“YOUR HAIR LOOKS great.”
Rachelle smiled as she ran her fingers through her collarbone - length bob. Her hair had the perfect highlights anyone would think were natural and she had that rich auntie look about her. Whoever did her hair was really gifted. “Thank you, Porsha did it and I feel like a new woman.”
“Who is Porsha?” My ears perked up because I needed to make an appointment as quickly as possible.
The last few days had moved far quicker than I expected. I had gotten more medical reports on Aldrich’s daughter and spoke with her care team to discuss what she needed when she came home. After the mostly silent car ride to get my bags and then check into the short-term rental he secured near his home, I took a relaxing bath after I scrubbed down the tub and focused on the job and not the man.
Well, mostly, the job. Aldrich was a hard man to forget. It didn’t hurt that he was kind. Despite the standoffish way he seemed to act toward the situation with his kid, one that I still hadn’t done research on, he had the audacity to be a gentleman. Chastising me for opening doors to the car, the airport lockers and even getting angry when I tried to pay to retrieve my items. I had no say in his paying for the room because he booked it himself.
Billy had sent me over the information for a woman by the name of Rachelle Stewart, who I found out was the head coach’s wife, because she was going to be taking me to one of the localboutiques and help me set up other things that baby girl Dinero was going to need. I was cautious about asking him her name because I didn’t want to trigger any type of negative reaction from him.
“She’s actually Billy’s best friend. Her salon is so exclusive you have to have a referral for her to take you on as a client.”
I could only nod because I was slightly uncomfortable with continuing to question them about someone who probably wouldn’t take me on as a client. I knew Billy would probably ask her for me, but I didn’t want to impose. I needed to get my hair done. I’d had these K-tip extensions in for a while and they needed to be taken out before they damaged my hair.
“She takes just about anyone that is associated with Billy’s clients or the team so I can tell you that all you have to do is make an appointment or have Money do it for you.” Rachelle was feeding me information that I was going to have to politely refuse.
“He’s my boss, Ms. Rachelle. I can’t do that.” I just met the man a few days ago. How would it look for me to ask him to book me a hair appointment?
“If you keep calling me Ms. Rachelle we’re really going to fight out here. I’m not that much older than you despite my husband being old.”
“That man is forty and he clearly wasn’t too old to put that baby in you.” Carine, who was the wife of the team Medical Director, had tagged along with us today and I tried not to be uncomfortable with this situation. I was shopping for a child I hadn’t met with women I didn’t know. They seemed at ease with the entire situation, handing off items they thought would look good on the baby or grabbing items and letting me know they would be gifting them to her since Aldrich had never had a baby shower. He’d been brutally honest with them about how there was nothing for her and asked them to help me get everything.
“Right, just like it’s clear based on baby girl that more than Rich’s hands are gifted.” Rachelle stuck her tongue out at Carine and they both burst out laughing. I was trying to keep my laughter to myself since I was a stranger. I wasn’t sure how they were going to take my joining in on their moment.
“I promise I’ll cut out the miss part.”
She waved me off like I was doing too much. “Girl, do whatever makes you feel comfortable but I don’t want you to feel you have to keep yourself separate from us just because of who you are to Money.”
“Well, Aldrich—” When Rachelle’s mouth dropped open I shut mine not realizing what I’d done that elicited such a response.
“Aldrich? He lets you call him that?” With the way her face was balled up, it seemed like I was breaking some unspoken rule. Too bad though. His friends could call him what they wanted, I wasn’t a friend.
I tried not to look too embarrassed and turned my head to grab a few more pieces off the rack. “He doesn’t really have a choice because I won’t call him anything else.”
Carine snapped her fingers together and nodded her head knowingly. “Oop! That’s right, let him know how it is up front.”
My eyes widened because she made it sound as though I were trying to move into a space that wasn’t mine. “Oh no, It’s not like I’m trying to tell my boss what to do—”
“Honey, at the barest of minimums you’re going to be more than an employee to Money. You’re going to be family. You’re going to be with his daughter when they release her in a few days and you live in the house with him. Y’all are going to butt heads because he’s a man. They don’t know how to act all the time and they’re going to fuck up. Ask me how I know. I have three of them at home and I’m apparently growing another one.”She rubbed her hands over her little stomach with a smile on her face.
“You’re having a little boy?” I couldn’t keep the coo out of my voice because I truly loved kids and babies.
Carine grinned as she picked up some baby pants with suspenders on them that had me wanting to buy them for Rachelle in every size. “Yep. Her and Stew are going to have a damn football team if the trend keeps up.”
“Who said I was signing up for anymore after this?” I could tell by the sound in her voice she was so I wasn’t even going to comment on that.
“Because you’re going to take that old man dick even if it gives you worms, that’s why.” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing right along with them.
“Y’all are a trip.”
Rachelle wiped the tears from her eyes before she moved on to the next area of clothes. “Girl, this is nothing.”
My smile faded slightly because I was sure I wouldn’t be hanging around with them much, but I was thankful for the time we had today.
“These clothes are so cute!” I watched Carine pick up a dress and hold it up for Rachelle who could only roll her eyes.
“It’s adorable. Too bad I’m still dealing with bow ties and suspenders.” I had to wonder what the hell was in theDesperados’water that so many people on the team had pregnant wives.
