Outrageously in Love by Jen Morris

11

Islide the book back onto the shelf with a sigh. Things must be bad if even a trip to the bookstore isn’t making me feel better.

This place is lovely, though: a small, street-level store in the West Village, with narrow aisles and stacks of books that reach all the way up to the ceiling. There’s soft music playing, cozy armchairs, and that indescribable smell of books that just feels like home.

I wasn’t going to go out today, but Alex wanted to get some work done and I felt bad moping around the place. And, you know—when in doubt, go to the library. Or… the bookstore where your sister gets a great discount.

I know I’m going to have to face Luke and get on with things, but I needed a day to myself, to get over how shitty I feel about what happened. I’m not sure what it is I feel so shitty about; if it’s that he lied to me, that I am stuck in this situation with him now, or that—perhaps worst of all—I let him get to me. I let myself develop a little crush on Luke, simply because he was sexy and a good shag, only to discover—whoops—he’s got this huge complicated secret.

In some ways, though, learning he’s married has made things a lot easier. It’s stopped my escalating fantasies about what could happen between us and freed me to focus on Alex. Which, I keep reminding myself, is what matters most here.

I let my gaze wander across the shelves. It’s then that I notice a pair of eyes peeking through the stacks, watching me.

Jesus. Who is this creep?

I poke my head around the end of the aisle and spot Geoff, pretending to dust a shelf. “Hi, Geoff.”

“Harriet!” He turns to me with an expression of exaggerated surprise. “I didn’t see you there! How are you?”

I chuckle. “I saw you watching me.”

His cheeks color. “What? Oh, well—”

“It’s okay. Alex suggested I come here and use her staff discount.”

“Great! See anything you like?”

I shrug.

“Maybe I could help you find something?” When I don’t respond, Geoff sets the duster down. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just having a crappy day. I discovered something last night that kind of bummed me out.”

He smiles kindly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I open my mouth to say Yes, please, help me feel better about this until I realize, of course, I can’t talk to him about it.

“I’m guessing it’s about a guy?”

My face warms and I push my glasses up my nose, inspecting the carpet.

Geoff chuckles. “That’s a yes.”

I emit an uncomfortable laugh, wishing he wasn’t one of Alex’s best friends, so I could just spill it all to him.

“Look,” Geoff says when I don’t elaborate, “I can tell you don’t want to talk about it and that’s okay. Maybe you should do something nice to make yourself feel better.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, what normally cheers you up?”

“Buying books.” I gesture to the stacks of books around us—usually one of my favorite sights—and feel a fresh wave of misery. For as long as I can remember, books have been an escape for me. They became my lifeline in high school, as I struggled to find my place in a world that felt increasingly hostile. I spent the majority of my spare time at the library, escaping into fantasy worlds where I didn’t have to think about my own life. Which is exactly what I could use right now, but… I glance at Geoff and hike up a shoulder. “For some reason I’m not feeling it today.”

“Okay. What about something like, I don’t know, getting your nails or hair done?”

I give him a doubtful look. He doesn’t know me well so it’s not his fault, but that’s hardly my style.

He laughs at my expression. “I was just thinking of something different from books, since that’s not working. When was the last time you got your hair done?”

I chew my lip, casting my mind back. “I think I had it trimmed a couple of years ago?”

His eyes widen. “Seriously? Please let me take you to my friend Casey, he’s great. What do you say?”

I consider this for a moment. It’s not like I’ve got anything else planned, and it might be nice to have a little pampering. Plus, I was thinking the other day that the new me might like to do something with her hair. In fact, I’m quite sure she would.

“Okay.”

Geoff clasps his hands together. “Yay! I’ll just give him a call and see if he can squeeze you in.”

I slump down in a chair while he makes the call, picking at a fingernail.

Ugh, I need to get out of this funk. I’m in New York City, for crying out loud. I’m hanging out with my sister, not to mention her lovely friends. So I accidentally slept with a married guy, is that the worst thing in the world? He was already getting divorced—it’s not like I’ve ruined a marriage.

But the irony of this situation is not lost on me. I’m over here for Alex’s wedding and I’ve just slept with a married man. And now I have to lie to Alex—not only by hiding the fact that Luke and I slept together, but also by going along with the charade of his happy marriage. I hate that he’s put me in this position.

Geoff appears in front of me, his jacket already on. “Casey had a cancellation a few minutes ago, so if we hurry we can see him now.” He reaches for my hand and pulls me to my feet.

“What about work? Don’t you have to…”

He waves my protest away, dragging me out of the store. “It’s fine. I’ve got a lunch break and I can tell you need cheering up.”

He glances at me over his shoulder and I smile. Gratitude courses through me at his kindness. I knew I liked him.

* * *

“Okay, are you ready?”

I nod, my stomach squeezing with apprehension. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. I don’t pay much attention to my hair, but I also don’t want to look ridiculous. And Casey has spent the last hour and a half doing God-knows-what back there. He covered the mirror so I couldn’t see and just told me to “trust him.” I wasn’t sure I wanted to trust this random guy, but Geoff swore he’s the best. Which was all fine and good, except Geoff then took off back to work, leaving me stuck here at Casey’s mercy.

I take a deep breath as he uncovers the mirror, revealing my new hair. And all I can do is stare at my reflection, dumbfounded.

Oh.

I turn my head, watching my locks shimmer under the salon lights.

This is… I mean, this is just…

“Wow,” I breathe.

“You like?” Casey asks, tilting his head to one side. He reaches out to fluff my hair a bit, then stands back to admire it.

I nod again, speechless. Like is an understatement. It’s gorgeous. He’s kept most of the length, tidying the ends and adding a few shorter layers, and dyed it a deep, glossy, cranberry red. And he’s given me a fringe! Well, “bangs” they call them here. It’s long and floppy and sweeps off to one side. And on top of all that, he’s done something to make the length fall in long, straight sheets.

“How is it so straight?”

“Straightening irons,” he says, holding up a device.

I take them and turn them over in my hand. I knew he was using some contraption back there, but I had no idea what. “Do you sell these?”

He grins. “We sure do.”

“Good. I’ll take some.” I look back at the mirror in awe. I can’t believe I’ve never done this before. In fact, if you’d told me he was going to dye my hair red—and give me a freaking fringe—I would have run screaming from the salon. But this looks amazing.

Gazing at my reflection, with my dark red lips and now my red hair, I feel empowered. There she is, in the mirror: Harriet 2.0. And she’s badass.

I always found it kind of baffling when Steph told me she feels better after getting her hair done, but now I think I get it. I feel like a new person.

I practically skip the few blocks back to the building, the crisp autumn air making me feel alive. Well, that and this fabulous new hair of mine. I stride into the apartment, ready to tackle the wedding planning head-on. Who cares about Luke and his nonsense? I’m here for my sister, and nothing is going to get in my way.