Her eyes widen as if she never expected that answer. I shift and glance at the door. Maybe this is too much.
“Okay.” She motions for me to follow her. Along the way, she stops and collects a few boxes from the entertainment center. “I’m going to film a few clips at once so I’ll be set with content for the next couple of weeks.”
She drops off the boxes in the spare room, points me to a seat, and disappears into the hallway. A few minutes later, she returns with a handful of clothes on hangers and neatly hangs everything on a rolling rack in the corner.
I watch quietly as she sets up two mini-tripods. One for her cell phone and one for a small camera. She places several poles with lights on top in strategic places around the desk and mirror, carefully checking each one.
“I’m going to review these makeup remover cloths a company sent me.” She holds up one of the boxes she brought in from the living room. “But first, I’m going to do a full-face tutorial. A two birds, one stone situation.” She grins at me.
“Sounds good.” As if I even know what she’s talking about. But hell if I’m not charmed by every single thing she does.
She leaves again, and I hear water running from down the hall. A few minutes later, she returns dressed in a silky robe, her hair held back by a wide headband, with a squeaky clean face.
“Blank canvas,” she says.
“Beautiful.” Damn, she’s perfect.
She flashes a quick smile and flicks on the curtain of lights on the wall behind her. After sitting in front of the mirror and cameras, she checks a few more things, sets out a bunch of index cards, lays out assorted items I couldn’t name with a gun held to my head, then flicks the cameras on.
“Hello, Sparklers!” She waves cheerfully into the lens. “A lot of you have been asking, so today I’m going to show you how to do one of my favorite glam makeup looks.”
She holds up and names several items before picking up a sponge and dotting what she calls foundation all over her face. I’m biased as fuck, but all her movements are graceful, her chatter to the camera so charismatic, I can’t help thinking whoever discouraged her from modeling was a fucking fool who missed out big time.
“Are you bored yet?” she asks, turning my way.
“Are you still recording?”
“I paused everything.” She gestures toward the cameras.
“I never knew it took so long to do all that. I’m fascinated.”
Her smile fades. Shit, she probably thinks I’m being sarcastic, when the truth is I’m utterly bewitched by her.
“I’m being serious, Serena. You’re mesmerizing.”
“Thank you.” She turns back to the mirror and flips through her index cards. When she continues recording, she carefully applies a set of false eyelashes, talking into the camera the whole time like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
When she’s completed “the look” she takes several pictures, films another short spiel about it, then shuts everything off.
“I’m going to change my top for the next one.”
I sit back and cross my arms over my chest. “Fine by me.”
She laughs and unties the robe, slowly letting it fall down her arms and pool at her feet. Pity she’s wearing a tank top and tiny shorts underneath. She slips a shoulder-baring T-shirt over her head and sits at the table again.
“Hello, Sparklers!” She films another introduction asking anyone who’s watching to “like and subscribe,” same as she did earlier.
“Today, I have a special product we’re going to try. Moon Pod Glow Cloths.” She waves a package in front of the camera. “I’ll leave a link and discount code below in the comments.”
She has a whole script written out but reads everything in a natural, friendly way. The makeup comes off and she deems the pod-thingies worthy of five sparkles. By the time she’s finished, she’s as fresh-scrubbed as when she started…four hours ago.
Shit, I didn’t even realize that much time had passed. I stand and stretch as quietly as possible. A few seconds later, she turns everything off.
“Are you done?” I ask.
“Sorry that took so long.”
“I’m fine. Really. Stop apologizing.”
“I’ll probably go through and edit everything tomorrow. But…” She grabs her phone and taps on the screen for several minutes. “I will post a teaser now.”
She pulls up a page on her laptop of colorful squares and pretty pictures in saturated colors. “That’s my Instagram.”
“Uh, okay.” I peer over her shoulder. “Tranquil Sparkle?”
She shrugs. “It was a play on my name. Serena, but serenity seemed too close. Tranquility was a pretty word but my messaging is all about makeup and making yourself—sparkle.” She pauses and tilts her head. “I picked the name years ago without thinking and it’s my brand. If I were going to do it again, I’d probably choose Tranquil Glow because it fits my vibe better now.”