Teasing Hands Read Online Free

massages and my hair styled when needed, but I lived most of my days in between classes and practice. What use did I have for my hair to be straightened, when within the hour it would begin to curl?
    “ So what’s the strategy here?” Courtney fidgeted beside me. Funny . Back there she had been all for the non-animal-tested products and pampering. Was it finally settling in that we were fucked?
    “ You’re an idiot,” I muttered while studying the women in the car ahead of us, noticing how one laughed at something the driver said. My mother’s eyes looked up into the rearview mirror then, and locked with mine. She smiled. I shook my head at Courtney. “What were you thinking?”
    Court ney huffed beside me and ran a hand through her red hair. “She made it seem innocent! I was tricked.”
    Nodding, I put on my turn signal then waited for my opening. “We can’t go in there smiling or laughing. This is war. Them against us.”
    “ Agreed.”
    “ We concede to a trim…maybe some small color changes, but nothing too dramatic or high maintenance. I will also agree to a massage because dammit, I could use one.”
    “ What about pedicures or facials?” Courtney asked.
    “ I got a pedi three days ago, so no. Facials are up in the air. I guess you could say it depends.”
    She nodded and arched her back, stretching out her tired muscles. “Okay. I’ll give in to a pedicure and cut. I want something dramatic, though. Maybe lose the length, and cut it to just below my ears.”
    “ With bangs?”
    “ That could be cute. I’ve always wanted bangs.”
    Smiling, I looked over at her and said , “True. I might get some side swept ones.”
    She knew I’d always wanted them. It was something we’d discussed in the past, but like any dutiful girlfriend, I’d asked my other half for his opinion. He’d shot me down repeatedly, claiming they wouldn’t look right on me. Stupidly, I’d listened and bit my tongue.
    The more time I spent apart from him, the more I realized how uneven our relationship had been. How much could someone give until they lost themselves?
    Courtney laughed, bringing me back to the present. “You know, if they heard us right now they would be squealing in triumphant glory.”
    “ Scary. It’s definitely something they don’t need to know.” We could be girly, but at our discretion. It was our choice. My choice. “So are we set?”
    She nodded. “Yup.”
    “ We must stay strong, Court. No matter how thick they lay the guilt trip on us.”
    I hope…
    The rest of the car ride was silent as we followed them through the streets of Miami.
    It seem ed that my mother knew how to play dirty after all, and in this instance my eclectic taste buds would be my downfall. I'd always been fascinated with the Brazilian culture, and Fogo de Chao was the bes t churrascaria we had in town.
    “ She didn’t.”
    “ Oh, fuck, Mandi. That’s—”
    “ I know.” My gulp inside the car was loud while we pulled up to the valet parking. “They played dirty!”
    “ It’ll be okay. We know them; this isn’t something we can’t ignore.” Her stomach rumbled then—as loud as my gulp. Can’t ignore, my ass.
    Three summers ago our families had traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil together, and had fallen in love. I’d been lucky enough to see, with my own eyes, the wonderment that the country held. We’d experienced it all, from the world’s best beaches to their food. The Tijuca National Park was fun to explore, and it was something my father and I did together. The Lapa neighborhood, with its famous steps and bars, had made us feel alive. Music everywhere—people dancing—celebrating love and life. However, it had been the Christ the Redeemer statue which stole my breath away. Majestic and otherworldly, it stood proud overlooking the city. Its beauty couldn’t be measured.
    Simply put , it had been the best family vacation ever, and now, it was biting me in the ass.
    The restaurant opened up a year