Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
She clapped her hands, drawing confused stares from the other bar patrons.
“A double date with Macy and her husband,” I continued.
“Oh, that should be fun,” Ava said.
“I hope so.” I sighed again. “I just can’t believe it. I thought we were just friends or just roommates. Maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe I should cancel. He is my landlord.”
Ava let air out through her teeth. “Girl, he’s hot, and he’s only your landlord until you can find another living situation.”
I paused, remembering my plan to get out of the shared cabin as soon as possible. I wasn’t so sure anymore. I kind of liked sharing the household chores, coming home to a cooked dinner or having someone else to cook for. My talks with Jason late at night were nice and having another person sleeping in the next room certainly made me feel less isolated. It really wasn’t all that bad, but I couldn’t keep making out with him, though, could I?
“I kind of like living with him,” I admitted.
“You like living with him, and you’re going on a date with him,” she recapped.
“I know. It’s a bad decision, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
“It’s not a bad decision.” She smiled. “It’s a good decision. Stop second-guessing yourself and tell me what you’re going to wear.”
I gasped. “I didn’t think about that.”
“Wear that little black dress you were wearing at the bar,” Ava suggested.
Our food arrived, and we began to dig in.
“I just didn’t think he liked me that way,” I said, skewering a tomato and a hunk of cucumber. “I mean sex is one thing, but dating is another.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Of course he likes you. Guys aren’t that complicated. I saw how he was looking at you in that black dress that night. Trust me, he likes you.”
I laughed. “I’m excited to go out with Macy and Dillon too. I’d love to get to know them. I think they have a great relationship, from what little I’ve seen.”
“I think he kidnapped her,” she leaned across the table to whisper. “She was missing for like a month.”
“Well, I don’t know Dillon that well, but I’m sure he didn’t kidnap her. Besides, she seems perfectly happy to be with him.”
Ava and I finished up our lunch, running over on our time but not too concerned about it as we had no appointments on schedule for another hour and walk-ins this time of day were rare. We strolled out into the parking lot, driving back to park in front of the salon. When we walked in, Lena was working on a customer.
“Where have you been?” she bit out.
“We were having lunch,” Ava said.
“Someone has to be here in case a customer walks in.”
“Except on lunch break,” Ava reminded her.
“No exceptions!” Lena barked. “I don’t pay you to go to lunch.”
Ava and I looked at each other in disbelief.
“Excuse me,” the customer said. “I don’t like the way you’re talking to your employees.”
“Nobody asked you,” Lena growled, chopping at the lady’s hair like it was a hedge she was trimming.
“Stop!” the lady gasped. Ava rushed to her side, helping her out of the chair. The customer threw off her plastic bib, her eyes sparkling with rage. “I am never coming back here!”
Lena held her scissors awkwardly, stunned at the woman’s response.
“I am going to give this place a negative Yelp review,” the customer exclaimed.
“We’re not on Yelp,” Lena retorted.
I grabbed the customer by the hand and hurried her to the door, grabbing a business card on the way before Lena could make a bigger scene. “Here.” I handed over the card, pushing the door open. “She usually doesn’t work weekends, but you can call before you come. I am so sorry about this. Your next trim will be on the house.”
The woman took my hand in her own and whispered, “I’ll pray for you.”
I smiled tightly before pulling the door shut and going back to my station.
Lena stalked back to the office, slamming the door behind her.
I looked at Ava, who shook her head. It wasn’t safe to talk.
“What the fuck?” Ava mouthed.
I shrugged. “Let’s just keep all the customers away from her,” I whispered.
Ava nodded in agreement.
An hour later, I was working on an older gentleman, trying to trim what was left of his hair, when Lena’s husband arrived. I had seen him several times during my six years at the salon. He was tall and broad-shouldered, not bad looking if you didn’t include his face. His nose was just a little too large, and his chin stuck out, making him look like a cartoon. I nodded and waved before continuing my work.
“Lena’s in the back,” Ava said helpfully.
The man strode through the salon to the office door and, without knocking, opened it and burst in. Immediately, we began to hear voices. The walls were thin, and the door was made of particleboard. The couple on the inside thought they had privacy, but the three of us in the salon could hear everything.