"Oh." Feeling nothing short of stupid, Cathy tried her best to take it in stride, offering up a smile and a joke. "I told you I'm not good at this."
Her attention turned to the newcomer, and she likewise gave a welcoming, albeit a little relieved, smile. "Hi!" she greeted enthusiastically. "I second that. You have beautiful hair."
The compliment was genuine, although it already felt a little odd to Cathy to be talking about such girly things. It had been years since she had been on a girls' day out.