Free Lavender Lipstick Lies: A Mystery of Makeup & Mayhem by Mary Maxwell

and slapped her thigh. “I mean, can
you imagine? It’s our anniversary and I end up with the first aid kit and my
man bleeding from a gash across his forehead?”
    “Not very romantic,” I said. “But
definitely memorable.”
    Emma and I agreed that the
Chippendales revue was still in the running for our evening escapades before
launching into a raucous discussion about dinner. Emma lobbied hard for a
Chinese place at Mandalay Bay because she’d read a glowing review in a hotel
guide. I voted for an Italian restaurant at the Wynn that another Splendora
consultant had recommended on her Facebook page.
    “Well, those both sound awesome,”
Bree said. “But I made plans to have dinner with Amanda. And she told me that
Chippendales was sold out anyway.”
    I felt my jaw tighten. “Oh, Amanda
Woodworth?” I said the name as casually as I could manage.
    Bree nodded. “She wanted my advice
about something. I hope you guys don’t mind.”
    Emma shot me a quick look. “That’s
cool, sweetie,” she told Bree. “Abby and I can flip a coin and go with either
Chinese or Italian. And if the Chippendales show really is sold out, we there
are a million other things we can do instead.”
    Bree was smiling and nodding, but
it didn’t look genuine. It seemed like she was hiding something again; as if
she was harboring a secret that neither Emma nor I could hear.
    I kept my eyes on her and she
giggled lightly when she realized I was staring.
    “What?” she said in a singsong voice.
“Isn’t it okay if I have my own dinner plans tonight?”
    I smiled. “Of course, it’s okay.
We’re not Siamese triplets or anything. You can do whatever you choose.”

Chapter 16
     
     
    As we strolled through The Forum
Shops and mused about the incredible fashions in the boutique windows, I
replayed the encounter earlier in the corridor outside our suite with Bree and
Amanda Woodworth. Did I miss any clues in their body language? Was anything
said that could hint at a shared scheme to frighten me into dropping out of the
Achiever competition? Why did I have such a creepy feeling in my gut about
them?
    On one hand, it felt like we were
back in school; jealous, judgmental teenagers trading secrets and rumors. I
hated that kind of thing when I was younger. And I certainly disliked it now as
an adult. But I wasn’t naïve; some women can be just as vindictive and spiteful
later in life as they are during adolescence.
    Although I’d known Bree for more
than a decade, anything was possible. Maybe I was unaware of something going on
in her personal life. Maybe she was angry with me for a slight that I hadn’t
detected; an offhand comment or casual glance that had struck her the wrong way
at the wrong time. People could be fickle. Friendships could be fleeting. I
always believed that we were best friends, but maybe I was in the dark about something.
    “Do you guys want to check out the
new lingerie line at La Perla?” Bree asked as we entered the large open area
surrounding the Fountain of the Gods.
    “You go ahead,” Emma said. “I want
to walk down and see the animatronic statues by the Cheesecake Factory. They’re
supposed to be pretty cool.”
    “They are,” Bree agreed. “I saw
them last time we were here.”
    “You did?” Emma frowned. “I don’t
remember that.”
    “It was the morning after you drank
all the tequila with your friend from New Orleans,” Bree explained, glancing at
me. “Remember, Abs? You went to the spa for a facial?”
    I nodded. “I do remember that.” I
gave Emma a gentle elbow to the ribs. “And I also remember that you were in
pretty awful shape that day.”
    Emma made a face. “Oh, don’t remind
me! Tiffany insisted we do shots to celebrate her second place finish in
Achiever of the Year.”
    “Right,” I said. “Except you were
the one who took top prize in Hangover of the Year.”
    With an exaggerated wave of her
hand, Emma pleaded with us to drop the subject. “It’ll bring back too