She laughed. “There’s still time.”
Fifteen
Megs kepta tight grip on the pen as she signed the rental contract for the loft room at Max Crew’s real estate office downtown. Monday, October 2nd, was her official move-in day. But, since there was nobody living there, Neeley assured her she could start bringing stuff over whenever.
This was real. She was leaving her childhood home and someone else would be living there.
"Perfect, thanks for coming down.” Max took the application from her and dropped the edges on the counter to line up all the pages. Megs glanced over and noticed the Oscar Calloway book sitting next to his computer. The edges looked worn. “Normally landlords are supposed to do this themselves, but since Tom lives out of town, I take care of it for him.”
“Nice of you.”
Max chuckled. “I don’t do it for free.”
“I’d hope not. Thanks, Max.” Had she not been in such a hurry, she would’ve asked him about the novel. Probably better she didn’t. Megs waved at Max and left the office. It was a simple interaction, but that was one of the main things she’d missed living in Chicago. Seeing so many familiar faces when going about day-to-day business.
Two more shifts at Green Mountain and then she was officially done. Well, kind of. She’d given her two weeks notice after accepting the job at the medical center, assuming she brought in her certificate Monday, but Mandy at Green Mountain hadn’t found a permanent replacement for Megs yet. So, she was still going to do one shift a week to make sure John wasn’t having to work seven days a week.
On Monday she’d be working in an office. She’d be using the skills she’d learned over the past three weeks, which felt insane. Only a few weeks ago she thought she’d be serving lattes forever. Now she’d have a job she could announce to nods and smiles instead of getting a look that readwait, how old are you?
They’d ask if she liked it, and she’d sayit pays well. Just like Alli. Megs sighed and sat in her car. That wasn’t fair. Maybe she would like it. Perhaps she’d decide this was what she’d wanted to do all along.
She started the car and drove down Main. Today was Thursday, which meant she had no class and the entire evening to herself. The perfect opportunity for a haircut.
Megs stopped in front of Colleen’s salon and parked, then grabbed her purse and walked in. There were still tape marks on the door where the finalist list for the audiobook competition had been posted.
Colleen greeted her warmly. "Megs! It's been ages! What can I do for you today?"
"Nothing too drastic.” Megs looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Just a refresher. I think I’m starting to get triangle hair."
Colleen laughed and motioned for her to come to the back for a wash. This woman had been cutting her hair since she could remember, and though Megs wasn’t the best at self-care, this salon always felt like apiece of home when she made the time to come in. Considering all the change in her life lately, that reality was comforting.
Colleen scrubbed her scalp, then conditioned her hair, rinsed, and wrapped it in a towel. As she brushed it out and began snipping her wild curls, Colleen steered the conversation toward the romance audiobook competition.
“Is Sylvia paying you to get more information?”
Colleen barked a laugh. “Your mother wouldn’t have to pay me, you know I’d tell her for free.”
Megs grinned, but chose her words carefully. Gossip spread like wildfire among the Sugar Mamas of Sugar Creek. Her mom wasn’t technically old enough to get an official invitation, but she had no doubt it would come.
“Well, Oscar Calloway is as charming in person as he seems online,” Megs said, and the other women in their chairs tittered like school girls. Megs laughed. “My mom keeps telling me he’s single, and I can’t imagine why.”
Colleen swatted her cape-draped shoulder. “Can’t imagine why.Pshaw.Any man would be lucky to have your interest.”
“I am a package deal. Great at making coffee, no real direction in life—” Megs gasped as Colleen whirled the chair around.
“I’ll have no talk like that in my chair, understand?”
Megs snapped her mouth shut, and Colleen slowly swiveled her back to the mirror. “You don’t need to be a package deal. That’s not what love and romance is about.”
Megs sighed. She was hearing a lot about what romance was and wasn’t lately. “Someone told me recently they thought romance cameafteryou got to know each other, not before.”
Megs considered this. That definitely changed the popular definition.
“Too true,” Phyllis interjected from two chairs down.
Colleen nodded. “I agree, it’s all the little things that come from a soul-deep love and respect from one another. But that’s what romance or love looks like, not what it is.”
Megs waited for her to continue, but Colleen just hummed to herself as she combed and cut. She was going to make this difficult, but Megs was too curious not to play her game.
