what she was doing.
“I kind of like getting ready on the floor,” she said, wrinkling her nose and smiling at me. “It reminds me of when Kara and I lived in the apartment.”
“I get that,” I replied quietly. “Once you’re all settled in, let me know if you want that switch. Not good to steam up the bathroom like that, it could cause mold issues.”
“Yes, dad,” Charlie replied, leaning close to the mirror to run a brush along her eyelid.
“Never been called daddy,” I said, watching her. “But if you’re game, I’m up for anything.”
It took her a second to catch on, and I knew the instant she did. Her eyes widened and quick as a flash she’d thrown a little squishy thing shaped like a teardrop at my face.
“That is not happening,” she shot back, laughing and glaring at the same time. “I have a dad and thinking of him or dear God, calling his name during sex is pretty much the absolute last thing I’d ever want to happen.” She made a fake vomiting sound.
“Noted,” I said, throwing the squishy thing back onto her lap.
“I need to get my eyelashes done again,” she muttered.
“The hell do you do to your eyelashes?” I asked, leaning closer. They didn’t look out of the ordinary.
“They’re fake,” she said, batting them at me. “Well, not all of them. Just some.”
“You have fake eyelashes?” I’d seen fake eyelashes. They were long and fluttery and well, they didn’t look like Charlie’s.
“Yep. Semi-permanent,” she said, amused. “They glue them on and then they fall off eventually, just like regular eyelashes, but these ones obviously don’t grow back so I have to have them re-done.”
“What’s wrong with your normal eyelashes?” I asked curiously.
“Nothing,” she said with a shrug as she got to her feet. “But I like it when they’re fuller.”
She studied my blank expression.
“I bet you use the same soap for your body and your hair, don’t you,” she accused.
“It’s made for that,” I replied.
“No,” she shook her head laughing. “It’s not.”
“It says it right on the bottle.”
“While I hesitate to change your habits because whatever you’re using smells fucking fantastic and I’d hate to change what you’ve got going on—” She gestured to me, waving her hand in a circle. “You should really be using actual shampoo. You know, for hair.”
“Why the hell would I buy something else?” I asked, crossing my arms behind my head. “One bottle of shit and I’m good to go.”
“When you take a shower, use my shampoo,” she said merrily. “It’ll change your life.”
“I’m not goin’ around smellin’ like you,” I replied.
“Ouch!”
“I’m workin’ on your parents’ house,” I said with a chuckle. “And your pop notices every-fuckin’-thing. If he smells you on me, I’m actually gonna have done somethin’ worth having my ass handed to me.”
Charlie burst out laughing. “That’s fair.”
“You better get to work, honey.”
“Yeesh,” she said, jerking into movement. “You’re right. I’ll see you after?”
“I’ll be around at some point,” I confirmed. “Might come in and grab a coffee from you.”
“I’d love that,” she said, slipping on her shoes. She opened her bedroom door before pausing to look at me over her shoulder. “Sleep as late as you want, but as soon as the sun comes up you may want to face in the other direction because the sun will shine directly into your face.”
“Thanks for the tip,” I said, grinning. “Have a good day, dear.”
Charlie dramatically blew me a kiss and closed the door behind her. I jumped in surprise when she opened it again.
“Sorry,” she said hurriedly as she raced over to turn out the lamp. She smiled at me. “Now you don’t have to get up to turn them off!” She hit the overhead light switch as she swept out the door again.